Proverbs 16:1-24:11

English Standard Version

16 The plans of the heart belong to man,
    but ^(A)the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
^2 (B)All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(C)weighs the spirit.^[a]
3 (D)Commit your work to the Lord,
    and your plans will be established.
^4 (E)The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
    even ^(F)the wicked for the day of trouble.
⁵ Everyone who is arrogant in heart is ^(G)an abomination to the Lord;
    ^(H)be assured, he will not go unpunished.
⁶ By ^(I)steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
    and by ^(J)the fear of the Lord one ^(K)turns away from evil.
⁷ When a man's ways please the Lord,
    ^(L)he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
^8 (M)Better is a little with righteousness
    than great revenues with injustice.
^9 (N)The heart of man plans his way,
    but ^(O)the Lord establishes his steps.
^10 (P)An oracle is on the lips of a king;
    his mouth does not sin in judgment.
^11 (Q)A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
    all the weights in the bag are his work.
¹² It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
    for ^(R)the throne is established by righteousness.
^13 (S)Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
    and he loves him who speaks what is right.
^14 (T)A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
    and a wise man will ^(U)appease it.
^15 (V)In the light of a king's face there is life,
    and his ^(W)favor is like ^(X)the clouds that bring the spring rain.
^16 (Y)How much better to get wisdom than ^(Z)gold!
    To get understanding is to be chosen rather than ^(AA)silver.
¹⁷ The highway of the upright ^(AB)turns aside from evil;
    whoever guards his way preserves his life.
^18 (AC)Pride goes before destruction,
    and a haughty spirit before a fall.
^19 (AD)It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
    than to ^(AE)divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Whoever gives thought to the word^{[b] (AF)}will discover good,
    and blessed is he ^(AG)who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called discerning,
    and sweetness of speech ^(AH)increases persuasiveness.
²² Good sense is ^(AI)a fountain of life to him who has it,
    but the instruction of fools is folly.
^23 (AJ)The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
    and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
^24 (AK)Gracious words are like ^(AL)a honeycomb,
    sweetness to the soul and ^(AM)health to the body.
²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,
    but its end is the way to death.^[c]
26 A worker's appetite works for him;
    his ^(AN)mouth urges him on.
^27 (AO)A worthless man plots evil,
    and his speech^[d] is like ^(AP)a scorching fire.
^28 (AQ)A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and ^(AR)a whisperer ^(AS)separates close friends.
²⁹ A man of violence ^(AT)entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
³⁰ Whoever winks his eyes plans^{[e] (AU)}dishonest things;
    he who ^(AV)purses his lips brings evil to pass.
^31 (AW)Gray hair is ^(AX)a crown of glory;
    it ^(AY)is gained in a righteous life.
^32 (AZ)Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
    and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
^33 (BA)The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is ^(BB)from the Lord.
17 ^(BC)Better is a dry morsel with quiet
    than a house full of feasting^[f] with strife.
² A servant who deals wisely will rule over ^(BD)a son who acts shamefully
    and ^(BE)will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
^3 (BF)The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
    ^(BG)and the Lord tests hearts.
⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
    and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
⁵ Whoever mocks the poor ^(BH)insults his Maker;
    he who is ^(BI)glad at calamity will not go ^(BJ)unpunished.
^6 (BK)Grandchildren are ^(BL)the crown of the aged,
    and the glory of children is their fathers.
⁷ Fine speech is not ^(BM)becoming to a fool;
    still less is ^(BN)false speech to a prince.
^8 (BO)A bribe is like a magic^[g] stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
    wherever he turns he prospers.
⁹ Whoever ^(BP)covers an offense seeks love,
    but he who repeats a matter ^(BQ)separates close friends.
¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
    than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion,
    and ^(BR)a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² Let a man meet ^(BS)a she-bear robbed of her cubs
    ^(BT)rather than a fool in his folly.
¹³ If anyone ^(BU)returns evil for good,
    ^(BV)evil will not depart from his house.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
    so ^(BW)quit before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ He who ^(BX)justifies the wicked and he who ^(BY)condemns the righteous
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should a fool have money in his hand ^(BZ)to buy wisdom
    when he has no sense?
^17 (CA)A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ One who lacks sense gives a pledge
    and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
    he who ^(CB)makes his door high seeks destruction.
^20 (CC)A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
    and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
²¹ He who ^(CD)sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
    and the father of a fool has no joy.
^22 (CE)A joyful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit ^(CF)dries up the bones.
²³ The wicked accepts ^(CG)a bribe in secret^[h]
    to ^(CH)pervert the ways of justice.
^24 (CI)The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
    but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
^25 (CJ)A foolish son is a grief to his father
    ^(CK)and bitterness to ^(CL)her who bore him.
^26 (CM)To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
    nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ Whoever ^(CN)restrains his words has knowledge,
    and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
²⁸ Even a fool ^(CO)who keeps silent is considered wise;
    when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
18 Whoever ^(CP)isolates himself seeks his own desire;
    he breaks out against all sound judgment.
² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
    but only ^(CQ)in expressing his opinion.
³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
    and with dishonor comes disgrace.
⁴ The words of a man's mouth are ^(CR)deep waters;
    the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
⁵ It is not good to ^(CS)be partial to^[i] the wicked
    or to ^(CT)deprive the righteous of justice.
⁶ A fool's lips walk into a fight,
    and his mouth invites ^(CU)a beating.
^7 (CV)A fool's mouth is his ruin,
    and his lips are a snare to his soul.
^8 (CW)The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
    they go down into ^(CX)the inner parts of the body.
⁹ Whoever is slack in his work
    is a ^(CY)brother to him who destroys.
^10 (CZ)The name of the Lord is ^(DA)a strong tower;
    the righteous man runs into it and ^(DB)is safe.
^11 (DC)A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
    and like a high wall in his imagination.
^12 (DD)Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
    but ^(DE)humility comes before honor.
¹³ If one gives an answer ^(DF)before he hears,
    it is his folly and shame.
¹⁴ A man's spirit will endure sickness,
    but ^(DG)a crushed spirit who can bear?
¹⁵ An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
    and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
¹⁶ A man's ^(DH)gift makes room for him
    and brings him before the great.
¹⁷ The one who states his case first seems right,
    until the other comes and examines him.
^18 (DI)The lot puts an end to quarrels
    and decides between powerful contenders.
¹⁹ A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
    and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
^20 (DJ)From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
    he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
^21 (DK)Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
    and those who love it will eat its fruits.
²² He who finds ^(DL)a wife finds ^(DM)a good thing
    and ^(DN)obtains favor ^(DO)from the Lord.
²³ The poor use entreaties,
    but ^(DP)the rich answer roughly.
²⁴ A man of many companions may come to ruin,
    but ^(DQ)there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19 ^(DR)Better is a poor person who ^(DS)walks in his integrity
    than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
² Desire^[j] without knowledge is not good,
    and whoever ^(DT)makes haste with his feet misses his way.
³ When a man's folly ^(DU)brings his way to ruin,
    his heart ^(DV)rages against the Lord.
^4 (DW)Wealth brings many new friends,
    ^(DX)but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
^5 (DY)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(DZ)breathes out lies will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of a generous man,^[k]
    and everyone is a friend to a man who gives ^(EA)gifts.
^7 (EB)All a poor man's brothers hate him;
    ^(EC)how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.^[l]
8 (ED)Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
    he who keeps understanding will ^(EE)discover good.
^9 (EF)A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and he who ^(EG)breathes out lies will perish.
^10 (EH)It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for ^(EI)a slave to rule over princes.
^11 (EJ)Good sense makes one slow to anger,
    and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
¹² A king's wrath is like ^(EK)the growling of a lion,
    but his ^(EL)favor is like ^(EM)dew on the grass.
^13 (EN)A foolish son is ruin to his father,
    and ^(EO)a wife's quarreling is ^(EP)a continual dripping of rain.
^14 (EQ)House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
    but a prudent wife is ^(ER)from the Lord.
^15 (ES)Slothfulness casts into ^(ET)a deep sleep,
    and ^(EU)an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ Whoever ^(EV)keeps the commandment keeps his life;
    he who despises his ways will die.
^17 (EW)Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and he ^(EX)will repay him for his ^(EY)deed.
^18 (EZ)Discipline your son, for there is hope;
    do not set your heart on ^(FA)putting him to death.
¹⁹ A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
    for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,
    that you may gain wisdom in ^(FB)the future.
^21 (FC)Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
    but ^(FD)it is the purpose of the Lord ^(FE)that will stand.
²² What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
    and a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the Lord ^(FF)leads to life,
    and whoever has it rests ^(FG)satisfied;
    he will ^(FH)not be visited by harm.
^24 (FI)The sluggard buries his hand in ^(FJ)the dish
    and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
^25 (FK)Strike ^(FL)a scoffer, and the simple will ^(FM)learn prudence;
    ^(FN)reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
²⁶ He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
    is ^(FO)a son who brings shame and reproach.
²⁷ Cease to hear instruction, my son,
    ^(FP)and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ A worthless witness mocks at justice,
    and the mouth of the wicked ^(FQ)devours iniquity.
²⁹ Condemnation is ready for ^(FR)scoffers,
    and ^(FS)beating for the backs of fools.
20 ^(FT)Wine is a mocker, ^(FU)strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever ^(FV)is led astray by it is not wise.^[m]
2 The terror of a king is like ^(FW)the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger ^(FX)forfeits his life.
³ It is an honor for a man to ^(FY)keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
^4 (FZ)The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    ^(GA)he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
⁵ The purpose in a man's heart is like ^(GB)deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
⁶ Many a man ^(GC)proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but ^(GD)a faithful man who can find?
⁷ The righteous who ^(GE)walks in his integrity—
    ^(GF)blessed are his children after him!
^8 (GG)A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    ^(GH)winnows all evil with his eyes.
^9 (GI)Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
^10 (GJ)Unequal^[n] weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹¹ Even a child ^(GK)makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright.^[o]
12 (GL)The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    ^(GM)the Lord has made them both.
^13 (GN)Love not sleep, lest you ^(GO)come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have ^(GP)plenty of bread.
¹⁴ “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
¹⁵ There is gold and abundance of ^(GQ)costly stones,
    ^(GR)but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
^16 (GS)Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and ^(GT)hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.^[p]
17 (GU)Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of ^(GV)gravel.
^18 (GW)Plans are established by counsel;
    by ^(GX)wise guidance ^(GY)wage war.
¹⁹ Whoever ^(GZ)goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with ^(HA)a simple babbler.^[q]
20 (HB)If one curses his father or his mother,
    ^(HC)his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
^21 (HD)An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
²² Do not say, ^(HE)“I will repay evil”;
    ^(HF)wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
^23 (HG)Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
    and ^(HH)false scales are not good.
²⁴ A man's ^(HI)steps are from the Lord;
    how then can man understand his way?
²⁵ It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
    and to reflect only ^(HJ)after making vows.
²⁶ A wise king ^(HK)winnows the wicked
    and drives ^(HL)the wheel over them.
^27 (HM)The spirit^[r] of man is the lamp of the Lord,
    ^(HN)searching all ^(HO)his innermost parts.
^28 (HP)Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his ^(HQ)throne is upheld.
²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
    but ^(HR)the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
^30 (HS)Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean ^(HT)the innermost parts.
21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
    he ^(HU)turns it wherever he will.
^2 (HV)Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but the Lord ^(HW)weighs the heart.
^3 (HX)To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
^4 (HY)Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
    ^(HZ)the lamp^[s] of the wicked, are sin.
⁵ The plans of ^(IA)the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is ^(IB)hasty comes ^(IC)only to poverty.
^6 (ID)The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
    is a ^(IE)fleeting ^(IF)vapor and a ^(IG)snare of death.^[t]
7 The violence of the wicked will ^(IH)sweep them away,
    because they refuse to do what is just.
⁸ The way of the guilty ^(II)is crooked,
    but the conduct of the pure is upright.
⁹ It is ^(IJ)better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
¹¹ When ^(IK)a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
¹² The Righteous One ^(IL)observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked down to ruin.
^13 (IM)Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.
^14 (IN)A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe,^[u] strong wrath.
¹⁵ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    ^(IO)but terror to evildoers.
¹⁶ One who wanders from the way of good sense
    ^(IP)will rest in the assembly of the dead.
¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
^18 (IQ)The wicked is a ^(IR)ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.
¹⁹ It is ^(IS)better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
^20 (IT)Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man ^(IU)devours it.
²¹ Whoever ^(IV)pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find ^(IW)life, righteousness, and honor.
^22 (IX)A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
^23 (IY)Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    ^(IZ)keeps himself out of ^(JA)trouble.
^24 (JB)“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
²⁵ The desire of ^(JC)the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
²⁶ All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous ^(JD)gives and does not hold back.
^27 (JE)The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more ^(JF)when he brings it with evil intent.
^28 (JG)A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
²⁹ A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright ^(JH)gives thought to^[v] his ways.
^30 (JI)No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the Lord.
^31 (JJ)The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but ^(JK)the victory belongs to the Lord.
22 ^(JL)A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
^2 (JM)The rich and the poor meet together;
    the Lord is ^(JN)the Maker of them all.
^3 (JO)The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
⁴ The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
    is ^(JP)riches and honor and life.^[w]
5 (JQ)Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever ^(JR)guards his soul will keep far from them.
^6 (JS)Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
^7 (JT)The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
⁸ Whoever ^(JU)sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and ^(JV)the rod of his fury will fail.
^9 (JW)Whoever has a bountiful^[x] eye will be blessed,
    for he ^(JX)shares his bread with the poor.
^10 (JY)Drive out a scoffer, ^(JZ)and strife will go out,
    and ^(KA)quarreling and abuse will cease.
¹¹ He who ^(KB)loves purity of heart,
    and whose ^(KC)speech is gracious, ^(KD)will have the king as his friend.
¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
    but he ^(KE)overthrows the words of the traitor.
^13 (KF)The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
¹⁴ The mouth of ^(KG)forbidden^[y] women is ^(KH)a deep pit;
    ^(KI)he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.
¹⁵ Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but ^(KJ)the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
¹⁶ Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, ^(KK)will only come to poverty.

^22 (KQ)Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or ^(KR)crush the afflicted at ^(KS)the gate,
²³ for ^(KT)the Lord will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
²⁴ Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
²⁵ lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.
²⁶ Be not one of those who ^(KU)give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should ^(KV)your bed be taken from under you?
²⁸ Do not move the ancient ^(KW)landmark
    that your fathers have set.
²⁹ Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will ^(KX)stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    observe carefully what^[z] is before you,
² and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to appetite.
^3 (KY)Do not desire his delicacies,
    for they are deceptive food.
^4 (KZ)Do not toil to acquire wealth;
    ^(LA)be discerning enough to desist.
⁵ When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
    ^(LB)for suddenly it sprouts wings,
    flying like an eagle toward heaven.
^6 (LC)Do not eat the bread of a man who is ^(LD)stingy;^{[aa]
    (LE)}do not desire his delicacies,
⁷ for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.^[ab]
    “Eat and drink!” he says to you,
    but his ^(LF)heart is not with you.
⁸ You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten,
    and waste your pleasant words.
⁹ Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.
^10 (LG)Do not move an ancient landmark
    or enter the fields of the fatherless,
¹¹ for their ^(LH)Redeemer is strong;
    he will ^(LI)plead their cause against you.
¹² Apply your heart to instruction
    and your ear to words of knowledge.
¹³ Do not withhold ^(LJ)discipline from a child;
    ^(LK)if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
¹⁴ If you strike him with the rod,
    you will ^(LL)save his soul from Sheol.
^15 (LM)My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart too will be glad.
¹⁶ My ^(LN)inmost being^[ac] will exult
    when your lips speak ^(LO)what is right.
¹⁷ Let not your heart ^(LP)envy sinners,
    but continue in ^(LQ)the fear of the Lord all the day.
¹⁸ Surely ^(LR)there is a future,
    and your ^(LS)hope will not be cut off.

¹⁹ Hear, my son, and ^(LT)be wise,
    and ^(LU)direct your heart in the way.
²⁰ Be not among ^(LV)drunkards^[ad]
    or among ^(LW)gluttonous eaters of meat,
²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and ^(LX)slumber will clothe them with rags.

^22 (LY)Listen to your father who gave you life,
    ^(LZ)and do not despise your mother when she is old.
^23 (MA)Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
^24 (MB)The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
^25 (MC)Let your father and mother be glad;
    let ^(MD)her who bore you rejoice.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe^[ae] my ways.
²⁷ For a prostitute is ^(ME)a deep pit;
    ^(MF)an adulteress^[af] is a narrow ^(MG)well.
^28 (MH)She lies in wait like a robber
    and increases the traitors among mankind.

^29 (MI)Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has ^(MJ)wounds without cause?
    Who has ^(MK)redness of eyes?
³⁰ Those who ^(ML)tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try ^(MM)mixed wine.
³¹ Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
³² In the end it ^(MN)bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
³³ Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter ^(MO)perverse things.
³⁴ You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
    like one who lies on the top of a mast.^[ag]
35 “They ^(MP)struck me,” you will say,^[ah] “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I ^(MQ)must have another drink.”
24 Be not ^(MR)envious of evil men,
    nor desire to be ^(MS)with them,
² for their hearts ^(MT)devise violence,
    and their lips ^(MU)talk of trouble.

³ By ^(MV)wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
⁴ by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all ^(MW)precious and pleasant riches.
^5 (MX)A wise man is full of strength,
    and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
⁶ for by ^(MY)wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in ^(MZ)abundance of counselors there is victory.
⁷ Wisdom is ^(NA)too high for a fool;
    in ^(NB)the gate he does not open his mouth.

⁸ Whoever ^(NC)plans to do evil
    will be called a schemer.
^9 (ND)The devising^[ai] of folly is sin,
    and ^(NE)the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

¹⁰ If you ^(NF)faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
^11 (NG)Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.