Bible in 90 Days

²² Do not say, “I will punish wrong-doing.” Wait on the Lord, and He will take care of it.

²³ Giving the wrong weight is hated by the Lord. And weighing something wrong is not good.

²⁴ A man’s steps are decided by the Lord. How can anyone understand his own way?

²⁵ It is a trap for a man to say without thinking, “It is holy,” and then later think more about what he has promised.

²⁶ A wise king puts the sinful aside and crushes the grain over them.

²⁷ The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord. It shows all the inside parts of his heart.

²⁸ A king will stay in power as long as he is faithful and true. He can stay on his throne if he does what is right and good.

²⁹ The honor of young men is their strength. And the honor of old men is their hair turning white.

³⁰ Beatings that hurt clean away sin. And beatings make even the inside parts clean.

21 The heart of the king is like rivers of water in the hand of the Lord. He turns it where He wishes.

² Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the Lord knows the hearts.

³ To do what is right and good and fair is more pleasing to the Lord than gifts given on the altar in worship.

⁴ Eyes lifted high and a proud heart is sin and is the lamp of the sinful.

⁵ The plans of those who do their best lead only to having all they need, but all who are in a hurry come only to want.

⁶ Getting riches by a lying tongue is like a passing cloud, and leads to death.

⁷ The way the sinful hurt others will draw them away, because they will not do what is right and fair.

⁸ The way of a guilty man is sinful, but the actions of the pure man are right.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner of a roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.

¹⁰ The soul of the sinful has a desire for what is bad. His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When the man who laughs at the truth is punished, the fool becomes wise. When a wise man is taught, he gets much learning.

¹² The One Who is right and good thinks about the house of the sinful, and the sinful are thrown down to be destroyed.

¹³ He who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.

¹⁴ A gift in secret quiets anger. A gift from the heart quiets strong anger.

¹⁵ When what is right and fair is done, it is a joy for those who are right with God. But it fills the sinful with fear.

¹⁶ A man who goes away from the way of understanding will rest in the gathering of the dead.

¹⁷ He who loves only fun will become a poor man. He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

¹⁸ The sinful man is the price given for the man who is right with God, the man who is not faithful for the faithful man.

¹⁹ It is better to live in a desert land than with a woman who argues and causes trouble.

²⁰ There are riches and oil of great worth in the house of the wise, but a foolish man swallows them up.

²¹ He who follows what is right and loving and kind finds life, right-standing with God and honor.

²² A wise man goes over the city walls of the powerful, and brings down the strong-place in which they trust.

²³ He who watches over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

²⁴ “Proud,” “Self-important” and “One who laughs at the truth” are the names of the man who acts without respect and is proud.

²⁵ The desire of the lazy man kills him, for his hands will not work.

²⁶ He is filled with desire all day long, but the man who is right with God gives all he can.

²⁷ The gift given on an altar in worship by the sinful is a hated thing. How much more when he brings it for the wrong reason!

²⁸ A person who tells a lie about someone else will be lost, but the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

²⁹ A sinful man’s face shows he is pretending, but a good man is sure of himself.

³⁰ There is no wisdom and no understanding and no words that can stand against the Lord.

³¹ The horse is made ready for war, but winning the fight belongs to the Lord.

22 A good name is to be chosen instead of many riches. Favor is better than silver and gold.

² The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of them all. ³ A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the foolish go on, and are punished for it.

⁴ The reward for not having pride and having the fear of the Lord is riches, honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and traps are in the way of the sinful. He who watches himself will stay far from them.

⁶ Bring up a child by teaching him the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn away from it.

⁷ The rich rules over the poor. The man who uses something that belongs to someone else is ruled by the one who let him use it.

⁸ He who plants sin will gather trouble, and the heavy stick of his anger will break.

⁹ He who gives much will be honored, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

¹⁰ Send away the man who laughs at the truth, and arguing, fighting and shame will stop.

¹¹ He who loves a pure heart and is kind in his speaking has the king as his friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord keep watch over much learning, but He destroys the words of the man who is not faithful.

¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets!”

¹⁴ The mouth of a sinful woman is a deep hole. He with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

¹⁵ A foolish way is held in the heart of a child, but the punishing stick will send it far from him.

¹⁶ He who makes it hard for the poor by getting more for himself, or who gives to the rich, will become poor himself.

¹⁷ Turn your ear and hear the words of the wise, and open your mind to what they teach. ¹⁸ For it will be pleasing if you keep them in your heart, so they may be ready on your lips. ¹⁹ I have taught you today, even you, so that your trust may be in the Lord. ²⁰ Have I not written to you great things of wise teaching and much learning ²¹ to show you that the words of truth are sure, so you may give a true answer to him who sent you?

²² Do not rob the poor because he is poor, or crush those who suffer at the gate. ²³ For the Lord will stand by them and help them, and take the life of those who rob them.

²⁴ Do not have anything to do with a man given to anger, or go with a man who has a bad temper. ²⁵ Or you might learn his ways and get yourself into a trap.

²⁶ Do not be among those who make promises and put themselves up as trust for what others owe. ²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?

²⁸ Do not take away the old land-mark which your fathers have set.

²⁹ Do you see a man who is good at his work? He will stand in front of kings. He will not stand in front of men who are not important.

23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think about what is in front of you. ² Put a knife to your neck if you are a man who is given to much eating. ³ Do not desire his special foods, for they are put there for no good reason.

⁴ Do not work hard to be rich. Stop trying to get things for yourself. ⁵ When you set your eyes upon it, it is gone. For sure, riches make themselves wings like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

⁶ Do not eat the bread of a man who thinks only about himself. Do not have a desire for his fine food. ⁷ For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. He says to you, “Eat and drink!” But his heart is not with you. ⁸ You will spit up the piece of food you have eaten, and waste your good words.

⁹ Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will hate the wisdom of your words.

¹⁰ Do not take away the old land-mark, or go into the fields of those without a father. ¹¹ For the One Who saves them is strong. He will stand by them and give them help against you. ¹² Open your heart to teaching, and your ears to words of much learning.

¹³ Do not keep from punishing the child if he needs it. If you beat him with the stick, he will not die. ¹⁴ Beat him with the stick, and save his soul from hell.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad also. ¹⁶ My heart will be full of joy when your lips speak what is right.

¹⁷ Do not let your heart be jealous of sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always. ¹⁸ For sure there is a future and your hope will not be cut off. ¹⁹ Listen, my son, and be wise. Lead your heart in the way. ²⁰ Do not be with those who drink too much wine or eat too much meat. ²¹ For the man who drinks too much or eats too much will become poor, and much sleep will dress a man in torn clothes.

²² Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not hate your mother when she is old. ²³ Buy truth, and do not sell it. Get wisdom and teaching and understanding.

²⁴ The father of one who is right with God will have much joy. He who has a wise son will be glad in him. ²⁵ Let your father and mother be glad, and let her who gave birth to you be full of joy.

²⁶ Give me your heart, my son. Let your eyes find joy in my ways. ²⁷ For a woman who sells the use of her body is like a deep hole. A sinful woman is a narrow well. ²⁸ She lies in wait as a robber, and makes many more men not faithful.

²⁹ Who has trouble? Who has sorrow? Who is fighting? Who is complaining? Who is hurt without a reason? Who has eyes that have become red? ³⁰ Those who stay a long time over wine. Those who go to taste mixed wine. ³¹ Do not look at wine when it is red, when it shines in the cup, when it is smooth in going down. ³² In the end it bites like a snake. It stings like the bite of a snake with poison. ³³ Your eyes will see strange things. Your mind will say the wrong things. ³⁴ And you will be like one who lies down in the center of the sea, or like one who lies above a ship’s sail. ³⁵ “They hit me, but I was not hurt. They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I wake up? I will look for another drink.”

24 Do not be jealous of sinful men. Do not want to be with them. ² For their hearts make plans to hurt others and their lips talk about trouble.

³ A house is built by wisdom. It is made strong by understanding, ⁴ and by much learning the rooms are filled with all riches that are pleasing and of great worth.

⁵ A wise man is strong. A man of much learning adds to his strength. ⁶ For by wise leading you will make war, and the fight is won when there are many wise men to help you make the plans.

⁷ Wisdom is too hard for a fool to understand. He does not open his mouth in the gate. ⁸ He who plans to do wrong will be called a trouble maker. ⁹ Planning to do foolish things is sin, and the man who laughs at the truth is hated by men.

¹⁰ If you are weak in the day of trouble, your strength is small.

¹¹ Save those who are being taken away to death. Keep them from being killed. ¹² If you say, “See, we did not know this,” does not He Who knows what is in hearts see it? Does not He Who keeps watch over your soul know it? And will He not pay each man for his work?

¹³ My son, eat honey, for it is good. Yes, the honey from the comb is sweet to your taste. ¹⁴ Know that wisdom is like this to your soul. If you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ O sinful man, do not lie in wait against the house of the man who is right with God. Do not destroy his resting place. ¹⁶ For a man who is right with God falls seven times, and rises again, but the sinful fall in time of trouble.

¹⁷ Do not be full of joy when the one who hates you falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he trips. ¹⁸ The Lord will see it and will not be pleased, and He will turn away His anger from him.

¹⁹ Do not worry yourself because of those who do wrong, and do not be jealous of the sinful. ²⁰ For there will be no future for the sinful man. The lamp of the sinful will be put out.

²¹ My son, fear the Lord and the king. Have nothing to do with those who are given to change. ²² For their trouble will rise up all at once, and who knows how much both of them will destroy?

²³ These also are sayings of the wise. It is not good to show favor in judging. ²⁴ He who says to the sinful, “You are right and good,” will be spoken against by people and hated by nations. ²⁵ But those who speak strong words to the sinful will find joy and good will come upon them. ²⁶ To give the right answer is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Get your work done outside. Make your fields ready. Then after that, build your house.

²⁸ Do not speak against your neighbor without a reason, and do not lie with your lips. ²⁹ Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me. I will pay the man for what he has done.”

³⁰ I passed by the field of the lazy man, by the grape-vines of the man without understanding. ³¹ And see, it was all grown over with thorns. The ground was covered with weeds, and its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I thought about it. I looked and received teaching. ³³ “A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands to rest,” ³⁴ and your being poor will come as a robber, and your need like a man ready to fight.

25 These also are wise sayings of Solomon, which were written down by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

² It is the greatness of God to keep things hidden, but it is the greatness of kings to find things out. ³ As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the heart of kings is more than can be known. ⁴ Take away the waste from the silver, and a silver pot comes out for the workman. ⁵ Take the sinful away from the king, and his throne will stand on what is right and good. ⁶ Do not honor yourself in front of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men. ⁷ For it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put down in front of the ruler whom your eyes have seen.

⁸ Do not go out in a hurry to argue. Or what will you do in the end, when your neighbor puts you to shame? ⁹ Argue your side of the problem with your neighbor, but do not tell the secret of another. ¹⁰ Or he who hears you may put you to shame, and bad things will be said about you forever.

¹¹ A word spoken at the right time is like fruit of gold set in silver.

¹² A wise man speaking strong words to a listening ear is like a piece of gold for the ear and a beautiful object of fine gold.

¹³ A faithful man who carries news is like the cold of snow at gathering time to those who send him, for he makes the spirit of his owners feel new again.

¹⁴ A man who talks much of a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind without rain. ¹⁵ When one is slow to anger, a ruler may be won over. A gentle tongue will break a bone.

¹⁶ Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, or you may become filled with it and spit it up.

¹⁷ Do not let your foot be in your neighbor’s house too much, or he may become tired of you and hate you.

¹⁸ A man who tells a lie against his neighbor is like a heavy stick or a sword or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ In time of trouble, trusting in a man who is not faithful is like a bad tooth or a foot out of joint.

²⁰ He who sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a coat on a cold day, or like sour wine poured on soda.

²¹ If the one who hates you is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water. ²² If you do that, you will be making him more ashamed of himself, and the Lord will reward you.

²³ The north wind brings rain, and a tongue that hurts people brings angry looks.

²⁴ It is better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with an arguing woman.

²⁵ Good news from a land far away is like cold water to a tired soul.

²⁶ A man who does what is right but gives way in front of the sinful, is like a well of mud or poisoned water.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey, and looking for honor is not good.

²⁸ A man who cannot rule his own spirit is like a city whose walls are broken down.

26 Like snow in summer and like rain at gathering time, so honor is not right for a fool.

² Like a sparrow in its traveling, like a swallow in its flying, so bad words said against someone without reason do not come to rest.

³ A whip is for the horse, leather ropes are for the donkey, and a stick is for the back of fools.

⁴ Do not answer a fool by his foolish ways, or you will be like him.

⁵ Answer a fool in the way he has earned by his foolish acts, so he will not be wise in his own eyes.

⁶ He who sends a letter by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and brings trouble upon himself.

⁷ A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like the legs on a man who cannot walk.

⁸ He who gives honor to a fool is like one who ties a stone in a sling.

⁹ A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn that goes into the hand of a man who drinks too much.

¹⁰ He who hires a fool or hires those who pass by is like a man who uses a bow to hurt everyone.

¹¹ A fool who does his foolish act again is like a dog that turns back to what he has thrown up.

¹² Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The lazy man says, “There is a lion in the way! There is a lion in the streets!”

¹⁴ As a door turns, so does the lazy man on his bed.

¹⁵ The lazy man buries his hand in the dish. It makes him tired to bring it to his mouth again.

¹⁶ The lazy man is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can give a wise answer.

¹⁷ He who passes by and has a part in someone else’s fight is like one who takes a dog by the ears.

¹⁸ Like a crazy man who throws pieces of burning wood and arrows of death, ¹⁹ so is the man who fools his neighbor with a lie, and says, “I was only joking.”

²⁰ When there is no wood, the fire goes out. Where there is no one telling secret stories about people, arguing stops.

²¹ An arguing man makes fights worse. He is like coals to burning wood and wood to a fire.

²² The words of one who tells secret things about people are like good-tasting bites of food. They go down into the inside parts of the body.

²³ Burning lips and a sinful heart are like a pot covered with silver waste.

²⁴ He who hates covers it up with his lips, but stores up false ways in his heart. ²⁵ When he speaks with kindness, do not believe him, for there are seven things that are hated in his heart. ²⁶ Even if his hate is covered with false ways, his sin will be found out in front of the great meeting.

²⁷ He who digs a deep hole will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it return upon him.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a mouth that speaks false words destroys.

27 Do not talk much about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring.

² Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth. Let a stranger, and not your own lips.

³ A stone is heavy, and sand is heavy, but to be made angry by a fool weighs more than both of them.

⁴ Anger causes trouble and a bad temper is like a flood, but who can stand when there is jealousy?

⁵ Sharp words spoken in the open are better than love that is hidden.

⁶ The pains given by a friend are faithful, but the kisses of one who hates you are false.

⁷ He who is full hates honey, but any bitter thing is sweet to a hungry man.

⁸ Like a bird that goes away from her nest, so is a man who goes away from his home.

⁹ Oil and perfume make the heart glad, so are a man’s words sweet to his friend.

¹⁰ Do not leave your own friend or your father’s friend alone, and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your trouble. A neighbor who is near is better than a brother who is far away.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, so I may answer him who puts me to shame.

¹² A wise man sees sin and hides himself, but the fool goes on and suffers for it.

¹³ Take the man’s coat who has given himself as trust for what a stranger owes. And hold him to his promise who has given it as trust for a sinful woman.

¹⁴ He who praises his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning will be thought of as saying bad things against him.

¹⁵ An arguing woman is like water falling drop by drop on a day it is raining. ¹⁶ To try to stop her is like trying to stop the wind, or like trying to catch oil in his right hand.

¹⁷ Iron is made sharp with iron, and one man is made sharp by a friend.

¹⁸ He who cares for the fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who cares for the one he works for will be honored.

¹⁹ As water acts as a mirror to a face, so the heart of man acts as a mirror to a man.

²⁰ The place of the dead is never filled, and the eyes of man are never filled.

²¹ The melting-pot is for silver and the fire for gold, and a man is tested by the praise he receives.

²² Even if you crush a fool in a pot used for crushing grain, his foolish way will not leave him.

²³ Know well how your flocks are doing, and keep your mind on your cattle. ²⁴ Riches do not last forever, and a crown does not pass from family to family. ²⁵ When the grass is gone, the new plants are seen, and the plants of the mountains are gathered in. ²⁶ The lambs will be for your clothes, and the goats will bring the price of a field. ²⁷ There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of all your house, and a living for your young women.

28 The sinful run away when no one is trying to catch them, but those who are right with God have as much strength of heart as a lion.

² When a nation sins, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and much learning, it will last a long time.

³ A poor man who makes it hard for the poor is like a heavy rain which leaves no food.

⁴ Those who turn away from the law praise the sinful, but those who keep the law fight against them.

⁵ Sinful men do not understand what is right and fair, but those who look to the Lord understand all things.

⁶ A poor man who walks in his honor is better than a rich man who is sinful in his ways.

⁷ He who keeps the law is a wise son, but a friend of men who eat too much puts his father to shame.

⁸ He who gets money by being paid much for the use of it, gathers it for him who will be kind to the poor.

⁹ He who turns his ear away from listening to the law, even his prayer is a hated thing.

¹⁰ He who leads good people into a sinful way will fall into his own deep hole, but good will come to those without blame.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes, but the poor man who has understanding sees through him.

¹² When those who are right with God win, there is great honor, but when the sinful rule, men hide themselves.

¹³ It will not go well for the man who hides his sins, but he who tells his sins and turns from them will be given loving-pity.

¹⁴ Happy is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who makes his heart hard will fall into trouble.

¹⁵ A sinful ruler over poor people is like a lion making noise or a bear running to fight.

¹⁶ A ruler who takes much from the people who have little does not have understanding. But he who hates wanting something that belongs to someone else will live a long time.

¹⁷ A man who is loaded down with the guilt of human blood will run in fear until death. Let no one help him.

¹⁸ He who walks without blame will be kept safe, but he who is sinful will fall all at once.

¹⁹ He who works his land will have more than enough food, but he who wastes his time will become very poor.

²⁰ A faithful man will have many good things, but he who hurries to be rich will be punished for it.

²¹ To show favor is not good, because a man will sin for a piece of bread.

²² A man with a sinful eye hurries to be rich. He does not know that he will be in need.

²³ He who speaks strong words to a man will later find more favor than he who gives false respect with his tongue.

²⁴ He who robs his father or his mother, and says, “It is not a sin,” is the friend of a man who destroys.

²⁵ A proud man starts fights, but all will go well for the man who trusts in the Lord.

²⁶ He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be kept safe.

²⁷ He who gives to the poor will never want, but many bad things will happen to the man who shuts his eyes to the poor.

²⁸ When the sinful rule, men hide themselves, but when they pass away, those who do what is right become many.

29 A man who does not listen after many strong words are spoken to him will be destroyed all at once and without help.

² When those who are right with God rule, the people are glad, but when a sinful man rules, the people have sorrow.

³ A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but he who goes with women who sell the use of their bodies wastes his money.

⁴ The king makes the land strong by doing what is right and fair, but the one who takes pay for doing wrong, destroys it.

⁵ A man who gives his neighbor sweet-sounding words that are not true spreads a net for his own feet.

⁶ A sinful man is trapped by his sins, but a man who is right with God sings for joy.

⁷ The man who is right with God cares about the rights of poor people, but the sinful man does not understand such things.

⁸ Men who speak against others set a city on fire, but wise men turn away anger.

⁹ When a wise man argues with a foolish man, the fool only gets angry or laughs, and there is no peace and quiet.

¹⁰ Men who kill hate him without blame, but a good man cares for his life.

¹¹ A fool always loses his temper, but a wise man keeps quiet.

¹² If a ruler listens to lies, all who work for him will become sinful.

¹³ The Lord gives light to the eyes of both the poor man and the man who makes it hard for others.

¹⁴ If the king is fair as he judges the poor, his throne will stand forever.

¹⁵ The stick and strong words give wisdom, but a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶ When the sinful are many, sins become many, but those who are right with God will see their fall.

¹⁷ Punish your son when he does wrong and he will give you comfort. Yes, he will give joy to your soul.

¹⁸ Where there is no understanding of the Word of the Lord, the people do whatever they want to, but happy is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹ A servant will not be taught by words alone. For even if he understands, he will not answer.

²⁰ Do you see a man who is quick with his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹ He who gives good care to his servant from the time he is young, will in the end find him to be a son.

²² A man of anger starts fights, and a man with a bad temper is full of wrong-doing.

²³ A man’s pride will bring him down, but he whose spirit is without pride will receive honor.

²⁴ He who works with a robber hates his own life. He knows about the bad that will come, but can tell nothing.

²⁵ The fear of man brings a trap, but he who trusts in the Lord will be honored.

²⁶ Many look for the ruler’s favor, but what is right and fair comes from the Lord.

²⁷ A sinful man is a shame to those who are right with God, and he who is right with God is a shame to the sinful.

The Wisdom of Agur

30 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ithiel and Ucal:

² For sure, I am more foolish than any man, and I do not have the understanding of a man. ³ I have not learned wisdom, and I do not know much about the Holy One. ⁴ Who has gone up into heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has gathered the waters in His coat? Who has put in place all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? For sure you know!

⁵ Every word of God has been proven true. He is a safe-covering to those who trust in Him. ⁶ Do not add to His words, or He will speak strong words to you and prove you to be a liar.

⁷ Two things I have asked of You. Do not keep me from having them before I die: ⁸ Take lies and what is false far from me. Do not let me be poor or rich. Feed me with the food that I need. ⁹ Then I will not be afraid that I will be full and turn my back against You and say, “Who is the Lord?” And I will not be afraid that I will be poor and steal, and bring shame on the name of my God.

¹⁰ Do not speak against a slave while talking with his owner, or he may curse you and you will be found guilty.

¹¹ There are those who curse their fathers, and do not honor their mothers. ¹² There are people who are pure in their own eyes, but are not washed from their own dirt. ¹³ There is a kind, O, how proud are his eyes! His eyes are opened wide with pride. ¹⁴ There is a kind of man whose teeth are swords, whose jaws are like knives, who eat up those who are suffering from the earth, and those in need from among men.

¹⁵ The one who lives by the blood of another has two daughters, “Give,” “Give.” There are three things that are never filled, four that never say, “Enough”: ¹⁶ The place of the dead, the woman who cannot have children, the earth that is always thirsty for water, and fire that never says, “Enough.”

¹⁷ The eye that makes fun of a father and hates to obey a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the young eagles.

¹⁸ There are three things which are too great for me, four which I do not understand: ¹⁹ The way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship out at sea, and the way of a man with a woman.

²⁰ This is the way of a woman who is not faithful in marriage: She eats and washes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong.”

²¹ Under three things the earth shakes, and under four it cannot stand: ²² Under a servant when he becomes king, under a fool when he is filled with food, ²³ under a woman who is not loved when she gets a husband, and under a woman servant when she takes the place of the woman of the house.

²⁴ There are four things that are small on the earth, but they are very wise: ²⁵ The ants are not a strong people, but they store up their food in the summer. ²⁶ The badgers are not a strong people, but they make their houses in the rocks. ²⁷ The locusts have no king, but they go as an army. ²⁸ You can take the lizard in your hands, but it is found in kings’ houses.

²⁹ There are three things which have honor in their steps, even four which show honor in their walk: ³⁰ The lion, which is powerful among wild animals and does not turn away from any, ³¹ the proud rooster, the male goat, and a king when his army is with him.

³² If you have been foolish in honoring yourself, or if you have planned wrong-doing, put your hand on your mouth. ³³ Shaking milk makes butter, and hitting the nose brings blood. So fighting comes because of anger.

The Wisdom of King Lemuel’s Mother

31 The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:

² What, my son? What, son who came from within me? What, son of my promises? ³ Do not give your strength to women, or your ways to that which destroys kings. ⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink. ⁵ Or they might drink and forget the law, and go against the rights of all who are suffering. ⁶ Give strong drink to him who is about to die, and wine to him whose life is full of trouble. ⁷ Let him drink and forget how poor he is, and remember his trouble no more. ⁸ Open your mouth for those who cannot speak, and for the rights of those who are left without help. ⁹ Open your mouth. Be right and fair in what you decide. Stand up for the rights of those who are suffering and in need.

¹⁰ Who can find a good wife? For she is worth far more than rubies that make one rich. ¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will never stop getting good things. ¹² She does him good and not bad all the days of her life. ¹³ She looks for wool and flax, and works with willing hands. ¹⁴ She is like ships that trade. She brings her food from far away. ¹⁵ She rises while it is still night and makes food for all those in her house. She gives work for the young women to do. ¹⁶ She gives careful thought to a field and buys it. She plants grape-vines from what she has earned. ¹⁷ She makes herself ready with strength, and makes her arms strong. ¹⁸ She sees that what she has earned is good. Her lamp does not go out at night. ¹⁹ She puts her hands to the wheel to make cloth. ²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor, and holds out her hands to those in need. ²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for those in her house, for all of them are dressed in red. ²² She makes coverings for herself. Her clothes are linen cloth and purple. ²³ Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits among the leaders of the land. ²⁴ She makes linen clothes and sells them. She brings belts to those who trade. ²⁵ Her clothes are strength and honor. She is full of joy about the future. ²⁶ She

opens her mouth with wisdom. The teaching of kindness is on her tongue. ²⁷ She looks well to the ways of those in her house, and does not eat the bread of doing nothing. ²⁸ Her children rise up and honor her. Her husband does also, and he praises her, saying: ²⁹ “Many daughters have done well, but you have done better than all of them.” ³⁰ Pleasing ways lie and beauty comes to nothing, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. ³¹ Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.

Life Is of No Worth

1 These are the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. ² “It is of no use,” says the Preacher. “It is of no use! All is for nothing.”

³ What does a man get for all his work which he does under the sun? ⁴ People die and people are born, but the earth stays forever. ⁵ The sun rises and the sun sets, and travels in a hurry to the place where it rises. ⁶ The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north. It goes around and around, and returns again on its way. ⁷ All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full. And they return again to the place from which the rivers flow. ⁸ All things are tiring. Man is not able to tell about them. The eye never has enough to see, and the ear is never filled with what it hears. ⁹ What has been is what will be. And what has been done is what will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun. ¹⁰ Is there anything of which one might say, “See, this is new”? It has already been there since long before us. ¹¹ No one remembers the things that happened before. And no one will remember the things that will happen in the future among those who will come later.

Looking for Wisdom Is like Trying to Catch the Wind

¹² I, the Preacher, have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. ¹³ And I set my mind to look for wisdom to learn about all that has been done under heaven. It is a hard work which God has given to the sons of men to be troubled with. ¹⁴ I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun. And see, it is all for nothing. It is like trying to catch the wind. ¹⁵ What is not straight cannot be made straight. What is not there cannot be numbered. ¹⁶ I said to myself, “I have received more wisdom than all who were over Jerusalem before me. My mind has seen much wisdom and much learning.” ¹⁷ And I set my mind to know wisdom and to know what is crazy and foolish. I saw that this also is like trying to catch the wind. ¹⁸ Because in much wisdom there is much trouble. And he who gets much learning gets much sorrow.

Fun Is of No Worth

2 I said to myself, “Come now, I will test you with things that are fun. So have a good time.” But see, this also was for nothing. ² I said of laughing, “It is crazy,” and of fun, “What use is it?” ³ I tried to find in my mind how to make my body happy with wine, yet at the same time having my mind lead me with wisdom. I tried to find how to take hold of what is foolish, until I could see what good there is for the sons of men to do under heaven during the few years of their lives. ⁴ I did great things. I built houses for myself. I planted grape-fields for myself. ⁵ I made gardens and beautiful places for myself, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. ⁶ I made pools of water for myself from which to water many new trees. ⁷ I bought men and women servants, and had other servants who were born in my house. I had more flocks and cattle than anyone before me in Jerusalem. ⁸ I gathered for myself silver and gold and the riches of kings and lands. I got for myself male and female singers, and kept many women who acted as my wives, the joy of man. ⁹ Then I became great, greater than all who lived before me in Jerusalem. And my wisdom stayed with me. ¹⁰ Whatever my eyes wanted I did not keep away from them. I did not keep my heart from anything that was pleasing, for my heart was pleased with all my work. This was my reward for all my work. ¹¹ Then I thought about all that my hands had done, and the work I had done. I saw that it was all for nothing. It was like trying to catch the wind, and there was nothing to get for it under the sun.

The End of the Wise Man or Fool

¹² So I turned to think about wisdom and what is crazy and foolish. For what can the man do who comes after the king, except what has already been done? ¹³ And I saw that wisdom is better than what is foolish, as light is better than darkness. ¹⁴ The wise man’s eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I know that one thing will happen to both of them. ¹⁵ Then I said to myself, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” So I said to myself, “This also is for nothing.” ¹⁶ For the wise man will not be remembered forever any more than the fool. All will be forgotten in the days to come. The wise man dies just like the fool! ¹⁷ So I hated life. For the work which had been done under the sun brought sorrow to me. Because everything is for nothing and is like trying to catch the wind.

¹⁸ I hated what came from all my work which I had done under the sun. For I must leave it to the man who will come after me. ¹⁹ And who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will rule over all that I have worked for by acting with wisdom under the sun. This also is for nothing. ²⁰ So I was filled with sorrow for all I had worked for under the sun. ²¹ For here is a man who has worked with wisdom, much learning, and an able hand. Yet he must give this to one who has not worked for it. This also is for nothing, and very wrong. ²² For what does a man get from all his work and trouble under the sun? ²³ For his work brings pain and sorrow all his days. Even during the night his mind does not rest. This also is for nothing.

²⁴ There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and find joy in his work. I have seen that this also is from the hand of God. ²⁵ For who can eat and who can find joy without Him? ²⁶ For God has given wisdom and much learning and joy to the person who is good in God’s eyes. But to the sinner He has given the work of gathering and getting many riches together to give to the one who pleases God. This also is for nothing, like trying to catch the wind.