Proverbs 10-26
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Wise Sayings of Solomon
10 The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise child makes a glad father,
but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.(A)
2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.
3 The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.(B)
4 A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.(C)
5 A child who gathers in summer is prudent,
but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.(D)
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(E)
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.(F)
8 The wise of heart will heed commandments,
but one with foolish lips will come to ruin.(G)
9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.(H)
10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
but one who rebukes boldly makes peace.[a](I)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.(J)
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.(K)
13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.(L)
14 The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
15 The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.(M)
16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.
17 Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.
18 Lying lips conceal hatred,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but the prudent are restrained in speech.(N)
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the mind of the wicked is of little worth.(O)
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and toil adds nothing to it.(P)
23 Doing wrong is like sport to a fool,
but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.(Q)
24 What the wicked dread will come upon them,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.(R)
25 When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more,
but the righteous are established forever.(S)
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so are the lazy to their employers.(T)
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.(U)
28 The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.
29 The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright
but destruction for evildoers.(V)
30 The righteous will never totter,
but the wicked will not remain on the earth.(W)
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.(X)
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.
11 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but an accurate weight is his delight.(Y)
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but wisdom is with the humble.(Z)
3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.(AA)
4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.(AB)
5 The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,
but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright saves them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.(AC)
7 When the wicked die, hope perishes,
and the expectation of strength comes to nothing.(AD)
8 The righteous are delivered from trouble,
and the wicked come into it instead.(AE)
9 With their mouths the godless would destroy their neighbors,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.
10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.(AF)
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.(AG)
12 Whoever belittles another lacks sense,
but an intelligent person remains silent.(AH)
13 A gossip goes about telling secrets,
but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.(AI)
14 Where there is no guidance, a nation[b] falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.(AJ)
15 To guarantee loans for a stranger brings trouble,
but there is safety in refusing to do so.
16 A gracious woman gets honor,
but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.[c]
The timid become destitute,[d]
but the aggressive gain riches.(AK)
17 Those who are kind reward themselves,
but the cruel do themselves harm.
18 The wicked earn no real gain,
but those who sow righteousness get a true reward.(AL)
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but whoever pursues evil will die.
20 Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.(AM)
21 Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,
but those who are righteous will escape.(AN)
22 Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.
24 Some give freely yet grow all the richer;
others withhold what is due and only suffer want.(AO)
25 A generous person will be enriched,
and one who gives water will get water.(AP)
26 The people curse those who hold back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of those who sell it.(AQ)
27 Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,
but evil comes to the one who searches for it.(AR)
28 Those who trust in their riches will wither,[e]
but the righteous will flourish like green leaves.(AS)
29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the wise capture souls.(AT)
31 If the righteous are repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!(AU)
12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.(AV)
2 The good obtain favor from the Lord,
but those who devise evil he condemns.(AW)
3 No one finds security by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.(AX)
4 A good wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.(AY)
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the advice of the wicked is treacherous.
6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,
but the speech of the upright delivers them.(AZ)
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.(BA)
8 One is commended for good sense,
but a perverse mind is despised.
9 Better to be despised and have produce[f]
than to be self-important and lack food.
10 The righteous know the needs of their animals,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.(BB)
11 Those who till their land will have plenty of food,
but those who follow worthless pursuits have no sense.(BC)
12 The wicked covet the proceeds of wickedness,[g]
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
but the righteous escape from trouble.(BD)
14 From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things,
and manual labor has its reward.(BE)
15 Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to advice.(BF)
16 Fools show their anger at once,
but the prudent ignore an insult.(BG)
17 Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness speaks deceitfully.(BH)
18 Rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.(BI)
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.(BJ)
20 Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
but those who counsel peace have joy.(BK)
21 No harm happens to the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.(BL)
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.(BM)
23 One who is clever conceals knowledge,
but the mind of a fool[h] broadcasts folly.(BN)
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the lazy will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
but a good word cheers it up.(BO)
26 The righteous are released from misfortune,[i]
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy do not roast[j] their game,
but the diligent obtain precious wealth.[k]
28 In the path of righteousness there is life;
in walking its path there is no death.(BP)
13 A wise child loves discipline,[l]
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.(BQ)
2 From the fruit of their words good persons eat good things,
but the desire of the treacherous is for wrongdoing.
3 Those who guard their mouths preserve their lives;
those who open wide their lips come to ruin.(BR)
4 The appetite of the lazy craves and gets nothing,
while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.(BS)
5 The righteous hate falsehood,
but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.
6 Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,
but sin overthrows the wicked.(BT)
7 Some pretend to be rich yet have nothing;
others pretend to be poor yet have great wealth.(BU)
8 Wealth is a ransom for a person’s life,
but a poor person pays no attention to a rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoices,[m]
but the lamp of the wicked goes out.(BV)
10 By insolence the empty-headed person makes strife,
but wisdom is with those who take advice.(BW)
11 Wealth hastily gotten[n] will dwindle,
but those who gather little by little will increase it.(BX)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 Those who despise a word bring destruction on themselves,
but those who respect a command will be rewarded.(BY)
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
so that one may avoid the snares of death.(BZ)
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the faithless is their ruin.[o](CA)
16 The clever do all things intelligently,
but the fool displays folly.(CB)
17 A bad messenger brings trouble,
but a faithful envoy, healing.(CC)
18 Poverty and disgrace are for the one who ignores instruction,
but one who heeds reproof is honored.(CD)
19 A desire realized is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools suffers harm.(CE)
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
but prosperity rewards the righteous.(CF)
22 The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children,
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous.(CG)
23 The field of the poor may yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.(CH)
24 Those who spare the rod hate their children,
but those who love them are diligent to discipline them.(CI)
25 The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,
but the belly of the wicked is empty.(CJ)
14 The wise woman[p] builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.
2 Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,
but one who is devious in conduct despises him.(CK)
3 The talk of fools is a rod for their backs,[q]
but the lips of the wise preserve them.(CL)
4 Where there are no oxen, there is no grain;
abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5 A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.(CM)
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for one who understands.
7 Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not find words of knowledge.
8 It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,
but the folly of fools misleads.(CN)
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering,[r]
but the upright enjoy God’s favor.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.
11 The house of the wicked is destroyed,
but the tent of the upright flourishes.(CO)
12 There is a way that seems right to a person,
but its end is the way to death.[s](CP)
13 Even in laughter the heart is sad,
and the end of joy is grief.(CQ)
14 The perverse get what their ways deserve,
and the good, what their deeds deserve.[t](CR)
15 The simple believe everything,
but the clever consider their steps.
16 The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,
but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.(CS)
17 One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,
and the schemer is hated.(CT)
18 The simple are adorned with[u] folly,
but the clever are crowned with knowledge.(CU)
19 The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.(CV)
20 The poor are disliked even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.(CW)
21 Those who despise their neighbors are sinners,
but happy are those who are kind to the poor.(CX)
22 Do not those who plan evil err?
Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.
23 In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but folly is the garland[v] of fools.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who utters lies is a betrayer.(CY)
26 In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and one’s children will have a refuge.(CZ)
27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
so that one may avoid the snares of death.(DA)
28 The glory of a king is a multitude of people;
without people a prince is ruined.
29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.(DB)
30 A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,
but jealousy makes the bones rot.(DC)
31 Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,
but those who are kind to the needy honor him.(DD)
32 The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,
but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.[w](DE)
33 Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,
but it is not[x] known in the heart of fools.(DF)
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.(DG)
35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.(DH)
15 A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.(DI)
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.(DJ)
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.(DK)
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
5 A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(DL)
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the minds of fools.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.(DM)
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.(DN)
10 There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way;
one who hates a rebuke will die.(DO)
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more human hearts!(DP)
12 Scoffers do not like to be rebuked;
they will not go to the wise.(DQ)
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.(DR)
14 The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the poor are hard,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.
16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.(DS)
17 Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is
than a fatted ox and hatred with it.(DT)
18 Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,
but those who are slow to anger calm contention.(DU)
19 The way of the lazy is overgrown with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.(DV)
20 A wise child makes a glad father,
but the foolish despise their mothers.(DW)
21 Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,
but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.(DX)
22 Without counsel, plans go wrong,
but with many advisers they succeed.(DY)
23 To make an apt answer is a joy to anyone,
and a word in season, how good it is!(DZ)
24 For the wise the path of life leads upward,
in order to avoid Sheol below.(EA)
25 The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow’s boundaries.(EB)
26 Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.(EC)
27 Those greedy for unjust gain make trouble for their households,
but those who hate bribes will live.(ED)
28 The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.(EE)
29 The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.(EF)
30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the body.
31 The ear that heeds wholesome admonition
will lodge among the wise.
32 Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,
but those who heed admonition gain understanding.(EG)
33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility goes before honor.(EH)
16 The plans of the mind belong to mortals,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
2 All one’s ways may be pure in one’s own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.(EI)
3 Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.(EJ)
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.(EK)
5 All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, they will not go unpunished.(EL)
6 By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.(EM)
7 When the ways of people please the Lord,
he causes even their enemies to be at peace with them.(EN)
8 Better is a little with righteousness
than large income with injustice.
9 The human mind plans the way,
but the Lord directs the steps.(EO)
10 Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.
11 Honest balances and scales are the Lord’s;
all the weights in the bag are his work.(EP)
12 It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.(EQ)
13 Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves those who speak what is right.(ER)
14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
and whoever is wise will appease it.(ES)
15 In the light of a king’s face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.(ET)
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.(EU)
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
those who guard their way preserve their lives.
18 Pride goes before destruction
and a haughty spirit before a fall.(EV)
19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20 Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
and happy are those who trust in the Lord.(EW)
21 The wise of heart is called perceptive,
and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.(EX)
23 The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
25 Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
but in the end it is the way to death.(EY)
26 The appetite of workers works for them;
their hunger urges them on.
27 Scoundrels concoct evil,
and their speech is like a scorching fire.(EZ)
28 A perverse person spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.(FA)
29 The violent entice their neighbors
and lead them in a way that is not good.(FB)
30 One who winks the eyes plans[y] perverse things;
one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.(FC)
32 One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.(FD)
33 The lot is cast into the lap,
but the decision is the Lord’s alone.
17 Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.(FE)
2 A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.(FF)
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.(FG)
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
5 Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.(FH)
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.(FI)
7 Excess speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a ruler.[z]
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
wherever they turn they prosper.(FJ)
9 One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.(FK)
10 A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion,
but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
than to confront a fool immersed in folly.(FL)
13 Evil will not depart from the house
of one who returns evil for good.(FM)
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so stop before the quarrel breaks out.(FN)
15 One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(FO)
16 Why should fools have a price in hand
to buy wisdom when they have no mind to learn?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.(FP)
18 It is senseless to give a pledge,
to become surety for a neighbor.(FQ)
19 One who loves transgression loves strife;
one who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.(FR)
20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,
and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.(FS)
21 The one who fathers a fool gets trouble;
the parent of a fool has no joy.(FT)
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,
but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.(FU)
23 The wicked accept a concealed bribe
to pervert the ways of justice.(FV)
24 The discerning person looks to wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool to the ends of the earth.(FW)
25 Foolish children are a grief to their father
and bitterness to her who bore them.(FX)
26 To impose a fine on the innocent is not right
or to flog the noble for their integrity.(FY)
27 One who spares words is knowledgeable;
one who is cool in spirit has understanding.(FZ)
28 Even fools who keep silent are considered wise;
when they close their lips, they are deemed intelligent.(GA)
18 The one who lives alone is self-indulgent,
showing contempt for all sound judgment.[aa]
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing personal opinion.(GB)
3 When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of the mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.(GC)
5 It is not right to be partial to the guilty
or to subvert the innocent in judgment.(GD)
6 A fool’s lips bring strife,
and a fool’s mouth invites a flogging.
7 The mouths of fools are their ruin,
and their lips a snare to themselves.(GE)
8 The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.(GF)
9 One who is slack in work
is close kin to a vandal.(GG)
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous run into it and are safe.(GH)
11 The wealth of the rich is their strong city;
in their imagination it is like a high wall.(GI)
12 Before destruction one’s heart is haughty,
but humility goes before honor.(GJ)
13 If one gives answer before hearing,
it is folly and shame.(GK)
14 The human spirit will endure sickness,
but a broken spirit—who can bear?
15 An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors;
it gives access to the great.(GL)
17 The one who first states a case seems right,
until the other comes and cross-examines.
18 Casting the lot puts an end to disputes
and decides between powerful contenders.(GM)
19 An ally offended is stronger than a city;[ab]
such quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is satisfied;
the yield of the lips brings satisfaction.(GN)
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.(GO)
22 He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.(GP)
23 The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.(GQ)
24 Some[ac] friends play at friendship,[ad]
but a true friend sticks closer than one’s sibling.(GR)
19 Better the poor walking in integrity
than one perverse of speech who is a fool.(GS)
2 Desire without knowledge is not good,
and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.
3 One’s own folly leads to ruin,
yet the heart rages against the Lord.(GT)
4 Wealth brings many friends,
but the poor are left friendless.(GU)
5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and a liar will not escape.(GV)
6 Many seek the favor of the generous,
and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.(GW)
7 If the poor are hated even by their kin,
how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.[ae](GX)
8 To get wisdom is to love oneself;
to keep understanding is to prosper.(GY)
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
and the liar will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.(GZ)
11 Those with good sense are slow to anger,
and it is their glory to overlook an offense.(HA)
12 A king’s anger is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.(HB)
13 A stupid child is ruin to a father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.(HC)
14 House and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(HD)
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep;
an idle person will suffer hunger.(HE)
16 Those who keep the commandment will live;
those who are heedless of their ways will die.(HF)
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord
and will be repaid in full.(HG)
18 Discipline your children while there is hope;
do not set your heart on their destruction.(HH)
19 A violent-tempered person will pay the penalty;
if you effect a rescue, you will only have to do it again.[af]
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom for the future.(HI)
21 The human mind may devise many plans,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.(HJ)
22 What is desirable in a person is loyalty,
and it is better to be poor than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord is life indeed;
filled with it one rests secure
and suffers no harm.(HK)
24 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
and will not even bring it back to the mouth.(HL)
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove the intelligent, and they will gain knowledge.(HM)
26 Those who do violence to their father and chase away their mother
are children who cause shame and bring reproach.
27 My child, stop ignoring instruction,
straying[ag] from words of knowledge.
28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.(HN)
29 Punishments are prepared for scoffers
and flogging for the backs of fools.(HO)
20 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.(HP)
2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;
anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.(HQ)
3 It is honorable to refrain from strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel.(HR)
4 The lazy person does not plow in season;
harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.(HS)
5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,
but the intelligent will draw them out.(HT)
6 Many proclaim themselves loyal,
but who can find one worthy of trust?(HU)
7 The righteous walk in integrity—
happy are the children who follow them!(HV)
8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;
I am pure from my sin”?(HW)
10 Diverse weights and diverse measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.(HX)
11 Even children make themselves known by their acts,
by whether what they do is pure and right.(HY)
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord has made them both.(HZ)
13 Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.(IA)
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
then goes away and boasts.
15 There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;
seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.
17 Bread gained by deceit is sweet,
but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.(IB)
18 Plans are established by taking advice;
wage war by following wise guidance.(IC)
19 A gossip reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a babbler.(ID)
20 If you curse father or mother,
your lamp will go out in utter darkness.(IE)
21 An estate quickly acquired in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.(IF)
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will help you.(IG)
23 Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.
24 All our steps are ordered by the Lord;
how then can we understand our own ways?(IH)
25 It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and begin to reflect only after making a vow.(II)
26 A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.
27 The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,
searching every inmost part.(IJ)
28 Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,
and his throne is upheld by righteousness.[ah](IK)
29 The glory of youths is their strength,
but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.(IL)
30 Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
beatings make clean the innermost parts.
21 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.
2 All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,
but the Lord weighs the heart.(IM)
3 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.(IN)
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked—are sin.(IO)
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.(IP)
6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare[ai] of death.(IQ)
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
because they refuse to do what is just.(IR)
8 The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is right.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(IS)
10 The souls of the wicked desire evil;
their neighbors find no mercy in their eyes.(IT)
11 When a scoffer is punished, the simple become wiser;
when the wise are instructed, they increase in knowledge.(IU)
12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he casts the wicked down to ruin.(IV)
13 If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,
you will cry out and not be heard.(IW)
14 A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.(IX)
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but dismay to evildoers.
16 Whoever wanders from the way of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.(IY)
17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want;
whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous
and the faithless for the upright.(IZ)
19 It is better to live in a desert land
than with a contentious and fretful wife.
20 Precious treasure remains[aj] in the house of the wise,
but the fool devours it.(JA)
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life[ak] and honor.(JB)
22 One wise person went up against a city of warriors
and brought down the stronghold in which they trusted.(JC)
23 To watch over mouth and tongue
is to keep out of trouble.(JD)
24 The proud, haughty person, named Scoffer,
acts with arrogant pride.(JE)
25 The craving of the lazy person is fatal,
for lazy hands refuse to labor.(JF)
26 All day long the wicked covet,[al]
but the righteous give and do not hold back.(JG)
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when brought with evil intent.(JH)
28 A false witness will perish,
but a good listener will testify successfully.
29 The wicked put on a bold face,
but the upright give thought to[am] their ways.(JI)
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.(JJ)
31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.(JK)
22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.(JL)
2 The rich and the poor have this in common:
the Lord is the maker of them all.
3 The clever see danger and hide,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
the cautious will keep far from them.(JM)
6 Train children in the right way,
and when old, they will not stray.(JN)
7 The rich rule over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.(JO)
8 Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of anger will fail.(JP)
9 Those who are generous are blessed,
for they share their bread with the poor.(JQ)
10 Drive out a scoffer, and strife goes out;
quarreling and abuse will cease.(JR)
11 Those who love a pure heart and are gracious in speech
will have the king as a friend.(JS)
12 The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the faithless.(JT)
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!”(JU)
14 The mouth of a loose woman[an] is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry falls into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far away.(JV)
16 Oppressing the poor in order to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich, will lead only to loss.
Sayings of the Wise
17 The words of the wise:
Incline your ear and hear my words[ao]
and apply your mind to my teaching,
18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips.
19 So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I have made them known to you today, yes, to you.(JW)
20 Have I not written for you thirty[ap] sayings
of admonition and knowledge,(JX)
21 to show you what is right and true,
so that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?(JY)
22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor
or crush the afflicted at the gate,(JZ)
23 for the Lord pleads their cause
and despoils of life those who despoil them.(KA)
24 Make no friends with those given to anger,
and do not associate with hotheads,
25 lest you learn their ways
and entangle yourself in a snare.
26 Do not be one of those who give pledges,
who become surety for debts.(KB)
27 If you have nothing with which to pay,
why should your bed be taken from under you?
28 Do not remove the ancient landmark
that your ancestors set up.(KC)
29 Do you see those who are skillful in their work?
They will serve kings;
they will not serve common people.(KD)
23 When you sit down to eat with an official,
observe carefully what[aq] is before you,
2 and put a knife to your throat
if you have a big appetite.
3 Do not desire an official’s[ar] delicacies,
for they are deceptive food.(KE)
4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
be wise enough to desist.(KF)
5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone,
for suddenly it takes wings to itself,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.
6 Do not eat the bread of the stingy;
do not desire their delicacies,(KG)
7 for like a hair in the throat, so are they.[as]
“Eat and drink!” they say to you,
but they do not mean it.(KH)
8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten,
and you will waste your pleasant words.
9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
who will only despise the wisdom of your words.(KI)
10 Do not remove an ancient landmark
or encroach on the fields of orphans,(KJ)
11 for their vindicator[at] is strong;
he will plead their cause against you.(KK)
12 Apply your mind to instruction
and your ear to words of knowledge.(KL)
13 Do not withhold discipline from your children;
if you beat them with a rod, they will not die.(KM)
14 If you beat them with the rod,
you will save their lives from Sheol.
15 My child, if your heart is wise,
my heart also will be glad.
16 My soul will rejoice
when your lips speak what is right.
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
but always continue in the fear of the Lord.(KN)
18 Surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
19 Hear, my child, and be wise,
and direct your mind in the way.
20 Do not be among winebibbers
or among gluttonous eaters of meat,(KO)
21 for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
and drowsiness will clothe them with rags.(KP)
22 Listen to your father who begot you,
and do not despise your mother when she is old.(KQ)
23 Buy truth, and do not sell it;
buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.(KR)
24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.(KS)
25 Let your father and mother be glad;
let her who bore you rejoice.
26 My child, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe[au] my ways.(KT)
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit;
an adulteress[av] is a narrow well.(KU)
28 She lies in wait like a robber
and increases the number of the faithless.(KV)
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
Who has redness of eyes?(KW)
30 Those who linger late over wine,
those who keep trying mixed wines.(KX)
31 Do not look at wine when it is red,
when it sparkles in the cup
and goes down smoothly.
32 At the last it bites like a serpent
and stings like an adder.
33 Your eyes will see strange things,
and your mind utter perverse things.(KY)
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.[aw]
35 “They struck me,” you will say,[ax] “but I was not hurt;
they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
I will seek another drink.”(KZ)
24 Do not envy the wicked,
nor desire to be with them,(LA)
2 for their minds devise violence,
and their lips talk of mischief.(LB)
3 By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;(LC)
4 by knowledge the rooms are filled
with all precious and pleasant riches.
5 Wise warriors are mightier than strong ones[ay]
and those who have knowledge than those who have strength,(LD)
6 for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.(LE)
7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
in the gate they do not open their mouths.(LF)
8 Whoever plans to do evil
will be called a mischief-maker.(LG)
9 The devising of folly is sin,
and the scoffer is an abomination to all.
10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
your strength being small;(LH)
11 if you hold back from rescuing those taken away to death,
those who go staggering to the slaughter;(LI)
12 if you say, “Look, we did not know this”—
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it?
And will he not repay all according to their deeds?(LJ)
13 My child, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.(LK)
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, you will find a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.(LL)
15 Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous;
do no violence to the place where the righteous live;(LM)
16 for though they fall seven times, they will rise again,
but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.(LN)
17 Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,
and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble,(LO)
18 lest the Lord see it and be displeased
and turn away his anger from them.
19 Do not fret because of evildoers.
Do not envy the wicked,(LP)
20 for the evil have no future;
the lamp of the wicked will go out.(LQ)
21 My child, fear the Lord and the king,
and do not disobey either of them,[az](LR)
22 for disaster comes from them suddenly,
and who knows the ruin that both can bring?
Further Sayings of the Wise
23 These also are sayings of the wise:
Partiality in judging is not good.(LS)
24 Whoever says to the wicked, “You are innocent,”
will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,(LT)
25 but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
and a good blessing will come upon them.(LU)
26 One who gives an honest answer
gives a kiss on the lips.
27 Prepare your work outside;
get everything ready for you in the field;
and after that build your house.
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
and do not deceive with your lips.(LV)
29 Do not say, “I will do to others as they have done to me;
I will pay them back for what they have done.”(LW)
30 I passed by the field of one who was lazy,
by the vineyard of a stupid person,(LX)
31 and see, it was all overgrown with thorns;
the ground was covered with nettles,
and its stone wall was broken down.
32 Then I saw and considered it;
I looked and received instruction.
33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,(LY)
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want, like an armed warrior.
Further Wise Sayings of Solomon
25 These are other proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.(LZ)
2 It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.(MA)
3 Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;(MB)
5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.(MC)
6 Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
or stand in the place of the great,
7 for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.
What your eyes have seen(MD)
8 do not hastily bring into court,
for[ba] what will you do in the end,
when your neighbor puts you to shame?(ME)
9 Argue your case with your neighbor directly,
and do not disclose another’s secret,(MF)
10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
and your ill repute will have no end.
11 A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.(MG)
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.(MH)
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
are faithful messengers to those who send them;
they refresh the spirit of their masters.(MI)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
is one who boasts of a gift never given.(MJ)
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
and a soft tongue can break bones.(MK)
16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
lest, having too much, you vomit it up.(ML)
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
lest the neighbor become weary of you and hate you.
18 Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.(MM)
19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
20 Like vinegar on a wound[bb]
is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,
sorrow gnaws at the human heart.[bc]
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat,
and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink,(MN)
22 for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
and the Lord will reward you.(MO)
23 The north wind produces rain,
and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.(MP)
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a contentious wife.(MQ)
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
so is good news from a far country.(MR)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
are the righteous who give way before the wicked.(MS)
27 It is not good to eat much honey
or to seek honor on top of honor.(MT)
28 Like a city breached, without walls,
is one who lacks self-control.(MU)
26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.(MV)
2 Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
an undeserved curse goes nowhere.(MW)
3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
and a rod for the back of fools.(MX)
4 Do not answer fools according to their folly,
lest you be a fool yourself.(MY)
5 Answer fools according to their folly,
lest they be wise in their own eyes.(MZ)
6 It is like cutting off one’s foot and drinking down violence,
to send a message by a fool.
7 The legs of a lame person hang limp;
so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(NA)
8 It is like binding a stone in a sling
to give honor to a fool.(NB)
9 Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard
is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.(NC)
10 Like an archer who wounds everybody
is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.[bd]
11 Like a dog that returns to its vomit
is a fool who reverts to his folly.(ND)
12 Do you see people wise in their own eyes?
There is more hope for fools than for them.(NE)
13 The lazy person says, “There is a lion in the road!
There is a lion in the streets!”(NF)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
so does a lazy person in bed.
15 The lazy person buries a hand in the dish
and is too tired to bring it back to the mouth.(NG)
Footnotes
- 10.10 Gk: Heb but one with foolish lips will come to ruin
- 11.14 Or an army
- 11.16 Compare Gk Syr: Heb lacks but she . . . shame
- 11.16 Gk: Heb lacks The timid . . . destitute
- 11.28 Cn: Heb fall
- 12.9 Cn: Heb servant
- 12.12 Or covet the catch of the wicked
- 12.23 Heb the heart of fools
- 12.26 Syr: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 12.27 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 13.1 Cn: Heb A wise child the discipline of his father
- 13.9 Or shines
- 13.11 Gk Vg: Heb from vanity
- 13.15 Cn Compare Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb is enduring
- 14.1 Heb Wisdom of women
- 14.3 Cn: Heb a rod of pride
- 14.9 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 14.12 Heb ways of death
- 14.14 Cn: Heb from upon him
- 14.18 Or inherit
- 14.24 Cn: Heb is the folly
- 14.32 Gk Syr: Heb in their death
- 14.33 Gk Syr: Heb lacks not
- 16.30 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb to plan
- 17.7 Or a noble
- 18.1 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 18.19 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 18.24 Syr Tg: Heb A man of
- 18.24 Cn Compare Syr Vg Tg: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 19.7 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 19.19 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 19.27 Cn: Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 20.28 Gk: Heb loyalty
- 21.6 Gk: Heb seekers
- 21.20 Gk: Heb and oil
- 21.21 Gk: Heb life and righteousness
- 21.26 Gk: Heb all day long one covets covetously
- 21.29 Or establish
- 22.14 Heb strange woman
- 22.17 Cn Compare Gk: Heb Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise
- 22.20 Cn: Heb in the past or noble
- 23.1 Or who
- 23.3 Heb his
- 23.7 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 23.11 Or redeemer
- 23.26 Or delight in
- 23.27 Heb alien woman
- 23.34 Meaning of Heb uncertain
- 23.35 Gk Syr Vg Tg: Heb lacks you will say
- 24.5 Gk Compare Syr Tg: Heb A wise man is strength
- 24.21 Gk: Heb do not associate with those who change
- 25.8 Cn: Heb or else
- 25.20 Gk: Heb Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, like vinegar on lye
- 25.20 Gk Syr Tg: Heb lacks Like a moth . . . human heart
- 26.10 Meaning of Heb uncertain
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.