1:1 The wise sayings of Solomon, the son of David, king of
Israel.
1:2 To have knowledge of wise teaching; to be clear about
the
words of reason:
1:3 To be trained in the ways of wisdom, in righteousness
and
judging truly and
straight behaviour:
1:4 To make the simple-minded sharp, and to give the young
man
knowledge, and
serious purpose:
1:5 (The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and
the
acts of the man of
good sense will be wisely guided:)
1:6 To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the
words of the wise and
their dark sayings.
1:7 The fear of the Lord is the start of knowledge: but the
foolish have no use
for wisdom and teaching.
1:8 My son, give ear to the training of your father, and do
not
give up the teaching
of your mother:
1:9 For they will be a crown of grace for your head, and
chain-ornaments about
your neck.
1:10 My son, if sinners would take you out of the right way,
do
not go with them.
1:11 If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against
the
good, waiting
secretly for the upright, without cause;
1:12 Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and
in
their strength, as
those who go down to death;
1:13 Goods of great price will be ours, our houses will be
full
of wealth;
1:14 Take your chance with us, and we will all have one
money-bag:
1:15 My son, do not go with them; keep your feet from their
ways:
1:16 For their feet are running after evil, and they are
quick
to take a man's life.
1:17 Truly, to no purpose is the net stretched out before
the
eyes of the bird:
1:18 And they are secretly waiting for their blood and
making
ready destruction for
themselves.
1:19 Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of
profit;
it takes away the
life of its owners.
1:20 Wisdom is crying out in the street; her voice is loud
in
the open places;
1:21 Her words are sounding in the meeting-places, and in
the
doorways of the town:
1:22 How long, you simple ones, will foolish things be dear
to
you? and pride a
delight to the haters of authority? how long
will the foolish go on
hating knowledge?
1:23 Be turned again by my sharp words: see, I will send the
flow of my spirit on
you, and make my words clear to you.
1:24 Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave
attention to my
out-stretched hand;
1:25 You were not controlled by my guiding, and would have
nothing to do with my
sharp words:
1:26 So in the day of your trouble I will be laughing; I
will
make sport of your
fear;
1:27 When your fear comes on you like a storm, and your
trouble
like a rushing wind;
when pain and sorrow come on you.
1:28 Then I will give no answer to their cries; searching
for me
early, they will not
see me:
1:29 For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give
their
hearts to the fear of
the Lord:
1:30 They had no desire for my teaching, and my words of
protest
were as nothing to
them.
1:31 So the fruit of their way will be their food, and with
the
designs of their
hearts they will be made full.
1:32 For the turning back of the simple from teaching will
be
the cause of their
death, and the peace of the foolish will be
their destruction.
1:33 But whoever gives ear to me will take his rest safely,
living in peace
without fear of evil.
2:1 My son, if you will take my words to your heart, storing
up
my laws in your mind;
2:2 So that your ear gives attention to wisdom, and your
heart
is turned to
knowledge;
2:3 Truly, if you are crying out for good sense, and your
request is for
knowledge;
2:4 If you are looking for her as for silver, and searching
for
her as for stored-up
wealth;
2:5 Then the fear of the Lord will be clear to you, and
knowledge of God will
be yours.
2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; out of his mouth come
knowledge
and reason:
2:7 He has salvation stored up for the upright, he is a
breastplate to those
in whom there is no evil;
2:8 He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes
care
of those who have the
fear of him.
2:9 Then you will have knowledge of righteousness and right
acting, and upright
behaviour, even of every good way.
2:10 For wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge
will be
pleasing to your
soul;
2:11 Wise purposes will be watching over you, and knowledge
will
keep you;
2:12 Giving you salvation from the evil man, from those
whose
words are false;
2:13 Who give up the way of righteousness, to go by dark
roads;
2:14 Who take pleasure in wrongdoing, and have joy in the
evil
designs of the
sinner;
2:15 Whose ways are not straight, and whose footsteps are
turned
to evil:
2:16 To take you out of the power of the strange woman, who
says
smooth words with her
tongue;
2:17 Who is false to the husband of her early years, and
does
not keep the
agreement of her God in mind:
2:18 For her house is on the way down to death; her
footsteps go
down to the shades:
2:19 Those who go to her do not come back again; their feet
do
not keep in the ways
of life:
2:20 So that you may go in the way of good men, and keep in
the
footsteps of the
upright.
2:21 For the upright will be living in the land, and the
good
will have it for
their heritage.
2:22 But sinners will be cut off from the land, and those
whose
acts are false will
be uprooted.
3:1 My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in
your heart:
3:2 For they will give you increase of days, years of life,
and
peace.
3:3 Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be
hanging round your
neck, recorded on your heart;
3:4 So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of
God
and men.
3:5 Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for
support.
3:6 In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make
straight
your footsteps.
3:7 Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the
Lord
be before you, and
keep yourself from evil:
3:8 This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to
your
bones.
3:9 Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the
first-fruits of all
your increase:
3:10 So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your
vessels overflowing
with new wine.
3:11 My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's
teaching; do not be
made angry by his training:
3:12 For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp
words,
and makes the son in
whom he has delight undergo pain.
3:13 Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he
who
gets knowledge.
3:14 For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and
its
profit greater than
bright gold.
3:15 She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which
you
may have a desire is
fair in comparison with her.
3:16 Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are
wealth
and honour.
3:17 Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are
peace.
3:18 She is a tree of life to all who take her in their
hands,
and happy is everyone
who keeps her.
3:19 The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the
earth;
by reason he put the
heavens in their place.
3:20 By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came
dropping
from the skies.
3:21 My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go
from your eyes.
3:22 So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your
neck.
3:23 Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will
have no cause for
slipping.
3:24 When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on
your
bed sleep will be sweet
to you.
3:25 Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which
will
come on evil-doers:
3:26 For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot
from being taken in
the net.
3:27 Do not keep back good from those who have a right to
it,
when it is in the
power of your hand to do it.
3:28 Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and
tomorrow
I will give; when you
have it by you at the time.
3:29 Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when
he is
living with you
without fear.
3:30 Do not take up a cause at law against a man for
nothing, if
he has done you no
wrong.
3:31 Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his
ways as
an example.
3:32 For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he
is a
friend to the
upright.
3:33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer,
but
his blessing is on
the tent of the upright.
3:34 He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace
to
the gentle-hearted.
3:35 The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame
will
be the reward of the
foolish.
4:1 Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give
attention so that you
may have knowledge:
4:2 For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge
you are getting from
me.
4:3 For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one
to my
mother.
4:4 And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in
your
heart; keep my rules
so that you may have life:
4:5 Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do
not be
turned away from the
words of my mouth.
4:6 Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your
love, and she will
make you safe.
4:7 The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all
you
have to get true
knowledge.
4:8 Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by
her;
she will give you
honour, when you give her your love.
4:9 She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a
head-dress of glory.
4:10 Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my
sayings; and long
life will be yours.
4:11 I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding
your steps in the
straight way.
4:12 When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in
running
you will not have a
fall.
4:13 Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep
her,
for she is your life.
4:14 Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the
way
of evil men.
4:15 Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it,
and go
on your way.
4:16 For they take no rest till they have done evil; their
sleep
is taken away if they
have not been the cause of someone's
fall.
4:17 The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of
violent
acts their drink.
4:18 But the way of the upright is like the light of early
morning, getting
brighter and brighter till the full day.
4:19 The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of
their
fall.
4:20 My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be
turned
to my sayings.
4:21 Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your
heart.
4:22 For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to
all
his flesh.
4:23 And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you
will
have life.
4:24 Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be
far
from you.
4:25 Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking
straight
before you.
4:26 Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be
rightly ordered.
4:27 Let there be no turning to the right or to the left,
keep
your feet from evil.
5:1 My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be
turned
to my teaching:
5:2 So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your
lips
may keep knowledge.
5:3 For honey is dropping from the lips of the strange
woman,
and her mouth is
smoother than oil;
5:4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a
two-edged
sword;
5:5 Her feet go down to death, and her steps to the
underworld;
5:6 She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways
are
uncertain, she has no
knowledge.
5:7 Give ear to me then, my sons, and do not put away my
words
from you.
5:8 Go far away from her, do not come near the door of her
house;
5:9 For fear that you may give your honour to others, and
your
wealth to strange
men:
5:10 And strange men may be full of your wealth, and the
fruit
of your work go to
the house of others;
5:11 And you will be full of grief at the end of your life,
when
your flesh and your
body are wasted;
5:12 And you will say, How was teaching hated by me, and my
heart put no value on
training;
5:13 I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers,
my
ear was not turned to
those who were guiding me!
5:14 I was in almost all evil in the company of the people.
5:15 Let water from your store and not that of others be
your
drink, and running
water from your fountain.
5:16 Let not your springs be flowing in the streets, or your
streams of water in
the open places.
5:17 Let them be for yourself only, not for other men with
you.
5:18 Let blessing be on your fountain; have joy in the wife
of
your early years.
5:19 As a loving hind and a gentle doe, let her breasts ever
give you rapture; let
your passion at all times be moved by her
love.
5:20 Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a
strange
woman, and take
another woman in your arms?
5:21 For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and
he
puts all his goings
in the scales.
5:22 The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes,
and
prisoned in the cords
of his sin.
5:23 He will come to his end for need of teaching; he is so
foolish that he will
go wandering from the right way.
6:1 My son, if you have made yourself responsible for your
neighbour, or given
your word for another,
6:2 You are taken as in a net by the words of your mouth,
the
sayings of your lips
have overcome you.
6:3 Do this, my son, and make yourself free, because you
have
come into the power
of your neighbour; go without waiting, and
make a strong request
to your neighbour.
6:4 Give no sleep to your eyes, or rest to them;
6:5 Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the
archer, and the bird
from him who puts a net for her.
6:6 Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her
ways
and be wise:
6:7 Having no chief, overseer, or ruler,
6:8 She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the
time
of the grain-cutting.
6:9 How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when
will
you get up from your
sleep?
6:10 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the
hands in sleep:
6:11 Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your
need
like an armed man
6:12 A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his
way
causing trouble with
false words;
6:13 Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and
giving news with his
fingers;
6:14 His mind is ever designing evil: he lets loose violent
acts.
6:15 For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he
will
be broken, and there
will be no help for him.
6:16 Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are
disgusting to him:
6:17 Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life
without cause;
6:18 A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in
running after sin;
6:19 A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one
who
lets loose violent
acts among brothers.
6:20 My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in
memory
the teaching of your
mother:
6:21 Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them
hanging
round your neck.
6:22 In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are
sleeping, it will
keep watch over you; when you are awake, it
will have talk with
you.
6:23 For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining
light;
and the guiding words
of training are the way of life.
6:24 They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth
tongue of the strange
woman.
6:25 Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let
not
her eyes take you
prisoner.
6:26 For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but
another man's wife
goes after one's very life.
6:27 May a man take fire to his breast without burning his
clothing?
6:28 Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be
burned?
6:29 So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife;
he
who has anything to
do with her will not go free from
punishment.
6:30 Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food
when he is in need of
it:
6:31 But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back
seven times as much,
giving up all his property which is in his
house.
6:32 He who takes another man's wife is without all sense:
he
who does it is the
cause of destruction to his soul.
6:33 Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame
may
not be washed away.
6:34 For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day
of
punishment he will
have no mercy.
6:35 He will not take any payment; and he will not make
peace
with you though your
money offerings are increased.
7:1 My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up
with
you.
7:2 Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be
to
you as the light of
your eyes;
7:3 Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your
heart.
7:4 Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named
your special friend:
7:5 So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even
from
her whose words are
smooth.
7:6 Looking out from my house, and watching through the
window,
7:7 I saw among the young men one without sense,
7:8 Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going
on
the way to her house,
7:9 At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black
dark
of the night.
7:10 And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose
woman, with a
designing heart;
7:11 She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep
not in
her house.
7:12 Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces,
waiting
at every turning of
the road.
7:13 So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a
sign of shame she
said to him:
7:14 I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths
have
been effected.
7:15 So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for
you
with care, and now I
have you.
7:16 My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with
coloured cloths of
the cotton thread of Egypt;
7:17 I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices.
7:18 Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the
morning,
having joy in love's
delights.
7:19 For the master of the house is away on a long journey:
7:20 He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back
at
the full moon.
7:21 With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with
her
smooth lips.
7:22 The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its
death, like a roe
pulled by a cord;
7:23 Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that
his
life is in danger,
till an arrow goes into his side.
7:24 So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the
sayings of my mouth;
7:25 Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go
wandering in her
footsteps.
7:26 For those wounded and made low by her are great in
number;
and all those who
have come to their death through her are a
great army.
7:27 Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to
the
rooms of death.
8:1 Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge
sounding?
8:2 At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads,
she
takes her place;
8:3 Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at
the
doorways her voice is
loud:
8:4 I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the
sons of
men.
8:5 Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish
ones, take training
to heart.
8:6 Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to
give out what is
upright.
8:7 For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are
disgusting to me.
8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is
nothing false or
twisted in them.
8:9 They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and
straightforward to
those who get knowledge.
8:10 Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in
place of
the best gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which
may
be desired are
nothing in comparison with her.
8:12 I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I
am
seen to be the
special friend of wise purposes.
8:13 The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a
high
opinion of oneself,
the evil way, and the false tongue, are
unpleasing to me.
8:14 Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and
strength
are mine.
8:15 Through me kings have their power, and rulers give
right
decisions.
8:16 Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones
are
judging in
righteousness.
8:17 Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and
those who make search
for me with care will get me.
8:18 Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without
equal and
righteousness.
8:19 My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold;
and
my increase is more
to be desired than silver.
8:20 I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right
judging:
8:21 So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage,
making their
store-houses full.
8:22 The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of
his
works in the past.
8:23 From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth
of
time, before the
earth was.
8:24 When there was no deep I was given birth, when there
were
no fountains flowing
with water.
8:25 Before the mountains were put in their places, before
the
hills was my birth:
8:26 When he had not made the earth or the fields or the
dust of
the world.
8:27 When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put
an
arch over the face of
the deep:
8:28 When he made strong the skies overhead: when the
fountains
of the deep were
fixed:
8:29 When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters
might
not go against his
word: when he put in position the bases of
the earth:
8:30 Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was
his
delight from day to
day, playing before him at all times;
8:31 Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons
of
men.
8:32 Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who
keep
my ways.
8:33 Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go.
8:34 Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my
doors
day by day, keeping
his place by the pillars of my house.
8:35 For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord
will
come to him.
8:36 But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all
my
haters are in love
with death.
9:1 Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars.
9:2 She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed,
her
table is ready.
9:3 She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out
to
the highest places of
the town, saying,
9:4 Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who
has
no sense, she says:
9:5 Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed.
9:6 Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way
of
knowledge.
9:7 He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for
himself; he who says
sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.
9:8 Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will
have
hate for you; make
them clear to a wise man, and you will be
dear to him.
9:9 Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser;
give
training to an
upright man, and his learning will be increased.
9:10 The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the
knowledge of the Holy
One gives a wise mind
9:11 For by me your days will be increased, and the years of
your life will be
long.
9:12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your
heart
is full of pride, you
only will have the pain of it.
9:13 The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at
all.
9:14 Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of
the
town,
9:15 Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their
way,
she says:
9:16 Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who
is
without sense, she
says:
9:17 Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret
is
pleasing.
9:18 But he does not see that the dead are there, that her
guests are in the
deep places of the underworld.
10:1 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a
sorrow to his mother.
10:2 Wealth which comes from sin is of no profit, but
righteousness gives
salvation from death.
10:3 The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food,
but
he puts far from him
the desire of the evil-doers.
10:4 He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand
of
the ready worker gets
in wealth.
10:5 He who in summer gets together his store is a son who
does
wisely; but he who
takes his rest when the grain is being cut
is a son causing
shame.
10:6 Blessings are on the head of the upright, but the face
of
sinners will be
covered with sorrow.
10:7 The memory of the upright is a blessing, but the name
of
the evil-doer will be
turned to dust.
10:8 The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the
man
whose talk is foolish
will have a fall.
10:9 He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose
ways
are twisted will be
made low.
10:10 He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of
trouble,
but he who makes a
man see his errors is a cause of peace.
10:11 The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life,
but
the mouth of the
evil-doer is a bitter cup.
10:12 Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are
covered up by love.
10:13 In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen;
but a
rod is ready for the
back of him who is without sense.
10:14 Knowledge is stored up by the wise, but the mouth of
the
foolish man is a
destruction which is near.
10:15 The property of the man of wealth is his strong town:
the
poor man's need is
his destruction.
10:16 The work of the upright gives life: the increase of
the
evil-doer is a cause
of sin.
10:17 He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he
who
gives up training is
a cause of error.
10:18 Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but
he
who lets out evil
about another is foolish.
10:19 Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin,
but
he who keeps his
mouth shut does wisely.
10:20 The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver:
the
heart of the
evil-doer is of little value.
10:21 The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the
foolish come to death
for need of sense.
10:22 The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes
it
no greater.
10:23 It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man
of
good sense takes
delight in wisdom.
10:24 The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him,
but
the upright man will
get his desire.
10:25 When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no
longer,
but the upright man
is safe for ever.
10:26 Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes,
so
is the hater of work
to those who send him.
10:27 The fear of the Lord gives long life, but the years of
the
evil-doer will be cut
short.
10:28 The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the
waiting
of the evil-doer will
have its end in sorrow.
10:29 The way of the Lord is a strong tower for the upright
man,
but destruction to
the workers of evil.
10:30 The upright man will never be moved, but evil-doers
will
not have a safe
resting-place in the land.
10:31 The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom,
but
the twisted tongue
will be cut off.
10:32 The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is
pleasing, but twisted
are the mouths of evil-doers.
11:1 Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true
weight
is his delight.
11:2 When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with
the
quiet in spirit.
11:3 The righteousness of the upright will be their guide,
but
the twisted ways of
the false will be their destruction.
11:4 Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but
righteousness keeps a
man safe from death.
11:5 The righteousness of the good man will make his way
straight, but the sin
of the evil-doer will be the cause of his
fall.
11:6 The righteousness of the upright will be their
salvation,
but the false will
themselves be taken in their evil designs.
11:7 At the death of an upright man his hope does not come
to an
end, but the hope of
the evil-doer comes to destruction.
11:8 The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his
place
comes the sinner.
11:9 With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his
neighbour; but
through knowledge the upright are taken out of
trouble.
11:10 When things go well for the upright man, all the town
is
glad; at the death of
sinners, there are cries of joy.
11:11 By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great,
but it is overturned
by the mouth of the evil-doer.
11:12 He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no
sense,
but a wise man keeps
quiet.
11:13 He who goes about talking of others makes secrets
public,
but the true-hearted
man keeps things covered.
11:14 When there is no helping suggestion the people will
have a
fall, but with a
number of wise guides they will be safe.
11:15 He who makes himself responsible for a strange man
will
undergo much loss;
but the hater of such undertakings will be
safe.
11:16 A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman
hating righteousness
is a seat of shame: those hating work will
undergo loss, but the
strong keep their wealth.
11:17 The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel
man
is the cause of
trouble to himself.
11:18 The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward
is
certain who puts in
the seed of righteousness.
11:19 So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after
evil
gets death for
himself.
11:20 The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those
whose
ways are without
error are his delight
11:21 Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from
punishment,
but the seed of the
upright man will be safe.
11:22 Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a
beautiful
woman who has no
sense.
11:23 The desire of the upright man is only for good, but
wrath
is waiting for the
evil-doer.
11:24 A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be
increased; and
another may keep back more than is right, but
only comes to be in
need.
11:25 He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser
will himself be
cursed.
11:26 He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people;
but
a blessing will be on
the head of him who lets them have it for
a price.
11:27 He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is
searching for grace;
but he who is looking for trouble will get
it.
11:28 He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing;
but
the upright man will
be full of growth like the green leaf.
11:29 The troubler of his house will have the wind for his
heritage, and the
foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted.
11:30 The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but
violent
behaviour takes away
souls.
11:31 If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more
the
evil-doer and the
sinner!
12:1 A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a
hater of
teaching is like a
beast.
12:2 A good man has grace in the eyes of the Lord; but the
man
of evil designs gets
punishment from him.
12:3 No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but
the
root of upright men
will never be moved.
12:4 A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she
whose
behaviour is a cause
of shame is like a wasting disease in his
bones.
12:5 The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs
of
evil-doers are
deceit.
12:6 The words of sinners are destruction for the upright;
but
the mouth of upright
men is their salvation.
12:7 Evil-doers are overturned and never seen again, but the
house of upright men
will keep its place.
12:8 A man will be praised in the measure of his wisdom, but
a
wrong-minded man will
be looked down on.
12:9 He who is of low position and has a servant, is better
than
one who has a high
opinion of himself and is in need of bread.
12:10 An upright man has thought for the life of his beast,
but
the hearts of
evil-doers are cruel.
12:11 He who does work on his land will not be short of
bread;
but he who goes after
foolish men is without sense.
12:12 The resting-place of the sinner will come to
destruction,
but the root of
upright men is for ever.
12:13 In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the
sinner,
but the upright man
will come out of trouble.
12:14 From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food
in
full measure, and the
work of a man's hands will be rewarded.
12:15 The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the
wise man gives ear to
suggestions.
12:16 A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a
sharp
man keeps shame
secret.
12:17 The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of
righteousness; but a
false witness gives out deceit.
12:18 There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the
wounds
of a sword, but the
tongue of the wise makes one well again.
12:19 True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is
only
for a minute.
12:20 Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are
evil,
but for those
purposing peace there is joy.
12:21 No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will
be
full of evil.
12:22 False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts
are
true are his delight.
12:23 A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of
foolish men makes
clear their foolish thoughts.
12:24 The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but
he
who is slow in his
work will be put to forced work.
12:25 Care in the heart of a man makes it weighted down, but
a
good word makes it
glad.
12:26 The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the
way
of evil-doers is a
cause of error to them.
12:27 He who is slow in his work does not go in search of
food;
but the ready worker
gets much wealth.
12:28 In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of
the
evil-doer goes to
death.
13:1 A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the
haters of authority
are shut to sharp words.
13:2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the
desire of the false
is for violent acts.
13:3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but
he
whose lips are open
wide will have destruction.
13:4 The hater of work does not get his desires, but the
soul of
the hard workers will
be made fat.
13:5 The upright man is a hater of false words: the
evil-doer
gets a bad name and
is put to shame.
13:6 Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without
error,
but evil-doers are
overturned by sin.
13:7 A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have
nothing;
another may seem
poor, but have great wealth.
13:8 A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life;
but
the poor will not
give ear to sharp words.
13:9 There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light
of
the sinner will be
put out.
13:10 The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is
with
the quiet in spirit.
13:11 Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a
store by the work of
his hands will have it increased.
13:12 Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when
what is
desired comes, it is
a tree of life.
13:13 He who makes sport of the word will come to
destruction,
but the respecter of
the law will be rewarded.
13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
turning
men away from the
nets of death.
13:15 Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false
is
their destruction.
13:16 A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a
foolish
man makes clear his
foolish thoughts.
13:17 A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he
who
gives news rightly
makes things well.
13:18 Need and shame will be the fate of him who is
uncontrolled
by training; but he
who takes note of teaching will be
honoured.
13:19 To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give
up
evil is disgusting to
the foolish.
13:20 Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company
with the foolish will
be broken.
13:21 Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be
rewarded with good.
13:22 The heritage of the good man is handed down to his
children's children;
and the wealth of the sinner is stored up
for the upright man.
13:23 There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor;
but
it is taken away by
wrongdoing.
13:24 He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the
loving
father gives
punishment with care.
13:25 The upright man has food to the full measure of his
desire, but there
will be no food for the stomach of
evil-doers.
14:1 Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is
pulling it down with
her hands.
14:2 He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him
the
fear of the Lord; but
he whose ways are twisted gives him no
honour.
14:3 In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back,
but
the lips of the wise
will keep them safe.
14:4 Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but
much increase comes
through the strength of the ox.
14:5 A true witness does not say what is false, but a false
witness is breathing
out deceit.
14:6 The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not
get
it; but knowledge
comes readily to the open-minded man.
14:7 Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the
lips
of knowledge.
14:8 The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way
clear;
but the unwise
behaviour of the foolish is deceit.
14:9 In the tents of those hating authority there is error,
but
in the house of the
upright man there is grace.
14:10 No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and
a
strange person has no
part in his joy.
14:11 The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the
tent
of the upright man
will do well.
14:12 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but
its
end is the ways of
death.
14:13 Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after
joy
comes sorrow.
14:14 He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of
his
ways in full measure;
but a good man will have the reward of
his doings.
14:15 The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of
good sense gives
thought to his footsteps.
14:16 The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but
the
foolish man goes on
in his pride, with no thought of danger.
14:17 He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but
the
man of good sense
will have quiet.
14:18 Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but
men
of good sense are
crowned with knowledge.
14:19 The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and
sinners go down in
the dust at the doors of the upright.
14:20 The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the
man
of wealth has numbers
of friends.
14:21 He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner,
but
he who has pity for
the poor is happy.
14:22 Will not the designers of evil come into error? But
mercy
and good faith are
for the designers of good.
14:23 In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes
a
man poor.
14:24 Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish
behaviour is round
the head of the unwise.
14:25 A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who
says
false things is a
cause of deceit.
14:26 For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there
is
strong hope: and his
children will have a safe place.
14:27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which
one
may be turned from
the nets of death.
14:28 A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for
need of people a
ruler may come to destruction.
14:29 He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but
he
whose spirit is
over-quick gives support to what is foolish.
14:30 A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a
disease in the bones.
14:31 He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker;
but he
who has mercy on
those who are in need gives him honour.
14:32 The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the
upright man has hope
in his righteousness.
14:33 Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise,
but
she is not seen among
the foolish.
14:34 By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a
cause
of shame to the
peoples.
14:35 The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely,
but
his wrath is against
him who is a cause of shame.
15:1 By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter
word is
a cause of angry
feelings.
15:2 Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but
from
the mouth of the
foolish comes a stream of foolish words.
15:3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch
on
the evil and the
good.
15:4 A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted
tongue
is a crushing of the
spirit.
15:5 A foolish man puts no value on his father's training;
but
he who has respect
for teaching has good sense.
15:6 In the house of the upright man there is a great store
of
wealth; but in the
profits of the sinner there is trouble.
15:7 The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of
the
foolish man is not
right.
15:8 The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the
Lord,
but the prayer of the
upright man is his delight.
15:9 The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but
he
who goes after
righteousness is dear to him.
15:10 There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from
the
way; and death will
be the fate of the hater of teaching.
15:11 Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction:
how
much more, then, the
hearts of the children of men!
15:12 The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he
will
not go to the wise.
15:13 A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow
of
the heart the spirit
is broken.
15:14 The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of
knowledge, but
foolish things are the food of the unwise.
15:15 All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose
heart
is glad has an
unending feast.
15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than
great
wealth together with
trouble.
15:17 Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox
and
hate with it.
15:18 An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is
slow
to get angry puts an
end to fighting.
15:19 Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the
road of the hard
worker becomes a highway.
15:20 A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has
no
respect for his
mother.
15:21 Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of
good
sense makes his way
straight.
15:22 Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to
nothing; but by a
number of wise guides they are made certain.
15:23 A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word
at
the right time, how
good it is!
15:24 Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away
from
the underworld.
15:25 The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the
Lord, but he will
make safe the heritage of the widow.
15:26 Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words
of
the clean-hearted are
pleasing.
15:27 He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of
trouble
to his family; but he
who has no desire for offerings will have
life.
15:28 The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer;
but
from the mouth of the
evil-doer comes a stream of evil things.
15:29 The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to
the
prayer of the
upright.
15:30 The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good
news
makes the bones fat.
15:31 The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will
have his place among
the wise.
15:32 He who will not be controlled by training has no
respect
for his soul, but he
who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.
15:33 The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a
low
opinion of oneself
goes before honour.
16:1 The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of
the
tongue comes from the
Lord.
16:2 All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord
puts
men's spirits into
his scales.
16:3 Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your
purposes will be made
certain.
16:4 The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the
sinner for the day of
evil.
16:5 Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to
the
Lord: he will
certainly not go free from punishment.
16:6 By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and
by
the fear of the Lord
men are turned away from evil.
16:7 When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes
even
his haters be at
peace with him.
16:8 Better is a little with righteousness, than great
wealth
with wrongdoing.
16:9 A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the
guide of his steps.
16:10 Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will
not go
wrong in judging.
16:11 True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the
weights
of the bag are his
work.
16:12 Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the
ruler is based on
righteousness.
16:13 Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he
who
says what is upright
is dear to him.
16:14 The wrath of the king is like those who give news of
death, but a wise man
will put peace in place of it.
16:15 In the light of the king's face there is life; and his
approval is like a
cloud of spring rain.
16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to
get
knowledge is more to
be desired than silver.
16:17 The highway of the upright is to be turned away from
evil:
he who takes care of
his way will keep his soul.
16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit
before a
fall.
16:19 Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor,
than
to take part in the
rewards of war with men of pride.
16:20 He who gives attention to the law of right will get
good;
and whoever puts his
faith in the Lord is happy.
16:21 The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and
by
pleasing words
learning is increased.
16:22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but
the
punishment of the
foolish is their foolish behaviour.
16:23 The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth,
and
gives increased
learning to his lips.
16:24 Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and
new
life to the bones.
16:25 There is a way which seems straight before a man, but
its
end is the ways of
death.
16:26 The desire of the working man is working for him, for
his
need of food is
driving him on.
16:27 A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in
his
lips there is a
burning fire.
16:28 A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting
everywhere: and he
who says evil secretly makes trouble between
friends.
16:29 A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's
mind, and makes him
go in a way which is not good.
16:30 He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes,
and
he who keeps his lips
shut tight makes evil come about.
16:31 The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the
way of righteousness.
16:32 He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of
war,
and he who has
control over his spirit than he who takes a
town.
16:33 A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it
comes
about through the
Lord.
17:1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full
of
feasting and violent
behaviour.
17:2 A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son
causing
shame, and will have
his part in the heritage among brothers.
17:3 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for
gold,
but the Lord is the
tester of hearts.
17:4 A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of
deceit gives ear to a
damaging tongue.
17:5 Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his
Maker;
and he who is glad
because of trouble will not go free from
punishment.
17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the
glory
of children is their
fathers.
17:7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man,
much less are false
lips in a ruler.
17:8 An offering of money is like a stone of great price in
the
eyes of him who has
it: wherever he goes, he does well.
17:9 He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he
who
keeps on talking of a
thing makes division between friends.
17:10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense
than
a hundred blows into
a foolish man.
17:11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a
cruel servant will be
sent against him.
17:12 It is better to come face to face with a bear whose
young
ones have been taken
away than with a foolish man acting
foolishly.
17:13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go
away from his house.
17:14 The start of fighting is like the letting out of
water: so
give up before it
comes to blows.
17:15 He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who
gives
a decision against
the upright, are equally disgusting to the
Lord.
17:16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him
wisdom,
seeing that he has no
sense?
17:17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother
in
times of trouble.
17:18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement,
and
makes himself
responsible before his neighbour.
17:19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes
high
his doorway is
looking for destruction.
17:20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil
purposes: and he who
has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
17:21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and
the
father of a foolish
son has no joy.
17:22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed
spirit
makes the bones dry.
17:23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a
decision for himself
in a cause.
17:24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but
the
eyes of the foolish
are on the ends of the earth.
17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter
pain to
her who gave him
birth.
17:26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to
give
blows to the noble
for their righteousness.
17:27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a
calm
spirit is a man of
good sense.
17:28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to
be
wise: when his lips
are shut he is credited with good sense.
18:1 He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose
goes
against all good
sense.
18:2 A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only
to
let what is in his
heart come to light.
18:3 When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him,
and
with the loss of
honour comes shame.
18:4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the
fountain of wisdom is
like a flowing stream.
18:5 To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not
good, or to give a
wrong decision against the upright.
18:6 A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his
mouth
makes him open to
blows.
18:7 The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his
lips
are a net for his
soul.
18:8 The words of one who says evil of his neighbour
secretly
are like sweet food,
and go down into the inner parts of the
stomach.
18:9 He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to
him
who makes
destruction.
18:10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright
man
running into it is
safe.
18:11 The property of a man of wealth is his strong town,
and it
is as a high wall in
the thoughts of his heart.
18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride,
and
before honour goes a
gentle spirit.
18:13 To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing
and a
cause of shame.
18:14 The spirit of a man will be his support when he is
ill;
but how may a broken
spirit be lifted up?
18:15 The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the
ear
of the wise is
searching for knowledge.
18:16 A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come
before great men.
18:17 The man who first puts his cause before the judge
seems to
be in the right; but
then his neighbour comes and puts his
cause in its true
light.
18:18 The decision of chance puts an end to argument,
parting
the strong.
18:19 A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent
acts
are like a locked
tower.
18:20 With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be
full;
the produce of his
lips will be his in full measure.
18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and
those
to whom it is dear
will have its fruit for their food.
18:22 Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the
approval of the Lord.
18:23 The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of
wealth gives a rough
answer.
18:24 There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but
there is a lover who
keeps nearer than a brother.
19:1 Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the
man
of wealth whose ways
are twisted.
19:2 Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he
who
is over-quick in
acting goes out of the right way.
19:3 By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside
down, and his heart
is bitter against the Lord.
19:4 Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor
man is
parted from his
friend.
19:5 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the
breather out of
deceit will not go free.
19:6 Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of
a
ruler: and every man
is the special friend of him who has
something to give.
19:7 All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how
much
more do his friends
go far from him! ...
19:8 He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps
good
sense will get what
is truly good.
19:9 A false witness will not go without punishment, and the
breather out of
deceit will be cut off.
19:10 Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much
less
for a servant to be
put over rulers.
19:11 A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the
overlooking of
wrongdoing is his glory.
19:12 The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but
his
approval is like dew
on the grass.
19:13 A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and
the
bitter arguments of a
wife are like drops of rain falling
without end.
19:14 House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a
wife
with good sense is
from the Lord.
19:15 Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has
no
industry will go
without food.
19:16 He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be
the
fate of him who takes
no note of the word.
19:17 He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the
Lord will give him
his reward.
19:18 Give your son training while there is hope; let not
your
heart be purposing
his death.
19:19 A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment:
for
if you get him out of
trouble you will have to do it again.
19:20 Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching,
so
that at the end you
may be wise.
19:21 A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose
of
the Lord is
unchanging.
19:22 The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is
better than one who
is false.
19:23 The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it
will
have need of nothing;
no evil will come his way.
19:24 The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin,
and
will not even take it
to his mouth again.
19:25 When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will
get
sense; say sharp
words to the wise, and knowledge will be made
clear to him.
19:26 He who is violent to his father, driving away his
mother,
is a son causing
shame and a bad name.
19:27 A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is
turned
away from the words
of knowledge.
19:28 A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's
decision: and the
mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a
stream.
19:29 Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and
blows
for the back of the
foolish.
20:1 Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come
to
blows; and whoever
comes into error through these is not wise.
20:2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he
who
makes him angry does
wrong against himself.
20:3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but
the
foolish are ever at war.
20:4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of
the
winter; so at the
time of grain-cutting he will be requesting
food and will get
nothing.
20:5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water,
but a
man of good sense
will get it out.
20:6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where
is a
man of good faith to
be seen?
20:7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are
his
children after him!
20:8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil
with
his eyes.
20:9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am
free
from my sin?
20:10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all
disgusting to the
Lord.
20:11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work
is
free from sin and if
it is right.
20:12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the
Lord's
work.
20:13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor:
keep
your eyes open, and
you will have bread enough.
20:14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving
money
for goods: but when
he has gone on his way, then he makes clear
his pride in what he
has got.
20:15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of
knowledge are a jewel
of great price.
20:16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible
for
a strange man, and
get an undertaking from him who gives his
word for strange men.
20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his
mouth
will be full of sand.
20:18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by
wise
guiding make war.
20:19 He who goes about talking of the business of others
gives
away secrets: so have
nothing to do with him whose lips are
open wide.
20:20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother,
his
light will be put out
in the blackest night.
20:21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of
it
will not be a
blessing.
20:22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on
waiting
for the Lord, and he
will be your saviour.
20:23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false
scales are not good.
20:24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have
knowledge of his way?
20:25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is
holy, and, after
taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is
necessary to keep
them.
20:26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their
evil-doing come back
on them.
20:27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching
all
the deepest parts of
the body.
20:28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat
of
his power is based on
upright acts.
20:29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the
honour
of old men is their
grey hairs.
20:30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows
make clean the
deepest parts of the body.
21:1 The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the
water
streams, and by him
it is turned in any direction at his
pleasure.
21:2 Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord
is
the tester of hearts.
21:3 To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the
Lord
than an offering.
21:4 A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer
is
sin.
21:5 The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome
only
in wealth; but one
who is over-quick in acting will only come
to be in need.
21:6 He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is
going
after what is only
breath, and searching for death.
21:7 By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled
away,
because they have no
desire to do what is right.
21:8 Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as
for
him whose heart is
clean, his work is upright.
21:9 It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top,
than with a
bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
21:10 The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has
no
kind feeling for his
neighbour.
21:11 When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple
man
gets wisdom; and by
watching the wise he gets knowledge.
21:12 The Upright One, looking on the house of the
evil-doer,
lets sinners be
overturned to their destruction.
21:13 He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will
himself get no answer
to his cry for help.
21:14 By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the
heat of
angry feelings by
money in the folds of the robe.
21:15 It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is
destruction to the
workers of evil.
21:16 The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his
resting-place among
the shades.
21:17 The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of
wine and oil will not
get wealth.
21:18 The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of
the
good man, and the
worker of deceit in the place of the upright.
21:19 It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a
bitter-tongued and
angry woman.
21:20 There is a store of great value in the house of the
wise,
but it is wasted by
the foolish man.
21:21 He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get
life,
righteousness, and
honour.
21:22 A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones,
and
overcomes its
strength in which they put their faith.
21:23 He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps
his
soul from troubles.
21:24 The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named
high-hearted; he is
acting in an outburst of pride.
21:25 The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for
his
hands will do no
work.
21:26 All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the
upright man gives
freely, keeping nothing back.
21:27 The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much
more
when they give it
with an evil purpose!
21:28 A false witness will be cut off, ...
21:29 The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the
upright,
he gives thought to
his way.
21:30 Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no
use
against the Lord.
21:31 The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power
to
overcome is from the
Lord.
22:1 A good name is more to be desired than great wealth,
and to
be respected is
better than silver and gold.
22:2 The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face:
the
Lord is the maker of
them all.
22:3 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple
go
straight on and get
into trouble.
22:4 The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord
is
wealth and honour and
life.
22:5 Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who
keeps
watch over his soul
will be far from them.
22:6 If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he
is
old he will not be
turned away from it.
22:7 The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who
gets
into debt is a
servant to his creditor.
22:8 By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the
grain of
sorrow, and the rod
of his wrath will be broken.
22:9 He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of
his
bread to the poor.
22:10 Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out;
truly fighting and
shame will come to an end.
22:11 He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the
grace
of his lips the king
will be his friend.
22:12 The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the
acts
of the false man will
be overturned.
22:13 The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I
will be
put to death in the
streets.
22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with
whom
the Lord is angry
will go down into it.
22:15 Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child,
but
the rod of punishment
will send them far from him.
22:16 He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of
increasing
his profit, and he
who gives to the man of wealth, will only
come to be in need.
22:17 Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and
let
your heart give
thought to knowledge.
22:18 For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to
have
them ready on your
lips.
22:19 So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them
clear to you this
day, even to you.
22:20 Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with
wise suggestions and
knowledge,
22:21 To make you see how certain are true words, so that
you
may give a true
answer to those who put questions to you?
22:22 Do not take away the property of the poor man because
he
is poor, or be cruel
to the crushed ones when they come before
the judge:
22:23 For the Lord will give support to their cause, and
take
the life of those who
take their goods.
22:24 Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do
not
go in the company of
an angry man:
22:25 For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready
for
your soul.
22:26 Be not one of those who give their hands in an
agreement,
or of those who make
themselves responsible for debts:
22:27 If you have nothing with which to make payment, he
will
take away your bed
from under you.
22:28 Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers
have
put in place.
22:29 Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he
will
take his place before
kings; his place will not be among low
persons.
23:1 When you take your seat at the feast with a ruler, give
thought with care to
what is before you;
23:2 And put a knife to your throat, if you have a strong
desire
for food.
23:3 Have no desire for his delicate food, for it is the
bread
of deceit.
23:4 Take no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your
desire for money.
23:5 Are your eyes lifted up to it? it is gone: for wealth
takes
to itself wings, like
an eagle in flight up to heaven.
23:6 Do not take the food of him who has an evil eye, or
have
any desire for his
delicate meat:
23:7 For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take
food
and drink, he says to
you; but his heart is not with you.
23:8 The food which you have taken will come up again, and
your
pleasing words will
be wasted.
23:9 Say nothing in the hearing of a foolish man, for he
will
put no value on the
wisdom of your words.
23:10 Do not let the landmark of the widow be moved, and do
not
go into the fields of
those who have no father;
23:11 For their saviour is strong, and he will take up their
cause against you.
23:12 Give your heart to teaching, and your ears to the
words of
knowledge.
23:13 Do not keep back training from the child: for even if
you
give him blows with
the rod, it will not be death to him.
23:14 Give him blows with the rod, and keep his soul safe
from
the underworld.
23:15 My son, if your heart becomes wise, I, even I, will be
glad in heart;
23:16 And my thoughts in me will be full of joy when your
lips
say right things.
23:17 Have no envy of sinners in your heart, but keep in the
fear of the Lord all
through the day;
23:18 For without doubt there is a future, and your hope
will
not be cut off.
23:19 Give ear, my son, and be wise, guiding your heart in
the
right way.
23:20 Do not be among those who give themselves to
wine-drinking, or
among those who make themselves full with
meat:
23:21 For those who take delight in drink and feasting will
come
to be in need; and
through love of sleep a man will be poorly
clothed.
23:22 Give ear to your father whose child you are, and do
not
keep honour from your
mother when she is old.
23:23 Get for yourself that which is true, and do not let it
go
for money; get wisdom
and teaching and good sense.
23:24 The father of the upright man will be glad, and he who
has
a wise child will
have joy because of him.
23:25 Let your father and your mother be glad, let her who
gave
you birth have joy.
23:26 My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes take
delight
in my ways.
23:27 For a loose woman is a deep hollow, and a strange
woman is
a narrow water-hole.
23:28 Yes, she is waiting secretly like a beast for its
food,
and deceit by her is
increased among men.
23:29 Who says, Oh! who says, Ah! who has violent arguments,
who
has grief, who has
wounds without cause, whose eyes are dark?
23:30 Those who are seated late over the wine: those who go
looking for mixed
wine.
23:31 Keep your eyes from looking on the wine when it is
red,
when its colour is
bright in the cup, when it goes smoothly
down:
23:32 In the end, its bite is like that of a snake, its
wound
like the wound of a
poison-snake.
23:33 Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say
twisted things.
23:34 Yes, you will be like him who takes his rest on the
sea,
or on the top of a
sail-support.
23:35 They have overcome me, you will say, and I have no
pain;
they gave me blows
without my feeling them: when will I be
awake from my wine? I
will go after it again.
24:1 Have no envy for evil men, or any desire to be with
them:
24:2 For the purposes of their hearts are destruction, and
their
lips are talking of
trouble.
24:3 The building of a house is by wisdom, and by reason it
is
made strong:
24:4 And by knowledge its rooms are full of all dear and
pleasing things.
24:5 A wise man is strong; and a man of knowledge makes
strength
greater.
24:6 For by wise guiding you will overcome in war: and in a
number of wise guides
there is salvation.
24:7 Wisdom is outside the power of the foolish: he keeps
his
mouth shut in the
public place.
24:8 He whose purposes are bad will be named a man of evil
designs.
24:9 The purpose of the foolish is sin: and the hater of
authority is
disgusting to others.
24:10 If you give way in the day of trouble, your strength
is
small.
24:11 Be the saviour of those who are given up to death, and
do
not keep back help
from those who are slipping to destruction.
24:12 If you say, See, we had no knowledge of this: does not
the
tester of hearts give
thought to it? and he who keeps your
soul, has he no
knowledge of it? and will he not give to every
man the reward of his
work?
24:13 My son, take honey, for it is good; and the flowing
honey,
which is sweet to
your taste:
24:14 So let your desire be for wisdom: if you have it,
there
will be a future, and
your hope will not be cut off.
24:15 Do not keep a secret watch, O evil-doer, against the
fields of the upright
man, or send destruction on his
resting-place:
24:16 For an upright man, after falling seven times, will
get up
again: but trouble is
the downfall of the evil.
24:17 Do not be glad at the fall of your hater, and let not
your
heart have joy at his
downfall:
24:18 For fear that the Lord may see it, and it may be evil
in
his eyes, and his
wrath may be turned away from him.
24:19 Do not be troubled because of evil-doers, or have envy
of
sinners:
24:20 For there will be no future for the evil man; the
light of
sinners will be put
out.
24:21 My son, go in fear of the Lord and the king: have
nothing
to do with those who
are in high positions:
24:22 For their downfall will come suddenly; and who has
knowledge of the
destruction of those in high positions?
24:23 These are more sayings of the wise: To have respect
for a
person's position
when judging is not good.
24:24 He who says to the evil-doer, You are upright, will be
cursed by peoples and
hated by nations.
24:25 But those who say sharp words to him will have
delight,
and a blessing of
good will come on them.
24:26 He gives a kiss with his lips who gives a right
answer.
24:27 Put your work in order outside, and make it ready in
the
field; and after
that, see to the building of your house.
24:28 Do not be a violent witness against your neighbour, or
let
your lips say what is
false.
24:29 Say not, I will do to him as he has done to me; I will
give the man the
reward of his work.
24:30 I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the
vine-garden of the
man without sense;
24:31 And it was all full of thorns, and covered with waste
plants, and its stone
wall was broken down.
24:32 Then looking at it, I gave thought: I saw, and I got
teaching from it.
24:33 A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the
hands in sleep:
24:34 So loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need
like an armed man.
25:1 These are more wise sayings of Solomon, copied out by
the
men of Hezekiah, king
of Judah.
25:2 It is the glory of God to keep a thing secret: but the
glory of kings is to
have it searched out.
25:3 The heaven is high and the earth is deep, and the
hearts of
kings may not be
searched out.
25:4 Take away the waste from silver, and a vessel will come
out
for the
silver-worker.
25:5 Take away evil-doers from before the king, and the seat
of
his power will be
made strong in righteousness.
25:6 Do not take glory for yourself before the king, and do
not
put yourself in the place
of the great:
25:7 For it is better to have it said to you, Come up here;
than
for you to be put
down in a lower place before the ruler.
25:8 Do not be quick to go to law about what you have seen,
for
what will you do in
the end, when your neighbour has put you to
shame?
25:9 Have a talk with your neighbour himself about your
cause,
but do not give away
the secret of another:
25:10 Or your hearer may say evil of you, and your shame
will
not be turned away.
25:11 A word at the right time is like apples of gold in a
network of silver.
25:12 Like a nose-ring of gold and an ornament of the best
gold,
is a wise man who
says sharp words to an ear ready to give
attention.
25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of grain-cutting, so
is a
true servant to those
who send him; for he gives new life to
the soul of his
master.
25:14 As clouds and wind without rain, so is one who takes
credit for an
offering he has not given.
25:15 A judge is moved by one who for a long time undergoes
wrongs without
protest, and by a soft tongue even bone is
broken.
25:16 If you have honey, take only as much as is enough for
you;
for fear that, being
full of it, you may not be able to keep it
down.
25:17 Let not your foot be frequently in your neighbour's
house,
or he may get tired
of you, and his feeling be turned to hate.
25:18 One who gives false witness against his neighbour is a
hammer and a sword
and a sharp arrow.
25:19 Putting one's faith in a false man in time of trouble
is
like a broken tooth
and a shaking foot.
25:20 Like one who takes off clothing in cold weather and
like
acid on a wound, is
he who makes melody to a sad heart.
25:21 If your hater is in need of food, give him bread; and
if
he is in need of
drink, give him water:
25:22 For so you will put coals of fire on his head, and the
Lord will give you
your reward.
25:23 As the north wind gives birth to rain, so is an angry
face
caused by a tongue
saying evil secretly.
25:24 It is better to be living in an angle of the
house-top,
than with a
bitter-tongued woman in a wide house.
25:25 As cold water to a tired soul, so is good news from a
far
country.
25:26 Like a troubled fountain and a dirty spring, is an
upright
man who has to give
way before evil-doers.
25:27 It is not good to take much honey: so he who is not
looking for honour
will be honoured.
25:28 He whose spirit is uncontrolled is like an unwalled
town
which has been broken
into.
26:1 Like snow in summer and rain when the grain is being
cut,
so honour is not
natural for the foolish.
26:2 As the sparrow in her wandering and the swallow in her
flight, so the curse
does not come without a cause.
26:3 A whip for the horse, a mouth-bit for the ass, and a
rod
for the back of the
foolish.
26:4 Do not give to the foolish man a foolish answer, or you
will be like him.
26:5 Give a foolish man a foolish answer, or he will seem
wise
to himself.
26:6 He who sends news by the hand of a foolish man is
cutting
off his feet and
drinking in damage.
26:7 The legs of one who has no power of walking are hanging
loose; so is a wise
saying in the mouth of the foolish.
26:8 Giving honour to a foolish man is like attempting to
keep a
stone fixed in a
cord.
26:9 Like a thorn which goes up into the hand of a man
overcome
by drink, so is a
wise saying in the mouth of a foolish man.
26:10 Like an archer wounding all who go by, is a foolish
man
overcome by drink.
26:11 Like a dog going back to the food which he has not
been
able to keep down, is
the foolish man doing his foolish acts
over again.
26:12 Have you seen a man who seems to himself to be wise?
There
is more hope for the
foolish than for him.
26:13 The hater of work says, There is a lion in the way; a
lion
is in the streets.
26:14 A door is turned on its pillar, and the hater of work
on
his bed.
26:15 The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin:
lifting it again to
his mouth is a weariness to him.
26:16 The hater of work seems to himself wiser than seven
men
who are able to give
an answer with good sense.
26:17 He who gets mixed up in a fight which is not his
business,
is like one who takes
a dog by the ears while it is going by.
26:18 As one who is off his head sends about flaming sticks and
arrows of death,
26:19 So is the man who gets the better of his neighbour by
deceit, and says, Am
I not doing so in sport?
26:20 Without wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no
secret talk, argument
is ended.
26:21 Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given
to
argument gets a fight
started.
26:22 The words of one who says evil of his neighbour
secretly
are like sweet food,
they go down into the inner parts of the
stomach.
26:23 Smooth lips and an evil heart are like a vessel of
earth
plated with silver
waste.
26:24 With his lips the hater makes things seem what they
are
not, but deceit is
stored up inside him;
26:25 When he says fair words, have no belief in him; for in
his
heart are seven
evils:
26:26 Though his hate is covered with deceit, his sin will
be
seen openly before
the meeting of the people.
26:27 He who makes a hole in the earth will himself go
falling
into it: and on him
by whom a stone is rolled the stone will
come back again.
26:28 A false tongue has hate for those who have clean
hearts,
and a smooth mouth is
a cause of falling.
27:1 Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not
certain
what a day's outcome
may be.
27:2 Let another man give you praise, and not your mouth;
one
who is strange to
you, and not your lips.
27:3 A stone has great weight, and sand is crushing; but the
wrath of the foolish
is of greater weight than these.
27:4 Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing
stream;
but who does not give
way before envy?
27:5 Better is open protest than love kept secret.
27:6 The wounds of a friend are given in good faith, but the
kisses of a hater are
false.
27:7 The full man has no use for honey, but to the man in
need
of food every bitter
thing is sweet.
27:8 Like a bird wandering from the place of her eggs is a
man
wandering from his
station.
27:9 Oil and perfume make glad the heart, and the wise
suggestion of a
friend is sweet to the soul.
27:10 Do not give up your friend and your father's friend;
and
do not go into your
brother's house in the day of your trouble:
better is a neighbour
who is near than a brother far off.
27:11 My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may
give
back an answer to him
who puts me to shame.
27:12 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the
simple go
straight on and get
into trouble.
27:13 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible
for
a strange man, and
get an undertaking from him who gives his
word for strange men.
27:14 He who gives a blessing to his friend with a loud
voice,
getting up early in
the morning, will have it put to his
account as a curse.
27:15 Like an unending dropping on a day of rain is a
bitter-tongued woman.
27:16 He who keeps secret the secret of his friend, will get
himself a name for
good faith.
27:17 Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his
friend.
27:18 Whoever keeps a fig-tree will have its fruit; and the
servant waiting on
his master will be honoured.
27:19 Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts
of
men to one another.
27:20 The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the
eyes of
man have never
enough.
27:21 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for
gold,
and a man is measured
by what he is praised for.
27:22 Even if a foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a
vessel
among crushed grain,
still his foolish ways will not go from
him.
27:23 Take care to have knowledge about the condition of
your
flocks, looking well
after your herds;
27:24 For wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on
for
all generations.
27:25 The grass comes up and the young grass is seen, and
the
mountain plants are
got in.
27:26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the he-goats make
the
value of a field:
27:27 There will be goats' milk enough for your food, and
for
the support of your
servant-girls.
28:1 The evil man goes running away when no man is after
him,
but the upright are
without fear, like the lion.
28:2 Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are
increased;
but by a man of
wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like
a fire.
28:3 A man of wealth who is cruel to the poor is like a
violent
rain causing
destruction of food.
28:4 Those who have no respect for the law give praise to
the
evil-doer; but such
as keep the law are against him.
28:5 Evil men have no knowledge of what is right; but those
who
go after the Lord
have knowledge of all things.
28:6 Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the
man
of wealth whose ways
are not straight.
28:7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who keeps
company with feasters
puts shame on his father.
28:8 He who makes his wealth greater by taking interest,
only
gets it together for
him who has pity on the poor.
28:9 As for the man whose ear is turned away from hearing
the
law, even his prayer
is disgusting.
28:10 Anyone causing the upright to go wandering in an evil
way,
will himself go down
into the hole he has made; but the upright
will have good things
for their heritage.
28:11 The man of wealth seems to himself to be wise, but the
poor man who has
sense has a low opinion of him.
28:12 When the upright do well, there is great glory; but
when
evil-doers are lifted
up, men do not let themselves be seen.
28:13 He who keeps his sins secret will not do well; but one
who
is open about them,
and gives them up, will get mercy.
28:14 Happy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at
all
times; but he whose
heart is hard will come into trouble.
28:15 Like a loud-voiced lion and a wandering bear, is an
evil
ruler over a poor
people.
28:16 The prince who has no sense is a cruel ruler; but he
who
has no desire to get
profit for himself will have long life.
28:17 One who has been the cause of a man's death will go in
flight to the
underworld: let no man give him help.
28:18 He whose ways are upright will be safe, but sudden
will be
the fall of him whose
ways are twisted.
28:19 By ploughing his land a man will have bread in full
measure; but he who
goes after good-for-nothing persons will be
poor enough.
28:20 A man of good faith will have great blessing, but one
attempting to get
wealth quickly will not go free from
punishment.
28:21 It is not good to have respect for a man's position:
for a
man will do wrong for
a bit of bread.
28:22 He who is ever desiring wealth goes running after
money,
and does not see that
need will come on him.
28:23 He who says words of protest to a man will later have
more
approval than one who
says smooth words with his tongue.
28:24 He who takes from his father or his mother what is
theirs
by right, and says,
It is no sin; is the same as a taker of
life.
28:25 He who is ever desiring profit is a cause of fighting;
but
he who puts his faith
in the Lord will be made fat.
28:26 He whose faith is in himself is foolish; but everyone
walking wisely will
be kept safe.
28:27 He who gives to the poor will never be in need, but
great
curses will be on him
who gives no attention to them.
28:28 When evil-doers are lifted up, men take cover; but
when
destruction overtakes
them, the upright are increased.
29:1 A man hating sharp words and making his heart hard,
will
suddenly be broken
and will not be made well again.
29:2 When the upright have power, the people are glad; when
an
evil man is ruler,
grief comes on the people.
29:3 A man who is a lover of wisdom is a joy to his father:
but
he who goes in the
company of loose women is a waster of
wealth.
29:4 A king, by right rule, makes the land safe; but one
full of
desires makes it a
waste.
29:5 A man who says smooth things to his neighbour is
stretching
out a net for his
steps.
29:6 In the steps of an evil man there is a net for him, but
the
upright man gets away
quickly and is glad.
29:7 The upright man gives attention to the cause of the
poor:
the evil-doer gives
no thought to it.
29:8 Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town,
but
by wise men wrath is
turned away.
29:9 If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be
angry or laughing,
but there will be no rest.
29:10 Men of blood are haters of the good man, and
evil-doers go
after his soul.
29:11 A foolish man lets out all his wrath, but a wise man
keeps
it back quietly.
29:12 If a ruler gives attention to false words, all his
servants are
evil-doers.
29:13 The poor man and his creditor come face to face: the
Lord
gives light to their
eyes equally.
29:14 The king who is a true judge in the cause of the poor,
will be safe for ever
on the seat of his power.
29:15 The rod and sharp words give wisdom: but a child who
is
not guided is a cause
of shame to his mother.
29:16 When evil men are in power, wrongdoing is increased;
but
the upright will have
pleasure when they see their downfall.
29:17 Give your son training, and he will give you rest; he
will
give delight to your
soul.
29:18 Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled;
but
he who keeps the law
will be happy.
29:19 A servant will not be trained by words; for though the
sense of the words is
clear to him, he will not give attention.
29:20 Have you seen a man who is quick with his tongue?
There is
more hope for a
foolish man than for him.
29:21 If a servant is gently cared for from his early years,
he
will become a cause
of sorrow in the end.
29:22 An angry man is the cause of fighting, and a man given
to
wrath does much
wrong.
29:23 A man's pride will be the cause of his fall, but he
who
has a gentle spirit
will get honour.
29:24 A man who takes part with a thief has hate for his
soul;
he is put under oath,
but says nothing.
29:25 The fear of man is a cause of danger: but whoever puts
his
faith in the Lord
will have a safe place on high.
29:26 The approval of a ruler is desired by great numbers:
but
the decision in a
man's cause comes from the Lord.
29:27 An evil man is disgusting to the upright, and he who
is
upright is disgusting
to evil-doers.
30:1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh, from Massa. The
man
says: I am full of
weariness, O God, I am full of weariness; O
God, I have come to
an end:
30:2 For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no
power of
reasoning like a man:
30:3 I have not got wisdom by teaching, so that I might have
the
knowledge of the Holy
One.
30:4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down? who has taken
the
winds in his hands,
prisoning the waters in his robe? by whom
have all the ends of
the earth been fixed? what is his name,
and what is his son's
name, if you are able to say?
30:5 Every word of God is tested: he is a breastplate to
those
who put their faith
in him.
30:6 Make no addition to his words, or he will make clear
your
error, and you will
be seen to be false.
30:7 I have made request to you for two things; do not keep
them
from me before my
death:
30:8 Put far from me all false and foolish things: do not
give
me great wealth or
let me be in need, but give me only enough
food:
30:9 For fear that if I am full, I may be false to you and
say,
Who is the Lord? or
if I am poor, I may become a thief, using
the name of my God
wrongly.
30:10 Do not say evil of a servant to his master, or he will
put
a curse on you, and
you will get into trouble.
30:11 There is a generation who put a curse on their father,
and
do not give a
blessing to their mother.
30:12 There is a generation who seem to themselves to be
free
from sin, but are not
washed from their unclean ways.
30:13 There is a generation, O how full of pride are their
eyes!
O how their brows are
lifted up!
30:14 There is a generation whose teeth are like swords,
their
strong teeth like
knives, for the destruction of the poor from
the earth, and of
those who are in need from among men.
30:15 The night-spirit has two daughters, Give, give. There
are
three things which
are never full, even four which never say,
Enough:
30:16 The underworld, and the woman without a child; the
earth
which never has
enough water, and the fire which never says,
Enough.
30:17 The eye which makes sport of a father, and sees no
value
in a mother when she
is old will be rooted out by the ravens of
the valley, and be
food for the young eagles.
30:18 There are three things, the wonder of which overcomes
me,
even four things
outside my knowledge:
30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a snake on
a
rock; the way of a
ship in the heart of the sea; and the way of
a man with a girl.
30:20 This is the way of a false wife; she takes food, and,
cleaning her mouth,
says, I have done no wrong.
30:21 For three things the earth is moved, and there are
four
which it will not put
up with:
30:22 A servant when he becomes a king; a man without sense
when
his wealth is
increased;
30:23 A hated woman when she is married; and a servant-girl
who
takes the place of
her master's wife.
30:24 There are four things which are little on the earth,
but
they are very wise:
30:25 The ants are a people not strong, but they put by a
store
of food in the
summer;
30:26 The conies are only a feeble people, but they make
their
houses in the rocks;
30:27 The locusts have no king, but they all go out in
bands;
30:28 You may take the lizard in your hands, but it is in
kings'
houses.
30:29 There are three things whose steps are good to see,
even
four whose goings are
fair:
30:30 The lion, which is strongest among beasts, not turning
from his way for any;
30:31 The war-horse, and the he-goat, and the king when his
army
is with him.
30:32 If you have done foolishly in lifting yourself up, or
if
you have had evil
designs, put your hand over your mouth.
30:33 The shaking of milk makes butter, and the twisting of
the
nose makes blood
come: so the forcing of wrath is a cause of
fighting.
31:1 The words of Lemuel, king of Massa: the teaching which
he
had from his mother.
31:2 What am I to say to you, O Lemuel, my oldest son? and
what,
O son of my body? and
what, O son of my oaths?
31:3 Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that
which is the
destruction of kings.
31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to
take
wine, or for rulers
to say, Where is strong drink?
31:5 For fear that through drinking they may come to have no
respect for the law,
wrongly judging the cause of those who are
in trouble.
31:6 Give strong drink to him who is near to destruction,
and
wine to him whose
soul is bitter:
31:7 Let him have drink, and his need will go from his mind,
and
the memory of his
trouble will be gone.
31:8 Let your mouth be open for those who have no voice, in
the
cause of those who
are ready for death.
31:9 Let your mouth be open, judging rightly, and give right
decisions in the
cause of the poor and those in need.
31:10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her
price
is much higher than
jewels.
31:11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will
have profit in full
measure.
31:12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her
life.
31:13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of
her
hands.
31:14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far
away.
31:15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to
her
family, and their
food to her servant-girls.
31:16 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a
price, planting a
vine-garden with the profit of her work.
31:17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her
arms
strong.
31:18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her
light
does not go out by
night.
31:19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her
fingers take the
wheel.
31:20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is
open-handed to those
who are in need.
31:21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all
those
in her house are
clothed in red.
31:22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her
clothing
is fair linen and
purple.
31:23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when
he
takes his seat among
the responsible men of the land.
31:24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and
traders take her
cloth bands for a price.
31:25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is
facing
the future with a
smile.
31:26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of
mercy
is on her tongue.
31:27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she
does
not take her food
without working for it.
31:28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her
husband
gives her praise,
saying,
31:29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better
than
all of them.
31:30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no
value; but a woman
who has the fear of the Lord is to be
praised.
31:31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her
be
praised by her works in the public place.