Bible in 90 Days
The Woman of Adultery
7 My son, remember what I say, and treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands, and you will live.
Guard my teachings as you would your own eyes.
3 Remind yourself of them;
write them on your heart as if on a tablet.
4 Treat wisdom as a sister,
and make understanding your closest friend.
5 Wisdom and understanding will keep you away from adultery,
away from the unfaithful wife and her pleasing words.
6 Once while I was at the window of my house
I looked out through the shutters
7 and saw some foolish, young men.
I noticed one of them had no wisdom.
8 He was walking down the street near the corner
on the road leading to her house.
9 It was the twilight of the evening;
the darkness of the night was just beginning.
10 Then the woman approached him,
dressed like a prostitute
and planning to trick him.
11 She was loud and stubborn
and never stayed at home.
12 She was always out in the streets or in the city squares,
waiting around on the corners of the streets.
13 She grabbed him and kissed him.
Without shame she said to him,
14 “I made my fellowship offering and took some of the meat home.
Today I have kept my special promises.
15 So I have come out to meet you;
I have been looking for you and have found you.
16 I have covered my bed
with colored sheets from Egypt.
17 I have made my bed smell sweet
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let’s make love until morning.
Let’s enjoy each other’s love.
19 My husband is not home;
he has gone on a long trip.
20 He took a lot of money with him
and won’t be home for weeks.”
21 By her clever words she made him give in;
by her pleasing words she led him into doing wrong.
22 All at once he followed her,
like an ox led to the butcher,
like a deer caught in a trap
23 and shot through the liver with an arrow.
Like a bird caught in a trap,
he didn’t know what he did would kill him.
24 Now, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
25 Don’t let yourself be tricked by such a woman;
don’t go where she leads you.
26 She has ruined many good men,
and many have died because of her.
27 Her house is on the road to death,
the road that leads down to the grave.
Listen to Wisdom
8 Wisdom calls to you like someone shouting;
understanding raises her voice.
2 On the hilltops along the road
and at the crossroads, she stands calling.
3 Beside the city gates,
at the entrances into the city, she calls out:
4 “Listen, everyone, I’m calling out to you;
I am shouting to all people.
5 You who are uneducated, seek wisdom.
You who are foolish, get understanding.
6 Listen, because I have important things to say,
and what I tell you is right.
7 What I say is true,
I refuse to speak evil.
8 Everything I say is honest;
nothing I say is crooked or false.
9 People with good sense know what I say is true;
and those with knowledge know my words are right.
10 Choose my teachings instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than the finest gold.
11 Wisdom is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you could want is equal to it.
12 “I am wisdom, and I have good judgment.
I also have knowledge and good sense.
13 If you respect the Lord, you will also hate evil.
I hate pride and bragging,
evil ways and lies.
14 I have good sense and advice,
and I have understanding and power.
15 I help kings to govern
and rulers to make fair laws.
16 Princes use me to lead,
and so do all important people who judge fairly.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 Riches and honor are mine to give.
So are wealth and lasting success.
19 What I give is better than the finest gold,
better than the purest silver.
20 I do what is right
and follow the path of justice.
21 I give wealth to those who love me,
filling their houses with treasures.
22 “I, wisdom, was with the Lord when he began his work,
long before he made anything else.
23 I was created in the very beginning,
even before the world began.
24 I was born before there were oceans,
or springs overflowing with water,
25 before the hills were there,
before the mountains were put in place.
26 God had not made the earth or fields,
not even the first dust of the earth.
27 I was there when God put the skies in place,
when he stretched the horizon over the oceans,
28 when he made the clouds above
and put the deep underground springs in place.
29 I was there when he ordered the sea
not to go beyond the borders he had set.
I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.
30 I was like a child by his side.
I was delighted every day,
enjoying his presence all the time,
31 enjoying the whole world,
and delighted with all its people.
32 “Now, my children, listen to me,
because those who follow my ways are happy.
33 Listen to my teaching, and you will be wise;
do not ignore it.
34 Happy are those who listen to me,
watching at my door every day,
waiting at my open doorway.
35 Those who find me find life,
and the Lord will be pleased with them.
36 Those who do not find me hurt themselves.
Those who hate me love death.”
Being Wise or Foolish
9 Wisdom has built her house;
she has made its seven columns.
2 She has prepared her food and wine;
she has set her table.
3 She has sent out her servant girls,
and she calls out from the highest place in the city.
4 She says to those who are uneducated,
“Come in here, you foolish people!
5 Come and eat my food
and drink the wine I have prepared.
6 Stop your foolish ways, and you will live;
take the road of understanding.
7 “If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will be insulted.
If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.
8 Do not correct those who make fun of wisdom, or they will hate you.
But correct the wise, and they will love you.
9 Teach the wise, and they will become even wiser;
teach good people, and they will learn even more.
10 “Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord,
and understanding begins with knowing the Holy One.
11 If you live wisely, you will live a long time;
wisdom will add years to your life.
12 The wise person is rewarded by wisdom,
but whoever makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it.”
13 Foolishness is like a loud woman;
she does not have wisdom or knowledge.
14 She sits at the door of her house
at the highest place in the city.
15 She calls out to those who are passing by,
who are going along, minding their own business.
16 She says to those who are uneducated,
“Come in here, you foolish people!
17 Stolen water is sweeter,
and food eaten in secret tastes better.”
18 But these people don’t know that everyone who goes there dies,
that her guests end up deep in the grave.
The Wise Words of Solomon
10 These are the wise words of Solomon:
Wise children make their father happy,
but foolish children make their mother sad.
2 Riches gotten by doing wrong have no value,
but right living will save you from death.
3 The Lord does not let good people go hungry,
but he keeps evil people from getting what they want.
4 A lazy person will end up poor,
but a hard worker will become rich.
5 Those who gather crops on time are wise,
but those who sleep through the harvest are a disgrace.
6 Good people will have rich blessings,
but the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence.
7 Good people will be remembered as a blessing,
but evil people will soon be forgotten.
8 The wise do what they are told,
but a talkative fool will be ruined.
9 The honest person will live in safety,
but the dishonest will be caught.
10 A wink may get you into trouble,
and foolish talk will lead to your ruin.
11 The words of a good person give life, like a fountain of water,
but the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.
12 Hatred stirs up trouble,
but love forgives all wrongs.
13 Wise people speak with understanding,
but people without wisdom should be punished.
14 The wise don’t tell everything they know,
but the foolish talk too much and are ruined.
15 Having lots of money protects the rich,
but having no money destroys the poor.
16 Good people are rewarded with life,
but evil people are paid with punishment.
17 Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life,
but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life.
18 Whoever hides hate is a liar.
Whoever tells lies is a fool.
19 If you talk a lot, you are sure to sin;
if you are wise, you will keep quiet.
20 The words of a good person are like pure silver,
but an evil person’s thoughts are worth very little.
21 Good people’s words will help many others,
but fools will die because they don’t have wisdom.
22 The Lord’s blessing brings wealth,
and no sorrow comes with it.
23 A foolish person enjoys doing wrong,
but a person with understanding enjoys doing what is wise.
24 Evil people will get what they fear most,
but good people will get what they want most.
25 A storm will blow the evil person away,
but a good person will always be safe.
26 A lazy person affects the one he works for
like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.
27 Whoever respects the Lord will have a long life,
but the life of an evil person will be cut short.
28 A good person can look forward to happiness,
but an evil person can expect nothing.
29 The Lord will protect good people
but will ruin those who do evil.
30 Good people will always be safe,
but evil people will not remain in the land.
31 A good person says wise things,
but a liar’s tongue will be stopped.
32 Good people know the right thing to say,
but evil people only tell lies.
11 The Lord hates dishonest scales,
but he is pleased with honest weights.
2 Pride leads only to shame;
it is wise to be humble.
3 Good people will be guided by honesty;
dishonesty will destroy those who are not trustworthy.
4 Riches will not help when it’s time to die,
but right living will save you from death.
5 The goodness of the innocent makes life easier,
but the wicked will be destroyed by their wickedness.
6 Doing right brings freedom to honest people,
but those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.
7 When the wicked die, hope dies with them;
their hope in riches will come to nothing.
8 The good person is saved from trouble;
it comes to the wicked instead.
9 With words an evil person can destroy a neighbor,
but a good person will escape by being resourceful.
10 When good people succeed, the city is happy.
When evil people die, there are shouts of joy.
11 Good people bless and build up their city,
but the wicked can destroy it with their words.
12 People without good sense find fault with their neighbors,
but those with understanding keep quiet.
13 Gossips can’t keep secrets,
but a trustworthy person can.
14 Without leadership a nation falls,
but lots of good advice will save it.
15 Whoever guarantees to pay somebody else’s loan will suffer.
It is safer to avoid such promises.
16 A kind woman gets respect,
but cruel men get only wealth.
17 Kind people do themselves a favor,
but cruel people bring trouble on themselves.
18 An evil person really earns nothing,
but a good person will surely be rewarded.
19 Those who are truly good will live,
but those who chase after evil will die.
20 The Lord hates those with evil hearts
but is pleased with those who are innocent.
21 Evil people will certainly be punished,
but those who do right will be set free.
22 A beautiful woman without good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.
23 Those who do right only wish for good,
but the wicked can expect to be defeated by God’s anger.
24 Some people give much but get back even more.
Others don’t give what they should and end up poor.
25 Whoever gives to others will get richer;
those who help others will themselves be helped.
26 People curse those who keep all the grain,
but they bless the one who is willing to sell it.
27 Whoever looks for good will find kindness,
but whoever looks for evil will find trouble.
28 Those who trust in riches will be ruined,
but a good person will be healthy like a green leaf.
29 Whoever brings trouble to his family
will be left with nothing but the wind.
A fool will be a servant to the wise.
30 A good person gives life to others;
the wise person teaches others how to live.
31 Good people will be rewarded on earth,
and the wicked and the sinners will be punished.
12 Anyone who loves learning accepts correction,
but a person who hates being corrected is stupid.
2 The Lord is pleased with a good person,
but he will punish anyone who plans evil.
3 Doing evil brings no safety at all,
but a good person has safety and security.
4 A good wife is like a crown for her husband,
but a disgraceful wife is like a disease in his bones.
5 The plans that good people make are fair,
but the advice of the wicked will trick you.
6 The wicked talk about killing people,
but the words of good people will save them.
7 Wicked people die and they are no more,
but a good person’s family continues.
8 The wisdom of the wise wins praise,
but there is no respect for the stupid.
9 A person who is not important but has a servant is better off
than someone who acts important but has no food.
10 Good people take care of their animals,
but even the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
11 Those who work their land will have plenty of food,
but the one who chases empty dreams is not wise.
12 The wicked want what other evil people have stolen,
but good people want to give what they have to others.
13 Evil people are trapped by their evil talk,
but good people stay out of trouble.
14 People will be rewarded for what they say,
and they will also be rewarded for what they do.
15 Fools think they are doing right,
but the wise listen to advice.
16 Fools quickly show that they are upset,
but the wise ignore insults.
17 An honest witness tells the truth,
but a dishonest witness tells lies.
18 Careless words stab like a sword,
but wise words bring healing.
19 Truth will continue forever,
but lies are only for a moment.
20 Those who plan evil are full of lies,
but those who plan peace are happy.
21 No harm comes to a good person,
but an evil person’s life is full of trouble.
22 The Lord hates those who tell lies
but is pleased with those who keep their promises.
23 Wise people keep what they know to themselves,
but fools can’t keep from showing how foolish they are.
24 Hard workers will become leaders,
but those who are lazy will be slaves.
25 Worry is a heavy load,
but a kind word cheers you up.
26 Good people take advice from their friends,
but an evil person is easily led to do wrong.
27 The lazy catch no food to cook,
but a hard worker will have great wealth.
28 Doing what is right is the way to life,
but there is another way that leads to death.
13 Wise children take their parents’ advice,
but whoever makes fun of wisdom won’t listen to correction.
2 People will be rewarded for what they say,
but those who can’t be trusted want only violence.
3 Those who are careful about what they say protect their lives,
but whoever speaks without thinking will be ruined.
4 The lazy will not get what they want,
but those who work hard will.
5 Good people hate what is false,
but the wicked do shameful and disgraceful things.
6 Doing what is right protects the honest person,
but doing evil ruins the sinner.
7 Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing.
Others pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.
8 The rich may have to pay a ransom for their lives,
but the poor will face no such danger.
9 Good people can look forward to a bright future,
but the future of the wicked is like a flame going out.
10 Pride only leads to arguments,
but those who take advice are wise.
11 Money that comes easily disappears quickly,
but money that is gathered little by little will grow.
12 It is sad not to get what you hoped for.
But wishes that come true are like eating fruit from the tree of life.
13 Those who reject what they are taught will pay for it,
but those who obey what they are told will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of a wise person gives life.
It is like a fountain that can save people from death.
15 People with good understanding will be well liked,
but the lives of those who are not trustworthy are hard.
16 Every wise person acts with good sense,
but fools show how foolish they are.
17 A wicked messenger brings nothing but trouble,
but a trustworthy one makes everything right.
18 A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced,
but the one who accepts correction will be honored.
19 It is so good when wishes come true,
but fools hate to stop doing evil.
20 Spend time with the wise and you will become wise,
but the friends of fools will suffer.
21 Trouble always comes to sinners,
but good people enjoy success.
22 Good people leave their wealth to their grandchildren,
but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for good people.
23 A poor person’s field might produce plenty of food,
but others often steal it away.
24 If you do not punish your children, you don’t love them,
but if you love your children, you will correct them.
25 Good people have enough to eat,
but the wicked will go hungry.
14 A wise woman strengthens her family,
but a foolish woman destroys hers by what she does.
2 People who live good lives respect the Lord,
but those who live evil lives don’t.
3 Fools will be punished for their proud words,
but the words of the wise will protect them.
4 When there are no oxen, no food is in the barn.
But with a strong ox, much grain can be grown.
5 A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness tells nothing but lies.
6 Those who make fun of wisdom look for it and do not find it,
but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.
7 Stay away from fools,
because they can’t teach you anything.
8 A wise person will understand what to do,
but a foolish person is dishonest.
9 Fools don’t care if they sin,
but honest people work at being right.
10 No one else can know your sadness,
and strangers cannot share your joy.
11 The wicked person’s house will be destroyed,
but a good person’s tent will still be standing.
12 Some people think they are doing right,
but in the end it leads to death.
13 Someone who is laughing may be sad inside,
and joy may end in sadness.
14 Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways,
and good people will be rewarded for their good ones.
15 Fools will believe anything,
but the wise think about what they do.
16 Wise people are careful and stay out of trouble,
but fools are careless and quick to act.
17 Someone with a quick temper does foolish things,
but someone with understanding remains calm.
18 Fools are rewarded with nothing but more foolishness,
but the wise are rewarded with knowledge.
19 Evil people will bow down to those who are good;
the wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.
20 The poor are rejected, even by their neighbors,
but the rich have many friends.
21 It is a sin to hate your neighbor,
but being kind to the needy brings happiness.
22 Those who make evil plans will be ruined,
but those who plan to do good will be loved and trusted.
23 Those who work hard make a profit,
but those who only talk will be poor.
24 Wise people are rewarded with wealth,
but fools only get more foolishness.
25 A truthful witness saves lives,
but a false witness is a traitor.
26 Those who respect the Lord will have security,
and their children will be protected.
27 Respect for the Lord gives life.
It is like a fountain that can save people from death.
28 A king is honored when he has many people to rule,
but a prince is ruined if he has none.
29 Patient people have great understanding,
but people with quick tempers show their foolishness.
30 Peace of mind means a healthy body,
but jealousy will rot your bones.
31 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker,
but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
32 The wicked are ruined by their own evil,
but those who do right are protected even in death.
33 Wisdom lives in those with understanding,
and even fools recognize it.
34 Doing what is right makes a nation great,
but sin will bring disgrace to any people.
35 A king is pleased with a wise servant,
but he will become angry with one who causes him shame.
15 A gentle answer will calm a person’s anger,
but an unkind answer will cause more anger.
2 Wise people use knowledge when they speak,
but fools pour out foolishness.
3 The Lord’s eyes see everything;
he watches both evil and good people.
4 As a tree gives fruit, healing words give life,
but dishonest words crush the spirit.
5 Fools reject their parents’ correction,
but anyone who accepts correction is wise.
6 Much wealth is in the houses of good people,
but evil people get nothing but trouble.
7 Wise people use their words to spread knowledge,
but there is no knowledge in the thoughts of fools.
8 The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked offer,
but he likes the prayers of honest people.
9 The Lord hates what evil people do,
but he loves those who do what is right.
10 The person who quits doing what is right will be punished,
and the one who hates to be corrected will die.
11 The Lord knows what is happening in the world of the dead,
so he surely knows the thoughts of the living.
12 Those who make fun of wisdom don’t like to be corrected;
they will not ask the wise for advice.
13 Happiness makes a person smile,
but sadness can break a person’s spirit.
14 People with understanding want more knowledge,
but fools just want more foolishness.
15 Every day is hard for those who suffer,
but a happy heart is like a continual feast.
16 It is better to be poor and respect the Lord
than to be wealthy and have much trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with those who love you
than to eat meat with those who hate you.
18 People with quick tempers cause trouble,
but those who control their tempers stop a quarrel.
19 A lazy person’s life is like a patch of thorns,
but an honest person’s life is like a smooth highway.
20 Wise children make their father happy,
but foolish children disrespect their mother.
21 A person without wisdom enjoys being foolish,
but someone with understanding does what is right.
22 Plans fail without good advice,
but they succeed with the advice of many others.
23 People enjoy giving good advice.
Saying the right word at the right time is so pleasing.
24 Wise people’s lives get better and better.
They avoid whatever would cause their death.
25 The Lord will tear down the proud person’s house,
but he will protect the widow’s property.
26 The Lord hates evil thoughts
but is pleased with kind words.
27 Greedy people bring trouble to their families,
but the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.
28 Good people think before they answer,
but the wicked simply pour out evil.
29 The Lord does not listen to the wicked,
but he hears the prayers of those who do right.
30 Good news makes you feel better.
Your happiness will show in your eyes.
31 If you listen to correction to improve your life,
you will live among the wise.
32 Those who refuse correction hate themselves,
but those who accept correction gain understanding.
33 Respect for the Lord will teach you wisdom.
If you want to be honored, you must be humble.
16 People may make plans in their minds,
but only the Lord can make them come true.
2 You may believe you are doing right,
but the Lord will judge your reasons.
3 Depend on the Lord in whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord makes everything go as he pleases.
He has even prepared a day of disaster for evil people.
5 The Lord hates those who are proud.
They will surely be punished.
6 Love and truth bring forgiveness of sin.
By respecting the Lord you will avoid evil.
7 When people live so that they please the Lord,
even their enemies will make peace with them.
8 It is better to be poor and right
than to be wealthy and dishonest.
9 People may make plans in their minds,
but the Lord decides what they will do.
10 The words of a king are like a message from God,
so his decisions should be fair.
11 The Lord wants honest balances and scales;
all the weights are his work.
12 Kings hate those who do wrong,
because governments only continue if they are fair.
13 Kings like honest people;
they value someone who speaks the truth.
14 An angry king can put someone to death,
so a wise person will try to make him happy.
15 A smiling king can give people life;
his kindness is like a spring shower.
16 It is better to get wisdom than gold,
and to choose understanding rather than silver!
17 Good people stay away from evil.
By watching what they do, they protect their lives.
18 Pride leads to destruction;
a proud attitude brings ruin.
19 It is better to be humble and be with those who suffer
than to share stolen property with the proud.
20 Whoever listens to what is taught will succeed,
and whoever trusts the Lord will be happy.
21 The wise are known for their understanding.
Their pleasant words make them better teachers.
22 Understanding is like a fountain which gives life to those who use it,
but foolishness brings punishment to fools.
23 Wise people’s minds tell them what to say,
and that helps them be better teachers.
24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
making people happy and healthy.
25 Some people think they are doing right,
but in the end it leads to death.
26 The workers’ hunger helps them,
because their desire to eat makes them work.
27 Useless people make evil plans,
and their words are like a burning fire.
28 A useless person causes trouble,
and a gossip ruins friendships.
29 Cruel people trick their neighbors
and lead them to do wrong.
30 Someone who winks is planning evil,
and the one who grins is planning something wrong.
31 Gray hair is like a crown of honor;
it is earned by living a good life.
32 Patience is better than strength.
Controlling your temper is better than capturing a city.
33 People throw lots to make a decision,
but the answer comes from the Lord.
17 It is better to eat a dry crust of bread in peace
than to have a feast where there is quarreling.
2 A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful child
and will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his children.
3 A hot furnace tests silver and gold,
but the Lord tests hearts.
4 Evil people listen to evil words.
Liars pay attention to cruel words.
5 Whoever mistreats the poor insults their Maker;
whoever enjoys someone’s trouble will be punished.
6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren,
and children are proud of their parents.
7 Fools should not be proud,
and rulers should not be liars.
8 Some people think they can pay others to do anything they ask.
They think it will work every time.
9 Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend,
but gossiping about the sin breaks up friendships.
10 A wise person will learn more from a warning
than a fool will learn from a hundred lashings.
11 Disobedient people look only for trouble,
so a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to meet a fool doing foolish things.
13 Whoever gives evil in return for good
will always have trouble at home.
14 Starting a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
so stop it before a fight breaks out.
15 The Lord hates both of these things:
freeing the guilty and punishing the innocent.
16 It won’t do a fool any good to try to buy wisdom,
because he doesn’t have the ability to be wise.
17 A friend loves you all the time,
and a brother helps in time of trouble.
18 It is not wise to promise
to pay what your neighbor owes.
19 Whoever loves to argue loves to sin.
Whoever brags a lot is asking for trouble.
20 A person with an evil heart will find no success,
and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.
21 It is sad to have a foolish child;
there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.
22 A happy heart is like good medicine,
but a broken spirit drains your strength.
23 When the wicked accept money to do wrong
there can be no justice.
24 The person with understanding is always looking for wisdom,
but the mind of a fool wanders everywhere.
25 Foolish children make their father sad
and cause their mother great sorrow.
26 It is not good to punish the innocent
or to beat leaders for being honest.
27 The wise say very little,
and those with understanding stay calm.
28 Even fools seem to be wise if they keep quiet;
if they don’t speak, they appear to understand.
18 Unfriendly people are selfish
and hate all good sense.
2 Fools do not want to understand anything.
They only want to tell others what they think.
3 Do something evil, and people won’t like you.
Do something shameful, and they will make fun of you.
4 Spoken words can be like deep water,
but wisdom is like a flowing stream.
5 It is not good to honor the wicked
or to be unfair to the innocent.
6 The words of fools start quarrels.
They make people want to beat them.
7 The words of fools will ruin them;
their own words will trap them.
8 The words of a gossip are like tasty bits of food.
People like to gobble them up.
9 A person who doesn’t work hard
is just like someone who destroys things.
10 The Lord is like a strong tower;
those who do right can run to him for safety.
11 Rich people trust their wealth to protect them.
They think it is like the high walls of a city.
12 Proud people will be ruined,
but the humble will be honored.
13 Anyone who answers without listening
is foolish and confused.
14 The will to live can get you through sickness,
but no one can live with a broken spirit.
15 The mind of a person with understanding gets knowledge;
the wise person listens to learn more.
16 Taking gifts to important people
will help get you in to see them.
17 The person who tells one side of a story seems right,
until someone else comes and asks questions.
18 Throwing lots can settle arguments
and keep the two sides from fighting.
19 A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city,
and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.
20 People will be rewarded for what they say;
they will be rewarded by how they speak.
21 What you say can mean life or death.
Those who speak with care will be rewarded.
22 When a man finds a wife, he finds something good.
It shows that the Lord is pleased with him.
23 The poor beg for mercy,
but the rich give rude answers.
24 Some friends may ruin you,
but a real friend will be more loyal than a brother.
19 It is better to be poor and honest
than to be foolish and tell lies.
2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good.
If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.
3 People’s own foolishness ruins their lives,
but in their minds they blame the Lord.
4 Wealthy people are always finding more friends,
but the poor lose all theirs.
5 A witness who lies will not go free;
liars will never escape.
6 Many people want to please a leader,
and everyone is friends with those who give gifts.
7 Poor people’s relatives avoid them;
even their friends stay far away.
They run after them, begging,
but they are gone.
8 Those who get wisdom do themselves a favor,
and those who love learning will succeed.
9 A witness who lies will not go free,
liars will die.
10 A fool should not live in luxury.
A slave should not rule over princes.
11 The wise are patient;
they will be honored if they ignore insults.
12 An angry king is like a roaring lion,
but his kindness is like the dew on the grass.
13 A foolish child brings disaster to a father,
and a quarreling wife is like dripping water.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a wise wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Lazy people sleep a lot,
and idle people will go hungry.
16 Those who obey the commands protect themselves,
but those who are careless will die.
17 Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord;
he will reward you for what you have done.
18 Correct your children while there is still hope;
do not let them destroy themselves.
19 People with quick tempers will have to pay for it.
If you help them out once, you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to advice and accept correction,
and in the end you will be wise.
21 People can make all kinds of plans,
but only the Lord’s plan will happen.
22 People want others to be loyal,
so it is better to be poor than to be a liar.
23 Those who respect the Lord will live
and be satisfied, unbothered by trouble.
24 Though the lazy person puts his hand in the dish,
he won’t lift the food to his mouth.
25 Whip those who make fun of wisdom, and perhaps foolish people will gain some wisdom.
Correct those with understanding, and they will gain knowledge.
26 A child who robs his father and sends away his mother
brings shame and disgrace on himself.
27 Don’t stop listening to correction, my child,
or you will forget what you have already learned.
28 An evil witness makes fun of fairness,
and wicked people love what is evil.
29 People who make fun of wisdom will be punished,
and the backs of foolish people will be beaten.
20 Wine and beer make people loud and uncontrolled;
it is not wise to get drunk on them.
2 An angry king is like a roaring lion.
Making him angry may cost you your life.
3 Foolish people are always fighting,
but avoiding quarrels will bring you honor.
4 Lazy farmers don’t plow when they should;
they expect a harvest, but there is none.
5 People’s thoughts can be like a deep well,
but someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.
6 Many people claim to be loyal,
but it is hard to find a trustworthy person.
7 The good people who live honest lives
will be a blessing to their children.
8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
he knows evil when he sees it.
9 No one can say, “I am innocent;
I have never done anything wrong.”
10 The Lord hates both these things:
dishonest weights and dishonest measures.
11 Even children are known by their behavior;
their actions show if they are innocent and good.
12 The Lord has made both these things:
ears to hear and eyes to see.
13 If you love to sleep, you will be poor.
If you stay awake, you will have plenty of food.
14 Buyers say, “This is bad. It’s no good.”
Then they go away and brag about what they bought.
15 There is gold and plenty of rubies,
but only a few people speak with knowledge.
16 Take the coat of someone who promises to pay a stranger’s debts,
and keep it until he pays what the stranger owes.
17 Stolen food may taste sweet at first,
but later it will feel like a mouth full of gravel.
18 Get advice if you want your plans to work.
If you go to war, get the advice of others.
19 Gossips can’t keep secrets,
so avoid people who talk too much.
20 Those who curse their father or mother
will be like a light going out in darkness.
21 Wealth inherited quickly in the beginning
will do you no good in the end.
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.