Historical
Chapter 19
1 Better to be poor and walk in integrity
than rich and crooked in one’s ways.(A)
2 Desire without knowledge is not good;
and whoever acts hastily, blunders.[a]
3 Their own folly leads people astray;
in their hearts they rage against the Lord.[b]
4 Wealth adds many friends,
but the poor are left friendless.(B)
5 The false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever utters lies will not escape.[c](C)
6 Many curry favor with a noble;
everybody is a friend of a gift giver.
7 All the kin of the poor despise them;
how much more do their friends shun them![d]
8 Those who gain sense truly love themselves;
those who preserve understanding will find success.[e]
9 The false witness will not go unpunished,
and whoever utters lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not befitting a fool;
much less should a slave rule over princes.
11 It is good sense to be slow to anger,
and an honor to overlook an offense.[f]
12 The king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion,
but his favor, like dew on the grass.[g](D)
13 The foolish son is ruin to his father,(E)
and a quarrelsome wife is water constantly dripping.[h]
14 Home and possessions are an inheritance from parents,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.(F)
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
and the sluggard goes hungry.(G)
16 Those who keep commands keep their lives,
but those who despise these ways will die.(H)
17 Whoever cares for the poor lends to the Lord,(I)
who will pay back the sum in full.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;
but do not be intent on his death.[i](J)
19 A wrathful person bears the penalty;
after one rescue, you will have it to do again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
that you may eventually become wise.
21 Many are the plans of the human heart,
but it is the decision of the Lord that endures.(K)
22 What is desired of a person is fidelity;
rather be poor than a liar.[j]
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one eats and sleeps free from any harm.
24 The sluggard buries a hand in the dish;
not even lifting it to the mouth.(L)
25 Beat a scoffer and the naive learn a lesson;
rebuke the intelligent and they gain knowledge.(M)
26 Whoever mistreats a father or drives away a mother,
is a shameless and disgraceful child.[k](N)
27 My son, stop attending to correction;
start straying from words of knowledge.[l]
28 An unprincipled witness scoffs at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked pours out iniquity.
29 Rods are prepared for scoffers,
and blows for the backs of fools.(O)
Chapter 20
1 Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous;
none who are intoxicated by them are wise.[m](P)
2 The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;(Q)
those who incur his anger forfeit their lives.
3 A person gains honor by avoiding strife,
while every fool starts a quarrel.[n]
4 In seedtime sluggards do not plow;
when they look for the harvest, it is not there.
5 The intention of the human heart is deep water,
but the intelligent draw it forth.[o](R)
6 Many say, “My loyal friend,”
but who can find someone worthy of trust?
7 The just walk in integrity;
happy are their children after them!
8 A king seated on the throne of judgment
dispels all evil with his glance.[p]
9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,(S)
I am cleansed of my sin”?[q]
10 Varying weights, varying measures,
are both an abomination to the Lord.(T)
11 In their actions even children can playact
though their deeds be blameless and right.[r]
12 The ear that hears, the eye that sees—
the Lord has made them both.[s]
13 Do not love sleep lest you be reduced to poverty;
keep your eyes open, have your fill of food.
14 “Bad, bad!” says the buyer,
then goes away only to boast.[t]
15 One can put on gold and abundant jewels,
but wise lips are the most precious ornament.[u]
16 Take the garment of the one who became surety for a stranger;(U)
if for foreigners, exact the pledge![v]
17 Bread earned by deceit is sweet,
but afterward the mouth is filled with gravel.
18 Plans made with advice succeed;
with wise direction wage your war.
19 A slanderer reveals secrets;
so have nothing to do with a babbler!
20 Those who curse father or mother—
their lamp will go out[w] in the dead of night.(V)
21 Possessions greedily guarded at the outset
will not be blessed in the end.[x]
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil!”
Wait for the Lord, who will help you.[y](W)
23 Varying weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.(X)
24 Our steps are from the Lord;(Y)
how, then, can mortals understand their way?[z]
25 It is a trap to pledge rashly a sacred gift,
and after a vow, then to reflect.[aa]
26 A wise king winnows the wicked,
and threshes them under the cartwheel.[ab]
27 A lamp from the Lord is human life-breath;
it searches through the inmost being.[ac]
28 His steadfast loyalty safeguards the king,
and he upholds his throne by justice.(Z)
29 The glory of the young is their strength,
and the dignity of the old is gray hair.(AA)
30 Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes,
and a scourging to the inmost being.
Chapter 21
1 A king’s heart is channeled water in the hand of the Lord;
God directs it where he pleases.[ad]
2 All your ways may be straight in your own eyes,
but it is the Lord who weighs hearts.(AB)
3 To do what is right and just(AC)
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.[ae]
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the lamp of the wicked will fail.[af]
5 The plans of the diligent end in profit,
but those of the hasty end in loss.[ag]
6 Trying to get rich by lying
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is right.
8 One’s path may be winding and unfamiliar,
but one’s conduct is blameless and right.[ah]
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop
than in a mansion with a quarrelsome woman.[ai](AD)
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
their neighbor finds no pity in their eyes.
11 When scoffers are punished the naive become wise;
when the wise succeed, they gain knowledge.(AE)
12 The Righteous One appraises the house of the wicked,
bringing down the wicked to ruin.[aj]
13 Those who shut their ears to the cry of the poor
will themselves call out and not be answered.
14 A secret gift allays anger,
and a present concealed, violent wrath.[ak]
15 When justice is done it is a joy for the just,
downfall for evildoers.[al](AF)
16 Whoever strays from the way of good sense
will abide in the assembly of the shades.[am]
17 The lover of pleasure will suffer want;
the lover of wine and perfume will never be rich.
18 The wicked serve as ransom for the just,
and the faithless for the upright.[an](AG)
19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness
than with a quarrelsome wife and trouble.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise,
but the fool consumes them.
21 Whoever pursues justice and kindness
will find life and honor.[ao]
22 The wise person storms the city of the mighty,
and overthrows the stronghold in which they trust.
23 Those who guard mouth and tongue
guard themselves[ap] from trouble.(AH)
24 Proud, boastful—scoffer is the name:
those who act with overbearing pride.
25 The desire of sluggards will slay them,
for their hands refuse to work.[aq]
26 Some are consumed with avarice all the day,
but the just give unsparingly.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
the more so when they offer it with bad intent.(AI)
28 The false witness will perish,(AJ)
but one who listens will give lasting testimony.
29 The face of the wicked hardens,
but the upright maintains a straight course.[ar]
30 No wisdom, no understanding,
no counsel prevail against the Lord.
31 The horse is equipped for the day of battle,
but victory is the Lord’s.
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.