Bible in 90 Days
The Adulteress’ Trap
7 My son, (A)keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you.
2 (B)Keep my commandments and live,
And my [a]law (C)as the [b]apple of your eye.
3 (D)Bind them on your fingers;
(E)Write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And call understanding your intimate friend;
5 In order to keep you from the strange woman,
From the foreign woman who [c]flatters with her words.
6 For (F)at the window of my house
I looked out (G)through my lattice,
7 And I saw among the (H)simple,
And discerned among the [d]sons
A young man (I)lacking a heart of wisdom,
8 Passing through the street near (J)her corner;
And he strides along the way to (K)her house,
9 In the (L)twilight, in the evening of that day,
In the [e]middle of the night, and in the thick darkness.
10 And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
(M)Dressed as a harlot and [f]cunning of heart.
11 She is (N)boisterous and rebellious,
Her (O)feet do not dwell at home;
12 Stepping in the streets, stepping (P)in the squares,
And near every corner she (Q)lies in wait.
13 So she seizes him and kisses him
[g]And with a (R)brazen face she says to him:
14 “The sacrifices of (S)peace offerings are with me;
Today I (T)paid my vows.
15 Therefore I have come out to meet you,
To seek your face earnestly, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my couch with (U)coverings,
With colored (V)linens of Egypt.
17 I have sprinkled my bed
With (W)myrrh, aloes, and (X)cinnamon.
18 Come, then, let us drink our fill as lovers until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with the pleasures of love.
19 For [h]my husband is not at home,
He has gone on a journey far away;
20 He took a (Y)bag of silver in his hand,
On the day of the full moon he will come home.”
21 With her abundant [i]persuasions she entices him;
With her (Z)flattering lips she drives him to herself.
22 He suddenly follows her
As an ox goes to the slaughter,
Or [j]as one in fetters to the discipline of an ignorant fool,
23 Until an arrow pierces through his liver;
As a (AA)bird hastens to the snare,
And he does not know that it will cost him his [k]soul.
24 So now, my sons, (AB)listen to me,
And pay attention to the words of my mouth.
25 Do not let your heart (AC)go astray into her ways,
Do not wander into her pathways.
26 For many are the slain whom she has cast down,
And (AD)numerous are all those killed by her.
27 The ways to Sheol are in her (AE)house,
Descending to the chambers of death.
The Blessing of Wisdom
8 Does not (AF)wisdom call,
And discernment give forth her voice?
2 At the top of (AG)the heights upon the way,
Where the pathways meet, she takes her stand;
3 Beside the (AH)gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she makes a shout:
4 “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5 O (AI)simple ones, understand prudence;
And, O (AJ)fools, understand a heart of wisdom.
6 Listen, for I will speak (AK)noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal (AL)upright things.
7 For my (AM)mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing (AN)twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all (AO)straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who (AP)find knowledge.
10 Take my (AQ)discipline and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest fine gold.
11 For wisdom is (AR)better than pearls;
And (AS)all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, (AT)dwell with prudence,
And I find (AU)knowledge and discretion.
13 The (AV)fear of Yahweh is to hate evil;
(AW)Pride and arrogance and (AX)the evil way
And the mouth of [l](AY)perverted words, I hate.
14 (AZ)Counsel is mine and (BA)sound wisdom;
I am understanding, (BB)might is mine.
15 By me (BC)kings reign,
And rulers mark out righteousness.
16 By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17 I (BD)love those who love me;
And (BE)those who earnestly seek me will find me.
18 (BF)Riches and glory are with me,
Enduring (BG)wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is (BH)better than fine gold, even pure gold,
And my produce better than (BI)choice silver.
20 I walk in the path of righteousness,
In the midst of the pathways of justice,
21 To give those who love me an inheritance of wealth,
That I may (BJ)fill their treasuries.
22 “Yahweh possessed me (BK)at the beginning of His way,
Before His deeds [m]of old.
23 From everlasting I was [n](BL)installed,
From the beginning, (BM)from the earliest times of the earth.
24 When there were no (BN)depths I was [o]brought forth,
When there were no springs heavy with water.
25 (BO)Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was [p]brought forth;
26 While He had not yet made the earth and the fields outside,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27 When He (BP)established the heavens, I was there,
When (BQ)He marked out a circle on the face of the deep,
28 When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became strong,
29 When (BR)He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not pass over His [q]command,
When He marked out (BS)the foundations of the earth;
30 Then (BT)I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was a daily delight,
[r]Rejoicing always before Him,
31 [s]Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
(BU)My delight is in the sons of men.
32 “So now, O sons, (BV)listen to me,
For (BW)blessed are they who keep my ways.
33 (BX)Hear discipline and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34 (BY)How blessed is the man who hears me,
To watch daily at my doors,
To keep watch at my doorposts.
35 For (BZ)he who finds me finds life
And (CA)obtains favor from Yahweh.
36 But he who [t]sins against me (CB)does violence to his own soul;
All those who (CC)hate me (CD)love death.”
Wisdom and Foolishness Call Out
9 Wisdom has (CE)built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has [u](CF)slaughtered her cattle, she has (CG)mixed her wine;
She has also (CH)prepared her table;
3 She has (CI)sent out her maidens, she (CJ)calls
From the (CK)tops of the heights of the city:
4 “(CL)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
To him who (CM)lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
5 “Come, (CN)eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 [v]Forsake your simplicity and (CO)live,
And (CP)step into the way of understanding.”
7 He who (CQ)disciplines a scoffer receives disgrace for himself,
And he who reproves a wicked man receives injury for himself.
8 (CR)Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you,
(CS)Reprove a wise man and he will love you.
9 Give knowledge to a wise man and he will be still wiser,
Make a righteous man know it and he will (CT)increase his learning.
10 The (CU)fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For (CV)by me your days will become many,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise (CW)for yourself,
And if you (CX)scoff, you alone will bear it.
13 The woman of [w]foolishness is (CY)boisterous,
A woman of simplicity, and (CZ)does not know anything.
14 She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by (DA)the high places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by that way,
Who are making their paths straight:
16 “(DB)Whoever is simple, let him turn in here,”
And to him who lacks a heart of wisdom she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
And (DC)bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 But he does not know that the [x]dead are there,
That those she called are in the (DD)depths of Sheol.
Contrast of the Righteous and the Wicked
10 The (DE)proverbs of Solomon.
(DF)A wise son makes a father glad,
But (DG)a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 (DH)Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
But righteousness delivers from death.
3 Yahweh (DI)will not allow the soul of the righteous to hunger,
But He (DJ)will push away the craving of the wicked.
4 Poor is he who works with a slack [y]hand,
But the (DK)hand of the diligent makes rich.
5 He who gathers in summer is a son who acts insightfully,
But he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully.
6 (DL)Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
But (DM)the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.
7 The (DN)remembrance of the righteous is blessed,
But (DO)the name of the wicked will rot.
8 The (DP)wise of heart will receive commandments,
But an ignorant fool of loose lips will be [z]ruined.
9 He (DQ)who walks in integrity walks securely,
But (DR)he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.
10 He (DS)who winks the eye causes pain,
And (DT)an ignorant fool of loose lips will be [aa]ruined.
11 The (DU)mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But (DV)the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
But (DW)love covers all transgressions.
13 On (DX)the lips of the one who has understanding, wisdom is found,
But (DY)a rod is for the back of him who lacks a heart of wisdom.
14 Wise men (DZ)store up knowledge,
But (EA)the mouth of the ignorant fool draws ruin near.
15 The (EB)rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
The (EC)ruin of the poor is their poverty.
16 The [ab](ED)wages of the righteous is life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.
17 He (EE)is on the path of life who keeps discipline,
But he who forsakes reproof makes [ac]himself wander about.
18 He (EF)who covers up hatred has lying lips,
And he who spreads a bad report is a fool.
19 When there are (EG)many words, transgression is unavoidable,
But (EH)he who holds back his lips has insight.
20 The tongue of the righteous is as (EI)choice silver,
The heart of the wicked is worth little.
21 The (EJ)lips of the righteous feed many,
But ignorant fools (EK)die for lack of a heart of wisdom.
22 It is the (EL)blessing of Yahweh that makes rich,
And He adds no pain with it.
23 Doing wickedness is like (EM)laughing to a fool,
And so is wisdom to a man of discernment.
24 What (EN)the wicked dreads will come upon him,
But the (EO)desire of the righteous will be granted.
25 When the (EP)whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the (EQ)righteous has an everlasting foundation.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes,
So is the (ER)sluggard to those who send him.
27 The (ES)fear of Yahweh prolongs [ad]life,
But the (ET)years of the wicked will be shortened.
28 The (EU)expectation of the righteous is gladness,
But the (EV)hope of the wicked will perish.
29 The (EW)way of Yahweh is a stronghold to the one with integrity,
But (EX)ruin to the workers of iniquity.
30 The (EY)righteous will never be shaken,
But (EZ)the wicked will not dwell in the land.
31 The (FA)mouth of the righteous bears wisdom,
But the tongue of (FB)perversions will be cut out.
32 The lips of the righteous know (FC)what is acceptable,
But the (FD)mouth of the wicked [ae]what is perverse.
11 A (FE)deceptive balance is an abomination to Yahweh,
But a (FF)just weight is His delight.
2 When (FG)arrogance comes, then comes disgrace,
But with the meek is wisdom.
3 The (FH)integrity of the upright will lead them,
But the (FI)crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.
4 (FJ)Wealth will not profit in the day of wrath,
But (FK)righteousness will deliver from death.
5 The (FL)righteousness of the blameless will make his way straight,
But (FM)the wicked will fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the treacherous will (FN)be captured by their own desire.
7 When a wicked man dies, his (FO)hope will perish,
And the (FP)expectation of vigorous men perishes.
8 The righteous is rescued from [af]distress,
But the wicked [ag]takes his place.
9 With his (FQ)mouth the godless man corrupts his neighbor,
But through knowledge the (FR)righteous will be rescued.
10 When it (FS)goes well with the righteous, the city exults,
And when the wicked perish, there is joyful shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright a city is raised up,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.
12 He who despises his neighbor lacks a heart of wisdom,
But a man of discernment keeps silent.
13 He (FT)who goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
But he who is faithful in spirit (FU)conceals a matter.
14 Where there is no (FV)guidance the people fall,
But in abundance of counselors there is salvation.
15 If one becomes a (FW)guarantor for a stranger, he will surely suffer,
But he who hates [ah]striking hands in pledge is secure.
16 A (FX)gracious woman holds fast to glory,
But ruthless men hold fast to riches.
17 The man of (FY)lovingkindness deals bountifully with his soul,
But the cruel man brings trouble on his flesh.
18 The wicked earns deceptive wages,
But he who (FZ)sows righteousness gets a true reward.
19 He who is steadfast in (GA)righteousness will attain to life,
And (GB)he who pursues evil will bring about his own death.
20 Those with a crooked heart are an abomination to Yahweh,
But those of a (GC)blameless way are His (GD)delight.
21 [ai]Assuredly, the evil man will not go unpunished,
But the seed of the righteous will escape.
22 As a (GE)ring of gold in a swine’s snout
So is a beautiful woman who turns away from [aj]discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the (GF)hope of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is one who scatters, and yet increases all the more,
And there is one who holds back what is rightly due, and yet results only in want.
25 The soul [ak]that (GG)blesses will be [al]enriched,
And he who (GH)waters will himself be watered.
26 He who withholds grain, the (GI)people will curse him,
But (GJ)blessing will be on the head of him who (GK)sells it.
27 He who earnestly seeks good seeks favor,
But (GL)he who searches for evil, evil will come to him.
28 He who (GM)trusts in his riches will fall,
But (GN)the righteous will flourish like the green leaf.
29 He who (GO)troubles his own house will (GP)inherit wind,
And (GQ)the ignorant fool will be a slave to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is (GR)a tree of life,
And (GS)he who is wise [am]wins souls.
31 If (GT)the righteous will be repaid in the earth,
How much more the wicked and the sinner!
12 Whoever loves [an]discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof is senseless.
2 A (GU)good man will obtain favor from Yahweh,
But a man of evil schemes He will condemn.
3 A man will (GV)not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the (GW)righteous will not be shaken.
4 [ao]An (GX)excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is like (GY)rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
But the guidance of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The (GZ)words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the (HA)mouth of the upright will deliver them.
7 The (HB)wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the (HC)house of the righteous will stand.
8 A man will be praised according to his insight,
But one of perverse heart will be despised.
9 Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant
Than he who honors himself and lacks bread.
10 A (HD)righteous man knows the value of the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 He (HE)who cultivates his land will be satisfied with bread,
But he who pursues empty things lacks a heart of wisdom.
12 The (HF)wicked man desires a stronghold of evil men,
But the root of the righteous (HG)gives fruit.
13 The snare of an evil man is in the transgression of his lips,
But the (HH)righteous man will come out from distress.
14 A man will be (HI)satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
And the good (HJ)deed of a man’s hands will return to him.
15 The (HK)way of an ignorant fool is right in his own eyes,
But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
16 An (HL)ignorant fool’s [ap]anger is known at once,
But a prudent man conceals disgrace.
17 He who breathes out truth declares what is right,
But a false witness, deceit.
18 There is one who (HM)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the (HN)tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a (HO)lying tongue is only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have gladness.
21 (HP)No misfortune befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with calamity.
22 (HQ)Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,
But doers of faithfulness are His delight.
23 A (HR)prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,
But [aq]the slack hand will be (HS)put to forced labor.
25 (HT)Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a (HU)good word makes it glad.
26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked makes them wander about.
27 A slack handed man does not [ar]roast his prey,
But the wealth of a man is (HV)precious for the diligent.
28 (HW)In the path of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.
13 A (HX)wise son accepts his father’s discipline,
But a (HY)scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
2 From the fruit of a man’s mouth he (HZ)eats what is good,
But the soul of the treacherous desires (IA)violence.
3 The one who (IB)guards his mouth keeps his soul;
The one who (IC)opens wide his lips [as]comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
But the soul of the diligent is enriched.
5 A righteous man (ID)hates a lying word,
But a wicked man [at](IE)acts odiously and is humiliated.
6 Righteousness (IF)guards the [au]one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness subverts the [av]sinner.
7 There is one who (IG)pretends to be rich, but has nothing;
Another [aw]pretends to be (IH)poor, but has great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor hears no rebuke.
9 The (II)light of the righteous is glad,
But the (IJ)lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 With arrogance [ax]comes only quarreling,
But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.
11 Wealth obtained from empty effort dwindles,
But the one who gathers [ay]with his hand abounds.
12 [az]Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But desire [ba]fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 The one who (IK)despises the word will be [bb]in debt to it,
But the one who fears the commandment will be (IL)rewarded.
14 The [bc]instruction of the wise is a (IM)fountain of life,
To turn aside from the (IN)snares of death.
15 (IO)Good insight gives grace,
But the way of the treacherous is [bd]unrelenting.
16 Every (IP)prudent man acts with knowledge,
But a fool spreads out folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into evil,
But (IQ)a faithful envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who (IR)neglects [be]discipline,
But he who keeps reproof will be honored.
19 Desire realized is pleasant to the soul,
But it is an abomination to fools to turn away from evil.
20 (IS)He who walks with the wise will be wise,
But the friend of fools will suffer harm.
21 (IT)Evil pursues sinners,
But the (IU)righteous are repaid with good.
22 A good man (IV)leaves an inheritance to his [bf]children’s children,
And the (IW)wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 (IX)Abundant food is in the fallow ground of the poor,
But [bg]it is swept away by injustice.
24 He who (IY)holds back his [bh]rod hates his son,
But he who loves him [bi](IZ)disciplines him diligently.
25 The (JA)righteous eats to the satisfaction of his soul,
But the stomach of the (JB)wicked lacks.
14 The [bj](JC)wise woman builds her house,
But the woman of folly tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who (JD)walks in his uprightness fears Yahweh,
But he who is (JE)devious in his ways despises Him.
3 In the mouth of the ignorant fool is a rod of lofty pride,
But (JF)the lips of the wise will keep them.
4 Where no oxen are, the manger is clean,
But much revenue comes by the strength of the ox.
5 A (JG)faithful witness will not lie,
But a (JH)false witness (JI)breathes out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none,
But knowledge is easy to one who has understanding.
7 Leave the (JJ)presence of a fool,
As you have not known lips of knowledge there.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way,
But (JK)the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Ignorant fools scoff at guilt,
But (JL)among the upright there is favor.
10 The heart knows its own (JM)bitterness,
And a stranger does not share its gladness.
11 The (JN)house of the wicked will be destroyed,
But the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There (JO)is a way which seems right to a man,
But its (JP)end is the way of death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be in pain,
And the (JQ)end of joy may be grief.
14 The one who turns back in his heart will be satisfied with his (JR)ways,
But a good man will (JS)be satisfied [bk]with his.
15 The simple believes everything,
But the prudent one discerns his steps.
16 A wise man fears and (JT)turns away from evil,
But a fool gets angry and feels secure.
17 A quick-tempered man acts in folly,
And a man of evil schemes is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
But the prudent are [bl]crowned with knowledge.
19 The (JU)evil will bow down before the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The (JV)poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.
21 He who (JW)despises his neighbor sins,
But how (JX)blessed is he who is gracious to the [bm]poor.
22 Will they not wander in error who (JY)devise evil?
But lovingkindness and truth will be to those who devise good.
23 In all painful labor there is profit,
But mere words from the lips lead only to want.
24 The (JZ)crown of the wise is their riches,
But the folly of fools is folly.
25 A truthful witness delivers souls,
But he who (KA)breathes out lies is deceitful.
26 In the [bn](KB)fear of Yahweh there is strong security,
And [bo]his children will have refuge.
27 The [bp]fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,
To turn aside from the snares of death.
28 In a multitude of people is a king’s splendor,
But in the dearth of people is a prince’s ruin.
29 He who is (KC)slow to anger has great discernment,
But he who is [bq]quick-tempered raises up folly.
30 A [br](KD)tranquil heart is life to the body,
But jealousy is (KE)rottenness to the bones.
31 He (KF)who oppresses the poor reproaches (KG)his Maker,
But he who is gracious to the needy honors Him.
32 The wicked is (KH)thrust down by his own evil,
But the (KI)righteous takes refuge even in his death.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
But in the midst of fools it is merely made known.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favor is toward a (KJ)servant who acts insightfully,
But his fury is toward him who acts shamefully.
15 A (KK)gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a [bs](KL)harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The (KM)tongue of the wise makes knowledge look good,
But the (KN)mouth of [bt]fools pours forth [bu]folly.
3 The (KO)eyes of Yahweh are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good.
4 A tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
But perversion in it breaks the spirit.
5 An ignorant fool spurns his father’s discipline,
But he who keeps reproof is prudent.
6 The house of the (KP)righteous has much treasure,
But in the income of the wicked there is trouble.
7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,
But the hearts of fools are not so.
8 The (KQ)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
But (KR)the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,
But He loves one who (KS)pursues righteousness.
10 Grievous discipline is for him who forsakes the way;
He who hates reproof will die.
11 (KT)Sheol and Abaddon lie open before Yahweh,
How much more the (KU)hearts of the sons of men!
12 A (KV)scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.
13 A (KW)glad heart makes a face look good,
But [bv]when the heart is (KX)pained, the (KY)spirit is broken.
14 The (KZ)heart of the one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
But the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are evil,
But a good heart has a continual feast.
16 (LA)Better is a little with the [bw]fear of Yahweh
Than great treasure and turmoil with it.
17 (LB)Better is a [bx]dish of [by]vegetables where there is love
Than a (LC)fattened ox and hatred in it.
18 A (LD)hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But the (LE)slow to anger (LF)quiets a dispute.
19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns,
But the path of the upright is a highway.
20 A (LG)wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man (LH)despises his mother.
21 Folly is gladness to him who lacks a heart of wisdom,
But a man of discernment (LI)walks straight.
22 Without consultation, [bz]plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they [ca]succeed.
23 A (LJ)man has gladness in an [cb]apt answer,
And how good is a timely (LK)word!
24 The (LL)path of life leads upward for the one who has insight
That he may turn away from Sheol below.
25 Yahweh will (LM)tear down the house of the proud,
But He will (LN)cause the boundary of the (LO)widow to stand.
26 Evil thoughts are an abomination to Yahweh,
But pleasant words are pure.
27 He who is (LP)greedy for gain troubles his own house,
But he who (LQ)hates gifts of bribery will live.
28 The heart of the righteous (LR)ponders how to answer,
But the (LS)mouth of the wicked pours forth evil things.
29 Yahweh is (LT)far from the wicked,
But He (LU)hears the prayer of the righteous.
30 [cc]Bright eyes gladden the heart;
A good report puts fat on the bones.
31 He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof
Will lodge among the wise.
32 He who (LV)neglects discipline (LW)despises his soul,
But he who (LX)listens to reproof acquires a heart of wisdom.
33 The [cd]fear of Yahweh is the discipline [ce]leading to wisdom,
And before glory comes humility.
16 The [cf](LY)plans of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from Yahweh.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own sight,
But (LZ)Yahweh weighs the [cg]motives.
3 [ch](MA)Commit your works to Yahweh
And your [ci]plans will be established.
4 Yahweh (MB)has made everything for [cj]its own purpose,
Even the (MC)wicked for the day of evil.
5 Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh;
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
6 By (MD)lovingkindness and truth iniquity is atoned for,
And by the [ck](ME)fear of Yahweh one turns away from evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to Yahweh,
He (MF)makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8 Better is a little with righteousness
Than great produce with injustice.
9 The heart of (MG)man [cl]plans his way,
But (MH)Yahweh [cm]directs his steps.
10 A divine (MI)decision is in the lips of the king;
His mouth should not [cn]err in judgment.
11 A (MJ)just balance and scales belong to Yahweh;
All the [co]weights of the bag are His [cp]work.
12 It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness,
For in righteousness a (MK)throne is established.
13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks uprightly is loved.
14 The wrath of a king is like messengers of death,
But a wise man will atone for it.
15 In the light of a king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud with the [cq](ML)late rain.
16 How much (MM)better it is to acquire wisdom than fine gold!
And to acquire understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17 The (MN)highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;
He who guards his way keeps his [cr]soul.
18 (MO)Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.
19 It is better to be (MP)humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to (MQ)divide the spoil with the proud.
20 He who considers the word will (MR)find good,
And how (MS)blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
21 The (MT)wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweetness of [cs]lips (MU)increases learning.
22 Insight is a fountain of life to one who has it,
But the discipline of ignorant fools is [ct]folly.
23 The (MV)heart of the wise gives insight to his mouth
And increases learning to his lips.
24 (MW)Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and (MX)healing to the bones.
25 (MY)There is a way which seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
26 A worker’s appetite works for him,
For his mouth urges him on.
27 A (MZ)vile man digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like (NA)scorching fire.
28 A perverse man spreads strife,
And a whisperer separates close companions.
29 A man of violence (NB)entices his neighbor
And leads him in a way that is not good.
30 He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things;
He who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.
31 (NC)Gray hair is a crown of beauty;
It (ND)is found in the way of righteousness.
32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
And he who rules his own spirit, than he who captures a city.
33 The (NE)lot is cast into the lap,
But its every (NF)judgment is from Yahweh.
17 (NG)Better is a dry morsel and tranquility with it
Than a house full of [cu]feasting with strife.
2 A slave who acts insightfully will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
And will share in the inheritance among brothers.
3 The (NH)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But (NI)Yahweh tests hearts.
4 An (NJ)evildoer gives heed to lips of wickedness;
[cv]A liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks the (NK)poor reproaches his Maker;
He who is (NL)glad at disaster will not go unpunished.
6 [cw](NM)Grandchildren are the crown of old men,
And the (NN)beauty of sons is their fathers.
7 (NO)Excellent lips are not fitting for a [cx]wicked fool,
Even less are (NP)lying lips for a noble man.
8 A (NQ)bribe is a [cy]charm in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who (NR)covers a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter (NS)separates close companions.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who understands
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a (NT)man meet a (NU)bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He who (NV)returns evil for good,
(NW)Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So (NX)abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He who (NY)justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to (NZ)acquire wisdom,
When [cz]he has no heart of wisdom?
17 A (OA)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking a heart of wisdom (OB)strikes his [da]hands in pledge
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He who (OC)loves transgression loves quarreling;
He who (OD)makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 He who has a crooked heart (OE)finds no good,
And he who is (OF)perverted in his tongue falls into evil.
21 He who (OG)begets a fool does so to his grief,
And the father of a wicked fool is not glad.
22 A (OH)glad heart [db]is good medicine,
But a broken spirit (OI)dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a (OJ)bribe from the bosom
To (OK)thrust aside the paths of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who understands,
But the (OL)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A (OM)foolish son is a vexation to his father
And (ON)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to (OO)punish the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 He who (OP)holds back his words [dc]has knowledge,
And he who has a (OQ)cool spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Even an ignorant fool, when he (OR)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered understanding.
18 He who separates himself seeks his own desire,
He (OS)breaks out in dispute against all sound wisdom.
2 A fool does not delight in discernment,
But only (OT)in revealing his own heart.
3 When a wicked man comes, despising also comes,
And with disgrace comes reproach.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are (OU)deep waters;
[dd]The fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 To (OV)show partiality to the wicked is not good,
Nor to (OW)thrust aside the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips come with strife,
And his mouth calls for (OX)beatings.
7 A (OY)fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the [de]innermost parts of the stomach.
9 He also who is (OZ)slack in his work
(PA)Is brother to him who destroys.
10 The (PB)name of Yahweh is a (PC)strong tower;
The righteous runs into it and is (PD)set securely on high.
11 A (PE)rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own delusion.
12 (PF)Before destruction the heart of man is haughty,
But (PG)humility goes before glory.
13 He who (PH)responds with a word before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.
14 The (PI)spirit of a man can endure his sickness,
But as for a (PJ)broken spirit, who can bear it?
15 The (PK)heart of the understanding acquires knowledge,
And the (PL)ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man’s (PM)gift makes room for him
And leads him into the presence of great men.
17 The first [df]to plead his case seems right,
Until [dg]another comes and examines him.
18 The cast (PN)lot puts an end to contentions
And [dh]decides between the mighty ones.
19 A brother offended is harder to win over than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.
20 From the [di](PO)fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;
(PP)With the produce of his lips he will be satisfied.
21 (PQ)Death and life are in the [dj]power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its (PR)fruit.
22 He who finds a (PS)wife finds a good thing
And (PT)obtains favor from Yahweh.
23 The (PU)poor man speaks supplications,
But the (PV)rich man (PW)answers with strong words.
24 A man of too many friends comes to [dk]ruin,
But there is (PX)a [dl]friend who sticks closer than a brother.
The Counsel of Yahweh Will Stand
19 (PY)Better is a poor man who (PZ)walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked in lips and is a fool.
2 Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries [dm](QA)his footsteps sins.
3 The (QB)folly of man subverts his way,
But his heart (QC)rages against Yahweh.
4 (QD)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5 A [dn](QE)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who (QF)breathes out lies will not escape.
6 (QG)Many will seek the favor of a noble man,
And everyone is a friend to a man who (QH)gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his (QI)friends distance themselves from him!
He (QJ)pursues them with words, but they are no more.
8 He who acquires a heart of wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps discernment will (QK)find good.
9 A [do](QL)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes out lies will perish.
10 Luxury is (QM)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a (QN)slave to rule over princes.
11 A man’s (QO)insight makes him slow to anger,
And it is his honor (QP)to overlook a transgression.
12 The (QQ)king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like (QR)dew on the grass.
13 A (QS)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the (QT)contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14 House and wealth are an (QU)inheritance from fathers,
But a wife who has insight is from Yahweh.
15 (QV)Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And a slack-handed soul will suffer hunger.
16 He who (QW)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who despises his way will die.
17 He who (QX)is gracious to a poor man lends to Yahweh,
And He will repay him for his (QY)bountiful deed.
18 (QZ)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not [dp]direct your soul to put him to death.
19 A man of great wrath will bear the penalty,
For if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20 (RA)Listen to counsel and receive discipline,
That you may be wise in [dq]the end of your days.
21 Many [dr](RB)thoughts are in a man’s heart,
But it is the (RC)counsel of Yahweh that will stand.
22 What is desirable in a man is his lovingkindness,
And better is a poor man than a man of falsehood.
23 The [ds](RD)fear of Yahweh leads to life,
So that one may sleep (RE)satisfied, not (RF)visited by evil.
24 The (RG)sluggard buries his hand (RH)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 (RI)Strike a scoffer and the simple may become prudent,
But (RJ)reprove one who has understanding and he will understand knowledge.
26 He (RK)who assaults his father and causes his mother to flee
Is a son who brings shame and humiliation.
27 Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A vile witness scoffs at justice,
And the mouth of the wicked (RL)swallows up iniquity.
29 [dt]Judgments are established for (RM)scoffers,
And (RN)beatings for the back of fools.
Hope in Yahweh and He Will Save You
20 (RO)Wine is a mocker, (RP)strong drink a brawler,
And whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger (RQ)sins against his own soul.
3 It is a glory for a man to (RR)cease quarreling,
But any ignorant fool will break out in dispute.
4 The (RS)sluggard does not plow from winter on,
So he [du]begs during the harvest and has nothing.
5 Counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of discernment draws it out.
6 Many a man will (RT)call out his own lovingkindness,
But a (RU)faithful man, who can find?
7 A righteous man who (RV)walks in his integrity—
(RW)How blessed are his sons after him.
8 (RX)A king who sits on the throne of justice
[dv]Disperses all evil with his eyes.
9 (RY)Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure,
I am clean from my sin”?
10 [dw](RZ)Differing weights and differing measures,
Both of them are an abomination to Yahweh.
11 It is by his deeds that a young man (SA)makes himself known
If his conduct is pure and right.
12 The hearing (SB)ear and the seeing eye,
Yahweh has made both of them.
13 (SC)Do not love sleep, lest you become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with [dx]food.
14 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.
15 There is gold, and an abundance of pearls;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious vessel.
16 Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.
17 (SD)Bread obtained by lying is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 [dy](SE)Thoughts are established by counsel,
So (SF)make war by guidance.
19 He who (SG)goes about as a slanderer reveals secrets,
Therefore do not associate with [dz](SH)one of loose lips.
20 He who (SI)curses his father or his mother,
His (SJ)lamp will go out in the [ea]midst of darkness.
21 An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
In the end will not be blessed.
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