CHAPTER 1
¹The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;   ²To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;   ³To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;   ⁴To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.   ⁵A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:   ⁶To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.   ⁷The fear of the is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.   ⁸My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:   ⁹For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.   ¹⁰My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.   ¹¹If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:   ¹²Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:   ¹³We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:   ¹⁴Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:   ¹⁵My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:   ¹⁶For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.   ¹⁷Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.   ¹⁸And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.   ¹⁹So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.   ²⁰Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:   ²¹She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,   ²²How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity ? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge ?   ²³Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.   ²⁴Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;   ²⁵But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:   ²⁶I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;   ²⁷When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.   ²⁸Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:   ²⁹For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the:   ³⁰They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.   ³¹Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.   ³²For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.   ³³But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.  

CHAPTER 2
¹My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;   ²So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;   ³Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;   ⁴If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;   ⁵Then shalt thou understand the fear of the, and find the knowledge of God.   ⁶For the giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.   ⁷He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.   ⁸He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.   ⁹Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.   ¹⁰When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;   ¹¹Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:   ¹²To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;   ¹³Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;   ¹⁴Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;   ¹⁵Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:   ¹⁶To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;   ¹⁷Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.   ¹⁸For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.   ¹⁹None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.   ²⁰That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.   ²¹For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.   ²²But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.  

CHAPTER 3
¹My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:   ²For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.   ³Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:   ⁴So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.   ⁵Trust in the with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.   ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.   ⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the, and depart from evil.   ⁸It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.   ⁹Honour the with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:   ¹⁰So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.   ¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the; neither be weary of his correction:   ¹²For whom the loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.   ¹³Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.   ¹⁴For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.   ¹⁵She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.   ¹⁶Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.   ¹⁷Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.   ¹⁸She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.   ¹⁹The by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.   ²⁰By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.   ²¹My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:   ²²So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.   ²³Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.   ²⁴When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.   ²⁵Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.   ²⁶For the shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.   ²⁷Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.   ²⁸Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.   ²⁹Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.   ³⁰Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.   ³¹Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.   ³²For the froward is abomination to the: but his secret is with the righteous.   ³³The curse of the is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.   ³⁴Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.   ³⁵The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.  

CHAPTER 4
¹Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.   ²For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.   ³For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.   ⁴He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.   ⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.   ⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.   ⁷Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.   ⁸Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.   ⁹She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.   ¹⁰Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.   ¹¹I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.   ¹²When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.   ¹³Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.   ¹⁴Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.   ¹⁵Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.   ¹⁶For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.   ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.   ¹⁸But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.   ¹⁹The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.   ²⁰My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.   ²¹Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.   ²²For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.   ²³Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.   ²⁴Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.   ²⁵Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.   ²⁶Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.   ²⁷Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.  

CHAPTER 5
¹My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:   ²That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.   ³For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:   ⁴But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.   ⁵Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.   ⁶Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.   ⁷Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.   ⁸Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:   ⁹Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:   ¹⁰Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;   ¹¹And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,   ¹²And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;   ¹³And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!   ¹⁴I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.   ¹⁵Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.   ¹⁶Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.   ¹⁷Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee.   ¹⁸Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.   ¹⁹Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.   ²⁰And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger ?   ²¹For the ways of man are before the eyes of the, and he pondereth all his goings.   ²²His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.   ²³He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.  

CHAPTER 6
¹My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,   ²Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.   ³Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.   ⁴Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.   ⁵Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.   ⁶Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:   ⁷Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,   ⁸Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.   ⁹How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard ? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep ?   ¹⁰Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:   ¹¹So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.   ¹²A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.   ¹³He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;   ¹⁴Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.   ¹⁵Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.   ¹⁶These six things doth the hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:   ¹⁷A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,   ¹⁸An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,   ¹⁹A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.   ²⁰My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:   ²¹Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.   ²²When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.   ²³For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:   ²⁴To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.   ²⁵Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.   ²⁶For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.   ²⁷Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned ?   ²⁸Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned ?   ²⁹So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.   ³⁰Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;   ³¹But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.   ³²But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.   ³³A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.   ³⁴For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.   ³⁵He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.  

CHAPTER 7
¹My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.   ²Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.   ³Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.   ⁴Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:   ⁵That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.   ⁶For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,   ⁷And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,   ⁸Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,   ⁹In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:   ¹⁰And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.   ¹¹(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:   ¹²Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)   ¹³So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,   ¹⁴I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.   ¹⁵Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.   ¹⁶I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.   ¹⁷I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.   ¹⁸Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.   ¹⁹For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:   ²⁰He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.   ²¹With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.   ²²He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;   ²³Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.   ²⁴Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.   ²⁵Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.   ²⁶For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.   ²⁷Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.  

CHAPTER 8
¹Doth not wisdom cry ? and understanding put forth her voice ?   ²She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.   ³She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.   ⁴Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.   ⁵O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.   ⁶Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.   ⁷For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.   ⁸All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.   ⁹They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.   ¹⁰Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.   ¹¹For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.   ¹²I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.   ¹³The fear of the is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.   ¹⁴Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.   ¹⁵By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.   ¹⁶By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.   ¹⁷I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.   ¹⁸Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.   ¹⁹My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.   ²⁰I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:   ²¹That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.   ²²The possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.   ²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.   ²⁴When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.   ²⁵Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:   ²⁶While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.   ²⁷When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:   ²⁸When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:   ²⁹When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:   ³⁰Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;   ³¹Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.   ³²Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.   ³³Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.   ³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.   ³⁵For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the.   ³⁶But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.  

CHAPTER 9
¹Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:   ²She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.   ³She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,   ⁴Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,   ⁵Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.   ⁶Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.   ⁷He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.   ⁸Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.   ⁹Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.   ¹⁰The fear of the is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.   ¹¹For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.   ¹²If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.   ¹³A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.   ¹⁴For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,   ¹⁵To call passengers who go right on their ways:   ¹⁶Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,   ¹⁷Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.   ¹⁸But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.  

CHAPTER 10
¹The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.   ²Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.   ³The will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.   ⁴He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.   ⁵He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.   ⁶Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.   ⁷The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.   ⁸The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.   ⁹He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.   ¹⁰He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.   ¹¹The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.   ¹²Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.   ¹³In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.   ¹⁴Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.   ¹⁵The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.   ¹⁶The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.   ¹⁷He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.   ¹⁸He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.   ¹⁹In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.   ²⁰The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.   ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.   ²²The blessing of the, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.   ²³It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.   ²⁴The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.   ²⁵As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.   ²⁶As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.   ²⁷The fear of the prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.   ²⁸The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.   ²⁹The way of the is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.   ³⁰The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.   ³¹The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.   ³²The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.  

CHAPTER 11
¹A false balance is abomination to the: but a just weight is his delight.   ²When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.   ³The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.   ⁴Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.   ⁵The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.   ⁶The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.   ⁷When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.   ⁸The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.   ⁹An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.   ¹⁰When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.   ¹¹By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.   ¹²He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.   ¹³A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.   ¹⁴Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.   ¹⁵He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.   ¹⁶A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.   ¹⁷The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.   ¹⁸The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.   ¹⁹As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.   ²⁰They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.   ²¹Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.   ²²As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.   ²³The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.   ²⁴There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.   ²⁵The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.   ²⁶He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.   ²⁷He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.   ²⁸He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.   ²⁹He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.   ³⁰The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.   ³¹Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.  

CHAPTER 12
¹Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.   ²A good man obtaineth favour of the: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.   ³A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.   ⁴A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.   ⁵The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.   ⁶The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.   ⁷The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.   ⁸A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.   ⁹He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.   ¹⁰A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.   ¹¹He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.   ¹²The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.   ¹³The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.   ¹⁴A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.   ¹⁵The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.   ¹⁶A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.   ¹⁷He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.   ¹⁸There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.   ¹⁹The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.   ²⁰Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.   ²¹There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.   ²²Lying lips are abomination to the: but they that deal truly are his delight.   ²³A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.   ²⁴The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.   ²⁵Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.   ²⁶The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.   ²⁷The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.   ²⁸In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.  

CHAPTER 13
¹A wise son heareth his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.   ²A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.   ³He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.   ⁴The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.   ⁵A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.   ⁶Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.   ⁷There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.   ⁸The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.   ⁹The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.   ¹⁰Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.   ¹¹Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.   ¹²Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.   ¹³Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.   ¹⁴The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.   ¹⁵Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.   ¹⁶Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.   ¹⁷A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.   ¹⁸Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.   ¹⁹The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.   ²⁰He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.   ²¹Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.   ²²A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.   ²³Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.   ²⁴He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.   ²⁵The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.  

CHAPTER 14
¹Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.   ²He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.   ³In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.   ⁴Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.   ⁵A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.   ⁶A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.   ⁷Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.   ⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.   ⁹Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.   ¹⁰The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.   ¹¹The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.   ¹²There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.   ¹³Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.   ¹⁴The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.   ¹⁵The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.   ¹⁶A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.   ¹⁷He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.   ¹⁸The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.   ¹⁹The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.   ²⁰The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.   ²¹He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.   ²²Do they not err that devise evil ? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.   ²³In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.   ²⁴The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.   ²⁵A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.   ²⁶In the fear of the is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.   ²⁷The fear of the is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.   ²⁸In the multitude of people is the king's honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.   ²⁹He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.   ³⁰A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.   ³¹He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.   ³²The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.   ³³Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.   ³⁴Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.   ³⁵The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.  

CHAPTER 15
¹A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.   ²The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.   ³The eyes of the are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.   ⁴A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.   ⁵A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.   ⁶In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.   ⁷The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.   ⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.   ⁹The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.   ¹⁰Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.   ¹¹Hell and destruction are before the: how much more then the hearts of the children of men ?   ¹²A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.   ¹³A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.   ¹⁴The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.   ¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.   ¹⁶Better is little with the fear of the than great treasure and trouble therewith.   ¹⁷Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.   ¹⁸A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.   ¹⁹The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.   ²⁰A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.   ²¹Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.   ²²Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.   ²³A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it !   ²⁴The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.   ²⁵The will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.   ²⁶The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.   ²⁷He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.   ²⁸The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.   ²⁹The is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.   ³⁰The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.   ³¹The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.   ³²He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.   ³³The fear of the is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.  

CHAPTER 16
¹The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the.   ²All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the weigheth the spirits.   ³Commit thy works unto the, and thy thoughts shall be established.   ⁴The hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.   ⁵Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.   ⁶By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the men depart from evil.   ⁷When a man's ways please the, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.   ⁸Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.   ⁹A man's heart deviseth his way: but the directeth his steps.   ¹⁰A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.   ¹¹A just weight and balance are the: all the weights of the bag are his work.   ¹²It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.   ¹³Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.   ¹⁴The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.   ¹⁵In the light of the king's countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.   ¹⁶How much better is it to get wisdom than gold ! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver !   ¹⁷The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.   ¹⁸Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.   ¹⁹Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.   ²⁰He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the, happy is he.   ²¹The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.   ²²Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.   ²³The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.   ²⁴Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.   ²⁵There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.   ²⁶He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.   ²⁷An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.   ²⁸A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.   ²⁹A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.   ³⁰He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.   ³¹The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.   ³²He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.   ³³The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the.  

CHAPTER 17
¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.   ²A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.   ³The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the trieth the hearts.   ⁴A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.   ⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.   ⁶Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.   ⁷Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.   ⁸A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.   ⁹He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.   ¹⁰A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.   ¹¹An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.   ¹²Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.   ¹³Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.   ¹⁴The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.   ¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the.   ¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it ?   ¹⁷A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.   ¹⁸A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.   ¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.   ²⁰He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.   ²¹He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.   ²²A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.   ²³A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.   ²⁴Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.   ²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.   ²⁶Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.   ²⁷He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.   ²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.  

CHAPTER 18
¹Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.   ²A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.   ³When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.   ⁴The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.   ⁵It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.   ⁶A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.   ⁷A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.   ⁸The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.   ⁹He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.   ¹⁰The name of the is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.   ¹¹The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.   ¹²Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.   ¹³He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.   ¹⁴The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear ?   ¹⁵The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.   ¹⁶A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.   ¹⁷He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.   ¹⁸The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.   ¹⁹A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.   ²⁰A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.   ²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.   ²²Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the.   ²³The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.   ²⁴A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.  

CHAPTER 19
¹Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.   ²Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.   ³The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the.   ⁴Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.   ⁵A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.   ⁶Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.   ⁷All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.   ⁸He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.   ⁹A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.   ¹⁰Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.   ¹¹The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.   ¹²The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.   ¹³A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.   ¹⁴House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the.   ¹⁵Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.   ¹⁶He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.   ¹⁷He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.   ¹⁸Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.   ¹⁹A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.   ²⁰Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.   ²¹There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the, that shall stand.   ²²The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.   ²³The fear of the tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.   ²⁴A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.   ²⁵Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.   ²⁶He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.   ²⁷Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.   ²⁸An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.   ²⁹Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.  

CHAPTER 20
¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.   ²The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.   ³It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.   ⁴The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.   ⁵Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.   ⁶Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find ?   ⁷The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.   ⁸A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.   ⁹Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin ?   ¹⁰Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the.   ¹¹Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.   ¹²The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the hath made even both of them.   ¹³Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.   ¹⁴It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.   ¹⁵There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.   ¹⁶Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.   ¹⁷Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.   ¹⁸Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.   ¹⁹He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.   ²⁰Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.   ²¹An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.   ²²Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the, and he shall save thee.   ²³Divers weights are an abomination unto the; and a false balance is not good.   ²⁴Man's goings are of the; how can a man then understand his own way ?   ²⁵It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.   ²⁶A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.   ²⁷The spirit of man is the candle of the, searching all the inward parts of the belly.   ²⁸Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.   ²⁹The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head.   ³⁰The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.  

CHAPTER 21
¹The king's heart is in the hand of the, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.   ²Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the pondereth the hearts.   ³To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the than sacrifice.   ⁴An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.   ⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.   ⁶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.   ⁷The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.   ⁸The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.   ⁹It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.   ¹⁰The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.   ¹¹When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.   ¹²The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.   ¹³Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.   ¹⁴A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.   ¹⁵It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.   ¹⁶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.   ¹⁷He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.   ¹⁸The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.   ¹⁹It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.   ²⁰There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.   ²¹He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.   ²²A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.   ²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.   ²⁴Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.   ²⁵The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.   ²⁶He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.   ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind ?   ²⁸A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.   ²⁹A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.   ³⁰There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the.   ³¹The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the.  

CHAPTER 22
¹A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.   ²The rich and poor meet together: the is the maker of them all.   ³A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.   ⁴By humility and the fear of the are riches, and honour, and life.   ⁵Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.   ⁶Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.   ⁷The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.   ⁸He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.   ⁹He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.   ¹⁰Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.   ¹¹He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.   ¹²The eyes of the preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.   ¹³The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.   ¹⁴The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the shall fall therein.   ¹⁵Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.   ¹⁶He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.   ¹⁷Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.   ¹⁸For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.   ¹⁹That thy trust may be in the, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.   ²⁰Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,   ²¹That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?   ²²Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:   ²³For the will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.   ²⁴Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:   ²⁵Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.   ²⁶Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.   ²⁷If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?   ²⁸Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.   ²⁹Seest thou a man diligent in his business ? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.  

CHAPTER 23
¹When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:   ²And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.   ³Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.   ⁴Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.   ⁵Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.   ⁶Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:   ⁷For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.   ⁸The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.   ⁹Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.   ¹⁰Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:   ¹¹For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.   ¹²Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.   ¹³Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.   ¹⁴Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.   ¹⁵My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.   ¹⁶Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.   ¹⁷Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the all the day long.   ¹⁸For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.   ¹⁹Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.   ²⁰Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:   ²¹For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.   ²²Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.   ²³Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.   ²⁴The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.   ²⁵Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.   ²⁶My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.   ²⁷For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.   ²⁸She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.   ²⁹Who hath woe ? who hath sorrow ? who hath contentions ? who hath babbling ? who hath wounds without cause ? who hath redness of eyes ?   ³⁰They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.   ³¹Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.   ³²At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.   ³³Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.   ³⁴Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.   ³⁵They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake ? I will seek it yet again.  

CHAPTER 24
¹Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.   ²For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.   ³Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:   ⁴And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.   ⁵A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.   ⁶For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.   ⁷Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.   ⁸He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.   ⁹The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.   ¹⁰If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.   ¹¹If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;   ¹²If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it ? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it ? and shall not he render to every man according to his works ?   ¹³My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:   ¹⁴So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.   ¹⁵Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:   ¹⁶For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.   ¹⁷Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:   ¹⁸Lest the see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.   ¹⁹Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;   ²⁰For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.   ²¹My son, fear thou the and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:   ²²For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both ?   ²³These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.   ²⁴He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:   ²⁵But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.   ²⁶Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.   ²⁷Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.   ²⁸Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.   ²⁹Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.   ³⁰I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;   ³¹And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.   ³²Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.   ³³Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:   ³⁴So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.  

CHAPTER 25
¹These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.   ²It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.   ³The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.   ⁴Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.   ⁵Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.   ⁶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:   ⁷For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.   ⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.   ⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:   ¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.   ¹¹A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.   ¹²As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.   ¹³As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.   ¹⁴Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.   ¹⁵By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.   ¹⁶Hast thou found honey ? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.   ¹⁷Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.   ¹⁸A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.   ¹⁹Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.   ²⁰As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.   ²¹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:   ²²For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the shall reward thee.   ²³The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.   ²⁴It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.   ²⁵As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.   ²⁶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.   ²⁷It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.   ²⁸He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.  

CHAPTER 26
¹As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.   ²As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.   ³A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's back.   ⁴Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.   ⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.   ⁶He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.   ⁷The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.   ⁸As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.   ⁹As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.   ¹⁰The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.   ¹¹As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.   ¹²Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit ? there is more hope of a fool than of him.   ¹³The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.   ¹⁴As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.   ¹⁵The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.   ¹⁶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.   ¹⁷He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.   ¹⁸As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,   ¹⁹So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport ?   ²⁰Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.   ²¹As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.   ²²The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.   ²³Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.   ²⁴He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;   ²⁵When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.   ²⁶Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.   ²⁷Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.   ²⁸A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.  

CHAPTER 27
¹Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.   ²Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.   ³A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both.   ⁴Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy ?   ⁵Open rebuke is better than secret love.   ⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.   ⁷The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.   ⁸As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.   ⁹Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.   ¹⁰Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.   ¹¹My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.   ¹²A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.   ¹³Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.   ¹⁴He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.   ¹⁵A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.   ¹⁶Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.   ¹⁷Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.   ¹⁸Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.   ¹⁹As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.   ²⁰Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.   ²¹As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.   ²²Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.   ²³Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.   ²⁴For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation ?   ²⁵The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.   ²⁶The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.   ²⁷And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.  

CHAPTER 28
¹The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.   ²For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.   ³A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.   ⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.   ⁵Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the understand all things.   ⁶Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.   ⁷Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.   ⁸He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.   ⁹He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.   ¹⁰Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.   ¹¹The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.   ¹²When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.   ¹³He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.   ¹⁴Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.   ¹⁵As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.   ¹⁶The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.   ¹⁷A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.   ¹⁸Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.   ¹⁹He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.   ²⁰A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.   ²¹To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.   ²²He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.   ²³He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.   ²⁴Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.   ²⁵He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the shall be made fat.   ²⁶He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.   ²⁷He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.   ²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.  

CHAPTER 29
¹He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.   ²When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.   ³Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.   ⁴The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.   ⁵A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.   ⁶In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.   ⁷The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.   ⁸Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.   ⁹If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.   ¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.   ¹¹A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.   ¹²If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.   ¹³The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the lighteneth both their eyes.   ¹⁴The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.   ¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.   ¹⁶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.   ¹⁷Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.   ¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.   ¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.   ²⁰Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words ? there is more hope of a fool than of him.   ²¹He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.   ²²An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.   ²³A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.   ²⁴Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.   ²⁵The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the shall be safe.   ²⁶Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the.   ²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.  

CHAPTER 30
¹The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,   ²Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.   ³I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.   ⁴Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended ? who hath gathered the wind in his fists ? who hath bound the waters in a garment ? who hath established all the ends of the earth ? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou canst tell ?   ⁵Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.   ⁶Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.   ⁷Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:   ⁸Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:   ⁹Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the ? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.   ¹⁰Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.   ¹¹There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.   ¹²There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.   ¹³There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes ! and their eyelids are lifted up.   ¹⁴There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.   ¹⁵The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:   ¹⁶The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.   ¹⁷The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.   ¹⁸There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:   ¹⁹The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.   ²⁰Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.   ²¹For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:   ²²For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;   ²³For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.   ²⁴There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:   ²⁵The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;   ²⁶The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;   ²⁷The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;   ²⁸The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.   ²⁹There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:   ³⁰A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;   ³¹A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.   ³²If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.   ³³Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.  

CHAPTER 31
¹The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.   ²What, my son ? and what, the son of my womb ? and what, the son of my vows ?   ³Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.   ⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:   ⁵Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.   ⁶Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.   ⁷Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.   ⁸Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.   ⁹Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.   ¹⁰Who can find a virtuous woman ? for her price is far above rubies.   ¹¹The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.   ¹²She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.   ¹³She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.   ¹⁴She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.   ¹⁵She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.   ¹⁶She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.   ¹⁷She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.   ¹⁸She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.   ¹⁹She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.   ²⁰She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.   ²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.   ²²She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.   ²³Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.   ²⁴She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.   ²⁵Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.   ²⁶She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.   ²⁷She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.   ²⁸Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.   ²⁹Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.   ³⁰Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the, she shall be praised.   ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.