Bible in 90 Days
Chapter 7
1 My son, keep my words
and make my commands your treasure.
2 Follow my precepts, and you will live;
keep my teachings as the apple of your eye.
3 Bind them to your fingers;
inscribe them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Say to wisdom,[a] “You are my sister,”
and regard understanding as your friend,
5 so that they may keep you from another’s wife,
from the adulteress with her seductive words.
6 While standing at the window of my house
I looked out through my lattice,
7 and as I glanced at the immature youths,
I observed among the simple ones[b]
a lad with no sense.
8 He walked along the street near her corner
and then turned in the direction near her house,
9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
at dusk when the night grows dark.
10 Then a woman came forth to meet him,
dressed like a prostitute with a scheming heart.
11 She was loud-mouthed and brazen,
one who is never content to rest at home,
12 always on the streets or the public squares,
lying in wait at every corner.
13 She caught him and kissed him,
and brazenly said to him:
14 “I had to make sacrificial peace offerings,[c]
and I have fulfilled my vows today.
15 And so I came out to meet you,
to look for you, and now I have found you.
16 I have spread coverlets over my bed,
covered sheets of Egyptian linen.[d]
17 “I have perfumed my bed
with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love till morning,
abandoning ourselves to a feast of love.
19 For my husband is not at home;
he is away on a long journey.
20 He took a bag of money with him
and will not be back until the moon is full.”
21 With her persistent urging she persuaded him,
luring him astray with her seductive words.[e]
22 Bemused, he followed her,
like an ox being led to the slaughter,
like a stag stepping into a noose,
23 until an arrow pierces its liver,
like a bird rushing into a snare,
not realizing its life is at stake.
24 So now, my son, listen to me
and be attentive to what I have to say.
25 Do not let your heart stray into her ways
or wander into her paths.
26 For many are those she has led to death;
her victims are beyond number.
27 Her house is the pathway to the netherworld,[f]
the descent to the chambers of death.
Chapter 8
Wisdom Reenters the Scene[g]
1 Does Wisdom not call?
Does Understanding not lift up her voice?
2 On the heights, by the wayside,
at the crossroads—she takes her stand;
3 by the gates leading into the city,
at the roads of access she cries out:
4 “I call out to you, O men;
my appeal is to the sons of men.
5 You who are simple, acquire prudence;
you who are foolish, acquire understanding.
6 Listen, for I speak of important matters;
what I proclaim is honest and right.
7 For my mouth proclaims the truth;
wickedness is abhorrent to my lips.
8 “All the words of my mouth are upright;
not a single word is false or crooked.
9 All of them are clear to those who are intelligent[h]
and right to those who have acquired knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver
and knowledge instead of pure gold.
11 For Wisdom is better than pearls,
and no object of desire can compare with her.
12 “I, Wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and I possess knowledge and discretion.[i]
13 The fear of the Lord implies hatred of evil;[j]
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil ways and perverse speech.
14 From me issue forth counsel and prudence;
insight and strength[k] are mine.
15 Through me kings reign,
and rulers decree what is just.
16 By me princes and nobles rule,
all those who govern rightly.
17 “I love those who love me,
and those who diligently seek me will find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than the finest gold,
and what I yield surpasses pure silver.
20 I walk on the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing wealth on those who love me
and heaping up their treasuries.
By the Side of the God of the Origins[l]
22 “The Lord created me as the firstborn of his ways,
before the oldest of his works.
23 I was established in the earliest times,
at the beginning, before the earth.
24 I was brought forth when there were no ocean depths,
when there were no springs overflowing with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 when he had not yet made the earth and the fields
or the mass of the world’s soil.
27 “When he set the heavens in place, I was there,
when he designated where the ocean and the horizon[m] meet,
28 when he fixed the canopy of the clouds above
and limited the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned the boundaries of the sea
so that the waters would not transgress his command,
and when he established the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him as a master craftsman,[n]
and I was his delight day after day,
exulting in his presence continually,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting in the children of men.[o]
32 “So now, my sons, listen to me;
blessed[p] are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to instruction and gain wisdom;
do not reject it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me,
who keeps watch daily at my gates,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But whoever sins against me harms himself,
and all who hate me love death.”
Wisdom and Folly
Chapter 9
At God’s Banquet[q]
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
2 She has slain her animals and mixed her wine,
and she has spread her table.
3 She has sent forth her maidservants
and proclaimed from the heights of the city,
4 “Let those who are simple[r] turn in here.”
To the person without understanding she says,
5 “Come and partake of my food,
and taste the wine that I have prepared!
6 Abandon foolishness so that you may live;
walk in the way of understanding.
A Parenthesis about the Arrogant[s]
7 “If you correct an arrogant man, you invite insults;
if you rebuke a wicked man, you incur abuse.
8 If you reprove an insolent man, he will hate you;
if you reprove a wise man, he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he will become wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will advance in learning.
10 [t]“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,[u]
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, it is to your advantage;
if you are arrogant, you alone will bear the blame.”
Folly Sits at the Door of Her House[v]
13 The woman Folly[w] acts impulsively;
she is undisciplined and lacking in knowledge.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
upon a seat commanding the city,
15 calling out to the passers-by
who are hurrying on their straight way,
16 “You who are simple, turn in here.”
To the fool she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret tastes good.”
18 But little does he know that the dead are there
and that her guests are headed for the netherworld.
The Proverbs of Solomon[x]
Chapter 10
The One Who Leads an Honest Life . . .[y]
1 The Proverbs of Solomon:
A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son gives grief to his mother.
2 Treasures obtained by wicked means profit nothing,
but a righteous life brings delivery from death.
3 The Lord will not allow the righteous to go hungry,
but he foils the craving of the wicked.
4 Idle hands ensure poverty,
but the hands of the diligent bring riches.[z]
5 A son who gathers the crops during the summer is wise,
but a son who sleeps at harvest-time[aa] is shameful.
6 Blessings are showered on the head of the righteous,
but sorrow will cover the face of the wicked.
7 The righteous is remembered with blessings,
but the name of the wicked fades away.
8 A wise man will heed commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to grief.
9 Anyone who leads an honorable life walks in safety,
but whoever pursues wicked ways will be found out.
10 Anyone who winks with the eye causes trouble,
but the one who rebukes promotes peace.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked is filled with violence.
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
but love overlooks all offenses.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of one who has understanding,
but a rod is in store for the back of a fool.
14 Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool precipitates ruin.
15 The wealth of the rich man is his stronghold;
the poverty of the lowly is his undoing.[ab]
16 The reward of the righteous leads to life;
the gains of the wicked lead to sin.[ac]
17 Whoever heeds admonition is on the path to life,
but anyone who rejects correction goes astray.
18 Lying lips conceal hatred,
and anyone who slanders another is a fool.
19 Where many words are spoken, sin is not absent,
but whoever restrains his tongue is prudent.
20 The tongue of the just man is like pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is without worth.
21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
22 The blessing of the Lord is what brings wealth,
and our toil adds nothing to it.[ad]
23 Doing wrong affords pleasure to the fool,
but wisdom is a delight to an intelligent man.
24 What the wicked man fears[ae] catches up with him,
but what the righteous man desires is granted.
25 When the storm ends, the wicked man is no more,
but the righteous man stands firm forever.
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard[af] to those he serves.
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28 The hope of the righteous brings them joy,
but the expectations of the wicked are frustrated.
29 The way of the Lord[ag] is a stronghold for the upright,
but destruction for evildoers.
30 The righteous man will never be destroyed,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31 The mouth of the righteous dispenses wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the righteous utter words of kindness,
but the mouth of the wicked knows only how to pervert.
Chapter 11
The Fruit of the Righteous . . .[ah]
1 False scales are an abomination to the Lord,
but a true weight is pleasing to him.
2 When pride is nurtured, disgrace soon follows,
but wisdom is the hallmark of the humble.
3 The upright are guarded by their integrity;
the treacherous are destroyed by their own duplicity.
4 Riches will be of no avail on the day of wrath,[ai]
but righteousness delivers from death.
5 The virtue of the honest man keeps his way straight,
whereas the evil man falls as a result of his wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright saves them,
but the treacherous are trapped by their own schemes.
7 When a wicked man dies, all his expectations die with him,
and the hope he placed in his riches comes to nought.
8 The righteous man escapes affliction,
and the wicked man incurs it instead.
9 With his mouth the godless man seeks to ruin his neighbor,
but knowledge enables the righteous to be delivered.
10 The city rejoices when the upright prosper,
and when the wicked are ruined, there is exultation.
11 Through the blessing of the righteous a city is raised,
but it is destroyed by the mouth of the wicked.
12 A man who lacks sense belittles a neighbor,
but an intelligent man remains silent.
13 One who gossips reveals secrets,
but a trustworthy man keeps things hidden.
14 For lack of leadership a nation collapses;
safety is assured with a multitude of advisers.
15 Whoever puts up bail for a stranger will suffer loss,
but the one who refuses to do so will be safe.
16 A gracious woman acquires honor,
while the woman who hates virtue is covered with shame.
Those who are lazy become destitute,
but those who are diligent gain wealth.[aj]
17 A kind man benefits himself,
whereas a cruel man hurts himself.
18 The labors of the wicked man produce little profit,
but the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
19 Whoever is steadfast in righteousness finds life,
but the one who pursues evil is on the road to death.
20 Those with perverse hearts are abhorrent to the Lord,
but those whose ways are blameless are dear to him.
21 You need have no fear that the wicked will not be punished,
but those who are righteous will escape harm.
22 Like a ring of gold[ak] in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without good sense.
23 The righteous desire only what is good;
the expectation of the wicked ends in wrath.
24 One man gives lavishly and increases his wealth,
while another is tight-fisted and ends up impoverished.[al]
25 A generous person will be enriched;
he who refreshes others will also be refreshed.
26 The people curse those who hoard grain,
but the one who sells it earns their blessing.
27 Whoever strives for good earns great acclaim,
but the one who pursues evil will be afflicted by it.
28 Whoever places his trust in riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.
29 Whoever causes trouble for his family inherits the wind,
and a fool will become a servant to the wise man.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and the wise man wins souls.[am]
31 If the just man receives his deserts on earth,
how much more will the wicked and the sinner!
Chapter 12
On the Way of Righteousness[an]
1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but the one who hates correction is stupid.
2 The good man wins the favor of the Lord,
but the malicious man incurs his condemnation.
3 No one earns security by wickedness,
but the roots of the righteous will not be shaken.
4 A good wife is her husband’s crown,
but one who disgraces him is like decay in his bones.
5 The aims of the righteous are honorable,
but the schemes of the wicked are full of deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are snares to shed blood,
but those of the upright keep them safe.
7 Once the wicked are overthrown, they are no more,
but the house of the righteous remains firm.
8 A man will be praised if he exhibits good sense,
but one with a perverse mind is despised.
9 It is better to be a laborer and have food to eat
than to put on airs and have an empty stomach.
10 A righteous person supplies the needs of his animals,[ao]
but the heart of the wicked is without mercy.
11 One who tills his land has an abundance of food,
but he who chases fantasies[ap] is a fool.
12 The wicked desire the prey of evil men,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13 The wicked man is ensnared by the sin of his lips,
but the righteous frees himself from misfortune.
14 An abundance of good things flow from the fruit of one’s lips,
and a man’s labor will give him a suitable reward.[aq]
15 The fool is convinced of the rightness of his ways,
but the man who listens to advice shows wisdom.
16 A fool is quick to show his anger,
but a prudent man ignores an insult.
17 A truthful witness is honest in his testimony,
but a false witness testifies deceitfully.
18 Thoughtless words wound like a sword thrust,
but the tongue of the wise produces healing.
19 Truthful speech endures forever,
but deceitful lies last only for a moment.[ar]
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
but those who counsel peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,
but endless are the misfortunes of the wicked.
22 The Lord abhors lying lips,
but he delights in those who are truthful.
23 A prudent man does not flaunt his knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims their folly.
24 Authority will be granted to the diligent,
but the lazy will be enslaved.
25 Anxiety in the human heart weighs it down,
but a kind word makes it glad.
26 A righteous man gives good advice to his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 A lazy man never reaps a rich harvest,
but the diligent man acquires precious wealth.
28 The way of righteousness leads to life,
but the way of vengeance leads to death.
Chapter 13
The Light of the Righteous Shines Brightly[as]
1 A wise son listens to his father’s correction,
but a mocker will not accept any rebuke.[at]
2 A good man derives nourishment from the fruit of his words,
but one who is treacherous craves violence.
3 He who guards his mouth makes his life secure,
but one who talks excessively ensures his own downfall.[au]
4 The idler[av] craves for food and remains unsatisfied,
but the appetite of the diligent is fully sated.
5 The righteous man hates words that are deceitful,
but the evildoer slanders and defames.
6 Righteousness stands guard over one who is honest,
but sin brings about the ruin of the wicked.
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor,[aw] yet has great wealth.
8 A wealthy man pays a ransom to save his life;[ax]
a poor man never has to worry about such threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp[ay] of the wicked is extinguished.
10 An ignorant man causes strife by his insolence,
but wisdom is found with those who take advice.
11 Wealth hastily acquired will dwindle away,
but when amassed little by little, it will increase.
12 Hope deferred sickens the heart,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 One who refuses to accept advice is headed for destruction,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.[az]
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life
enabling one to avoid the snares of death.[ba]
15 Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the faithless leads to their destruction.
16 Every prudent man acts out of knowledge,
but a fool proudly parades his folly.
17 An unreliable messenger engenders trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
18 Poverty and disgrace befall one who ignores discipline,
but one who takes correction is honored.
19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
while fools regard turning from evil as an abomination.
20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but he who mingles with fools will suffer harm.[bb]
21 Misfortune afflicts the sinful,
but good fortune is the reward of the upright.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.
23 The fields of the poor may yield much food,
but it is stolen from them through injustice.
24 He who spares the rod[bc] hates his son,
but one who loves his son will take care to discipline him.
25 The righteous man has enough food to appease his hunger,
but the belly of the wicked man is empty.
Chapter 14
Righteousness Is a Sign of a Nation’s Greatness[bd]
1 Wisdom builds herself a house,
but Folly tears down hers with her own hands.
2 One whose conduct is upright fears the Lord,[be]
but one whose paths are crooked despises him.
3 The words of a fool ensure a rod for his back,[bf]
but the lips of the wise keep them safe.
4 Where there are no oxen, the barn is empty of grain,
but abundant crops come through the strength of the ox.
5 A truthful witness does not lie,
but a false witness lies incessantly.[bg]
6 In vain does a scoffer[bh] seek wisdom,
but knowledge comes easily to the man of discernment.
7 Do not remain in the presence of a fool,
for you will not gain any wisdom there.
8 The prudent possess the wisdom to follow the right way,
but the folly of fools misleads them.
9 Fools see no need to atone for guilt,
but the upright do so and enjoy God’s favor.
10 The heart knows its own grief best,
and no one else can share its joy.
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will stand firm.
12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
but the end of it leads to death.
13 Even at times of laughter the heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.
14 The perverse man suffers the consequences of his ways,
while a good man reaps what his deeds deserve.
15 A simple man believes everything he hears,
but a prudent man carefully considers every step.
16 A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil,
but the fool is reckless and shows no restraint.
17 A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,
but a prudent man is long-suffering.
18 The simple are adorned with folly,
but the prudent have knowledge as their crown.
19 Evil men will bow down before the good,
and the wicked will do so at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor man is disliked even by his neighbor,
but one who is wealthy never lacks for friends.
21 Anyone who despises his neighbor is a sinner,[bi]
but blessed is he who is kind to the poor.
22 Do not those who hatch evil go astray?
But those who plan good are loyal and faithful.
23 Diligent labor always yields profit,
but idle conversation only leads to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches;
the garland of fools is their folly.
25 A truthful witness saves lives;
anyone who utters lies is an impostor.
26 He who fears the Lord[bj] provides strong security,
and in him one’s children will find a refuge.
27 The fear of the Lord[bk] is a fountain of life
enabling a man to avoid the snares of death.
28 Many subjects ensure the glory of a king,
but if his subjects are few, he is of no importance.
29 A patient man shows good sense,
but a quick-tempered man displays the height of folly.
30 A tranquil heart gives life to the body,
but envy causes the bones to rot.
31 He who oppresses the poor insults their Creator,
but the one who is kind to the needy[bl] does him honor.
32 The evildoer is undone by his malice,
but the upright finds refuge in his integrity.
33 Wisdom finds a home in an understanding heart,[bm]
but she is not found in the heart of fools.
34 Righteousness is a sign of a nation’s greatness,
but sin degrades any people.
35 A king favors a prudent servant
but is angry with a shameful servant.
Chapter 15
The Lord Loves Anyone Whose Goal Is Righteousness[bn]
1 A gentle reply turns away wrath,
but a harsh word arouses anger.
2 The tongue of the wise distills knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool utters nothing except folly.[bo]
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,[bp]
keeping a close watch on the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
but an undisciplined tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool spurns his father’s correction,
but whoever heeds admonition is prudent.
6 In the house of the righteous there is no lack of treasures,
but the earnings of the wicked are never secure.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
such is not true of the heart of a fool.
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,[bq]
but he delights in the prayer of the upright.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves anyone whose goal is righteousness.
10 Severe punishment awaits the one who strays from the right path;
whoever hates a rebuke will die.
11 The netherworld and the abyss lie open to the Lord;
how much more is this true of the human heart.[br]
12 A scoffer[bs] does not like to be reproved,
and he refuses to consult the wise.
13 A glad heart makes the face cheerful,
but anguish of heart breaks one’s spirit.
14 The mind of one who is wise seeks further knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
15 Every day is wretched for those who are sorrowing,
but to one who is cheerful, every day is a perpetual feast.[bt]
16 It is better to have a little and fear the Lord[bu]
than to possess immense wealth and suffer anguish.
17 Better a dish of herbs served with love
than a fattened ox accompanied by hatred.
18 An ill-tempered man provokes quarrels,
but a patient man quiets dissension.
19 The path of the idler[bv] is covered with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a broad highway.
20 A wise son is a joy to his father,
but a foolish son has no respect for his mother.
21 Folly delights the one without sense,
but a man of understanding follows a straight path.
22 Plans miscarry when counsel is lacking,
but they succeed when there are many counselors.
23 A man is joyful when he utters apt answers,
and even more satisfying is a word in season.
24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent man
so that he may escape going down to the netherworld.[bw]
25 The Lord tears down the proud man’s house,[bx]
but he preserves the widow’s boundaries.
26 The Lord abhors the thoughts of the wicked,
but he is pleased with the words of the pure.
27 He who is greedy for dishonest gain brings disaster on a house,
but he who refuses to accept bribes will have life.
28 The righteous man reflects before answering,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil.
29 The Lord keeps his distance from the wicked,
but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.
30 A kindly glance gives joy to the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.
31 He who accepts saving reproof has life
and will enjoy the company of the wise.
32 He who rejects correction despises himself,
but whoever accepts admonition will gain understanding.
33 The fear of the Lord[by] provides instruction in wisdom,
and to be humble is the way to honor.
Chapter 16
1 A man may make plans in his heart,
but the Lord provides the words that his tongue utters.[bz]
2 A man’s ways may seem honorable to him,
but the Lord weighs his motives.
3 Entrust everything that you do to the Lord,
and your plans will turn out to be successful.
4 The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
even the wicked for the day of disaster.[ca]
5 The Lord abhors the proud man;
be assured that such a man will not go unpunished.
6 Iniquity is expiated by kindness and faithfulness,
and by fear of the Lord[cb] man turns away from evil.
7 When the Lord is pleased with someone’s conduct.
he makes even that man’s enemies friends with him.[cc]
8 It is better to have little and be righteous
than to acquire great riches with injustice.
9 A man may plan his own course,
but the Lord makes his steps secure.[cd]
The Justice of Kings[ce]
10 The lips of a king utter inspired oracles;
he does not err when he pronounces judgment.
11 Accurate scales and balances belong to the Lord;
all the weights in the bag[cf] are his concern.
12 Kings regard wrongdoing as abhorrent,
for their throne’s foundation depends upon righteousness.
13 Honest speech is the delight of a king,
and he loves a man who speaks truthfully.
14 A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death,
but one who is wise will appease it.
15 When a king’s face brightens it spells life,
and his favor is like a rain shower[cg] in spring.
The Path of the Upright[ch]
16 It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold,
and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver.
17 The path of the upright avoids evil;
he who treads carefully preserves his life.
18 Pride goes before disaster,
and a haughty spirit goes before a fall.
19 It is better to live humbly among the lowly
than to share plunder with the proud.
20 The one who pays heed to instruction prospers,
and blessed[ci] is he who trusts in the Lord.
21 A wise man is esteemed for being pleasant,
and his friendly words increase his influence.
22 Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who possesses it,
but folly is the punishment of fools.
23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips increase learning.
24 Pleasing words are like a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and affording health to the body.[cj]
25 Sometimes a path may seem to be right,
but in the end it leads to death.
26 The laborer’s appetite works on his behalf,
as hunger spurs him on.[ck]
27 A scoundrel[cl] concocts evil,
and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man sows strife,
and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships.
29 One who indulges in violence entices his neighbor
and leads him into evil ways.
30 One who winks his eye is plotting perverse deeds;
one who purses his lips is bent on mischief.
31 Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained by a righteous life.
32 It is better to be a patient man rather than a warrior,
one who controls his temper rather than one who captures a city.
33 The lot[cm] is cast into the lap,
but the decision comes from the Lord.
Chapter 17
1 It is better to have a dry crust to eat in peace
than to feast in a house that is filled with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over an unworthy son
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,
but it is the Lord who tests the heart.
4 An evildoer listens eagerly to wicked lips,
and a liar pays heed to a slanderous tongue.
5 Anyone who mocks the poor insults their Creator;[cn]
whoever gloats at another’s distress will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Fine words are not becoming to a fool,
and much less are false words to a noble.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone to one who offers it;
wherever he turns, he meets with success.[co]
9 One who forgives a misdeed fosters friendship,
but he who divulges it separates good friends.
10 A reproof makes a far greater impression upon a discerning person
than a hundred blows will upon a fool.
11 A wicked man is only interested in fomenting rebellion;
hence a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 It is better to come upon a bear robbed of her cubs
rather than confronting a fool in his folly.
13 One who returns evil for good
will forever have misfortune in his house.
14 To begin a quarrel is like unleashing a flood;
so desist before the quarreling begins.
15 Absolving the wicked and condemning the innocent
are both equally abominable to the Lord.
16 Of what advantage is money in the hands of a fool?
Can he purchase wisdom if he has no desire to learn?
17 A true friend is one at all times,
and a brother is born to render help in time of need.
18 A man without sense gives a pledge
to become surety for a neighbor.[cp]
19 One who sows discord enjoys strife,
and one who constructs a high threshold invites disaster.
20 One whose heart is perverse will never prosper,
and one whose tongue is evil will come to trouble.
21 The father of a fool endures endless sorrow
and receives no joy from having begotten him.
22 A cheerful heart[cq] is excellent medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man conceals a bribe[cr] under his cloak
to divert the course of justice.
24 A discerning man sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool range to the ends of the earth.[cs]
25 A foolish son causes grief to his father
and brings sorrow to the mother who bore him.
26 It is not right to fine the innocent
or to flog princes for their integrity.
27 One who uses words sparingly is truly wise;
a man of discernment keeps his tongue under control.
28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
if he closes his lips, he is regarded as intelligent.
Chapter 18
The Words of the Mouth[ct]
1 Someone who lives alone seeks only to fulfill his desires
and ignores the advice of others.
2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding
but only delights in expressing his own opinions.
3 When wickedness comes, it is accompanied by contempt,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4 The words of the mouth are turbulent waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not right to show partiality[cu] to the guilty
or to deprive the innocent of a just judgment.
6 The lips of a fool cause strife,
and his mouth provokes a flogging.
7 The mouth of a fool leads to his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his very life.[cv]
8 The whispers of a gossiper are tasty morsels
that corrode one’s inner being.
9 Anyone who is lazy in his work
is a brother to the man who wages destruction.
10 [cw]The name of the Lord is a tower of strength;
the upright man runs to it and finds refuge.
11 The wealth of a rich man is his stronghold;
he regards it as a high wall that cannot be scaled.
12 A man is haughty until disaster overtakes him,
but humility comes before honors.
13 One who answers before listening
exposes his folly and incurs shame.
14 A man’s spirit can manage to endure sickness,
but when the spirit is crushed, who can bear it?
15 A discerning mind gains knowledge,
and the ears of the wise eagerly seek knowledge.
16 A gift opens doors for the giver
and wins him access to the powerful.
17 The one who pleads his case first will seem right
until his opponent comes forth to interrogate him.[cx]
18 Casting lots[cy] can settle disputes
and avoid contention between powerful rivals.
19 An offended brother is stronger than a fortress,
and quarrels are more difficult to overcome than castle gates.
20 From the fruit of the mouth one’s stomach is filled;
contentment is gained from the yield of one’s lips.
21 The tongue has the power over life and death;[cz]
those who cherish it will enjoy its fruits.
22 One who finds a wife finds happiness
and receives favor from the Lord.[da]
23 A poor man uses language of entreaty,
but the rich man replies with insults.
24 Some friends can lead us to ruin,
but a true friend is closer than a brother.
Chapter 19
Better Poor and Honest than Wealthy and Perverse[db]
1 It is better to be poor and lead an honest life
than to be wealthy and perverse in one’s ways.
2 Zeal is useless when not accompanied by knowledge,
and acting hastily causes one to stumble.
3 A man’s own folly leads to his ruin,
yet it is against the Lord that his heart rages.[dc]
4 Wealth attracts many friends,
but a poor man’s only friend will desert him.
5 A false witness will not escape punishment,
neither will the one who tells lies.
6 Many court the favor of the great,
and everyone is a friend to a man who bestows gifts.
7 The poor man is despised by all his brothers;
how much more do his friends desert him!
He pursues them with entreaties
but all in vain.
8 Whoever gains wisdom loves his own soul;
one who cherishes understanding will prosper.
9 A false witness will not escape punishment,
and the one who tells lies will perish.
10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11 A man with good sense is slow to anger,
and he earns glory for overlooking an offense.
12 A king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son[dd] is a calamity to his father,
and a nagging wife is like an endless dripping of water.
14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents,
but a prudent wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Laziness results in excessive sleep,
and an idle man suffers hunger.[de]
16 Whoever observes the commandments will live,
but the one who scorns them will die.
17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord[df]
who will recompense him for his kindness.
18 Chastise your son while there is still hope for him,
but do not allow your anger to cause his death.
19 One with a violent temper must bear the consequences;
if you spare him, you make his evil worse.[dg]
20 Heed advice and accept instruction
so that your wisdom may increase in the future.
21 Many are the plans in a human mind,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will prevail.[dh]
22 A man’s attraction is his kindness;
it is far better to be poor than to be a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord[di] leads to life,
enabling one to eat and sleep without fear of harm.
24 The idler[dj] will dip his hand into the dish,
but he will not so much as lift it to his mouth.
25 If you strike a scoffer,[dk] the simple will learn prudence;
if you reprove an intelligent man, he will gain understanding.
26 Anyone who maltreats his father and casts out his mother[dl]
is a shameful and despicable son.
27 If a son ceases to accept correction,
he strays from the words of knowledge.
28 A lying witness makes a mockery of justice,
and the mouth of the wicked feasts on iniquity.
29 Punishments were meant for scoffers
and flogging for the backs of fools.
Chapter 20
Who Can Find Someone Truly Faithful?[dm]
1 Wine encourages recklessness and strong drink leads to brawls;
anyone who allows them to seduce him is not wise.[dn]
2 The anger of a king is like the roar of a lion;
he who provokes him places his life in jeopardy.
3 It is honorable to avoid strife,
but every fool is quarrelsome.
4 The idler[do] does not plow in season;
so at harvest-time he looks for a crop in vain.
5 The purpose of a man’s heart is like deep water,
but a discerning person will draw it out.
6 Many declare their loyalty,
but who can find someone truly faithful?
7 When a man leads a blameless and upright life,
blessed are the children who succeed him.
8 A king who is seated on the throne of judgment
will eradicate all evil with a mere glance.
9 Who can truly say, “I have cleansed my heart
and I am purified of all sin”?[dp]
10 Weights and measures that are not consistent
are an abomination to the Lord.
11 By his very actions a child reveals
whether his conduct is innocent and upright.
12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees—
the Lord has made both of them.
13 Do not love sleep if you wish to avoid poverty;
remain awake and you will never lack food.
14 “No good, no good,” says the buyer,
but then he goes forth to boast about his bargain.[dq]
15 There is gold or an abundance of costly pearls,
but the lips that reveal knowledge are a rare jewel.
16 Take the garment of anyone who becomes surety for a stranger;
demand a pledge as security for persons unknown to you.[dr]
17 Bread obtained by deceit may taste sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth is filled with grit.
18 Plans will succeed when good advice is accepted;
follow wise guidance when waging war.
19 A tale-bearer will reveal secrets;
so do not associate with a gossip.
20 If anyone curses his father or mother,[ds]
his lamp will go out in utter darkness.
21 Possessions that are quickly acquired in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.
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