Historical
19 1 Better (A)is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that abuseth his lips, and is a fool.
2 For without knowledge the mind is not good, and he that hasteth with his feet, sinneth.
3 The foolishness of a man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.
4 Riches gather many friends: but the poor is separated from his neighbor.
5 (B)A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall not escape.
6 Many reverence the face of the prince, and every man is friend to him that giveth gifts.
7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more will his friends depart far from him? though he be instant [a]with words, yet they will not.
8 He that possesseth understanding, [b]loveth his own soul, and keepeth wisdom to find goodness.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished: and he that speaketh lies, shall perish.
10 [c]Pleasure is not comely for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of man deferreth his anger: and his glory is [d]to pass by an offence.
12 (C)The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion: but his favor is like the dew upon the grass.
13 (D)A foolish son is the calamity of his father, (E)and the contentions of a wife are like a continual [e]dropping.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers: but a (F)prudent wife cometh of the Lord.
15 Slothfulness causeth to fall asleep, and a deceitful person shall be affamished.
16 He that keepeth the commandment, keepeth his own soul: but he that despiseth his ways, shall die.
17 He that hath mercy upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord: and the Lord will recompense him that which he hath given.
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his murmuring.
19 A man of much anger shall suffer punishment, and though thou [f]deliver him, yet will his anger come again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
21 Many devices are in a [g]man’s heart: but the counsel of the Lord shall stand.
22 That that is to be desired of a man, is his [h]goodness, and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord leadeth to life: and he that is filled therewith, shall continue, and shall not be visited with evil.
24 (G)The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not put it to his mouth again.
25 (H)Smite a scorner, and the [i]foolish will beware: and reprove the prudent, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He that destroyeth his father, or chaseth away his mother, is a lewd and shameful child.
27 My son, hear no more the instruction, that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
28 A wicked witness mocketh at judgment, and the mouth of the wicked [j]swalloweth up iniquity.
29 But judgments are prepared for the scorners, and stripes for the back of the fools.
20 1 Wine [k]is a mocker, and strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby, is not wise.
2 (I)The fear of the King is like the roaring of a lion: he that provoketh him unto anger [l]sinneth against his own soul.
3 It is a man’s honor to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
4 The slothful will not plow, because of winter: therefore shall he beg in summer, but have nothing.
5 The counsel in the heart of [m]man is like deep waters: but a man that hath understanding, will draw it out.
6 Many men will boast every one of his own goodness: but who can find a faithful man?
7 He that walketh in his integrity, is just, and blessed shall his children be after him.
8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment, [n]chaseth away all evil with his eyes.
9 (J)Who can say, I have made mine heart clean, I am clean from my sin?
10 Divers [o]weights, and divers measures, both [p]these are even abomination unto the Lord.
11 A child also is known by his doings, whether his word be pure and right.
12 The Lord hath made both these, even the ear to hear, and the eye to see.
13 Love not sleep, lest thou come unto poverty: open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone apart, he boasteth.
15 There is gold, and a multitude of precious stones: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16 (K)Take his [q]garment, that is surety for a stranger, and a pledge of him for the stranger.
17 The bread of deceit is sweet to a man: but afterward his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18 Establish thy thoughts by counsel; and by counsel make war.
19 He that goeth about as a slanderer, discovereth (L)secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
20 (M)He that curseth his father or his mother, his light shall be put out in obscure darkness.
21 An heritage is hastily gotten at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
22 Say not thou, (N)I will recompense evil, but wait upon the Lord, and he shall save thee.
23 (O)Diverse weights are an abomination unto the Lord, and deceitful balances are not good.
24 (P)The steps of man are ruled by the Lord: how can a man then understand his own way?
25 It is a destruction for a man to [r]devour that which is sanctified, and after the vows to inquire.
26 A wise King scattereth the wicked, and causeth the [s]wheel to turn over them.
27 The [t]light of the Lord is the breath of man, and searcheth all the bowels of the belly.
28 (Q)Mercy and truth preserve the king: for his throne shall be established with mercy.
29 The beauty of young men is their strength, and the glory of the aged is the gray head.
30 [u]The blueness of the wound serveth to purge the evil, and the stripes within the bowels of the belly.
21 1 The [v]King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of waters: he turneth it whithersoever it pleaseth him.
2 Every (R)way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3 (S)To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 A haughty look, and a proud heart which is the [w][x]light of the wicked, is sin.
5 The thoughts of the diligent do surely bring abundance; but [y]whosoever is hasty, cometh surely to poverty.
6 (T)The gathering of treasures by a deceitful tongue, is vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
7 The [z]robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; for they have refused to execute judgment.
8 The way of some is perverted and strange, but of the pure man, his work is right.
9 (U)It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, than with a contentious woman in a [aa]wide house.
10 The soul of the wicked wisheth evil, and his neighbor hath no favor in his eyes.
11 [ab]When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise, and when one instructeth the wise, he will receive knowledge.
12 The righteous [ac]teacheth the house of the wicked; but God overthroweth the wicked for their evil.
13 He that stoppeth his ear at the crying of the poor, he shall also cry and not be heard.
14 A [ad]gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosom, great wrath.
15 It is joy to the just to do judgment; but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
16 A man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom, shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
17 He that loveth pastime, shall be a poor man; and he that loveth wine and oil, shall not be rich.
18 The [ae]wicked shall be a ransom for the just, and the transgressor for the righteous.
19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and [af]oil; but a foolish man devoureth it.
21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy, shall find life, righteousness and glory.
22 A [ag]wise man goeth up into the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from afflictions.
24 Proud, haughty, and scornful is his name that worketh in his arrogancy wrath.
25 The desire of the slothful [ah]slayeth him; for his hands refuse to work.
26 He coveteth evermore greedily: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
27 The (V)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 (W)A false witness shall perish: but he that heareth, [ai]speaketh continually.
29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the just, he will direct his way.
30 There is no wisdom, neither understanding, nor counsel against the Lord.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but salvation is of the Lord.
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