Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns;
2 She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city:
4 Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say,
5 Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!
6 Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.
7 He who corrects an arrogant man earns insult; and he who reproves a wicked man incurs opprobrium.
8 Reprove not an arrogant man, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man, and he becomes still wiser; teach a just man, and he advances in learning.
10 The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the LORD, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied and the years of your life increased.
12 If you are wise, it is to your own advantage; and if you are arrogant, you alone shall bear it.
13 The woman Folly is fickle, she is inane, and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house upon a seat on the city heights,
15 Calling to passers-by as they go on their straight way:
16 Let whoever is simple turn in here, or who lacks understanding; for to him I say,
17 Stolen water is sweet, and bread gotten secretly is pleasing!
18 Little he knows that the shades are there, that in the depths of the nether world are her guests!

Proverbs 10

1 The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.
2 Ill-gotten treasures profit nothing, but virtue saves from death.
3 The LORD permits not the just to hunger, but the craving of the wicked he thwarts.
4 The slack hand impoverishes, but the hand of the diligent enriches.
5 A son who fills the granaries in summer is a credit; a son who slumbers during harvest, a disgrace.
6 Blessings are for the head of the just, but a rod for the back of the fool.
7 The memory of the just will be blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8 A wise man heeds commands, but a prating fool will be overthrown.
9 He who walks honestly walks securely, but he whose ways are crooked will fare badly.
10 He who winks at a fault causes trouble, but he who frankly reproves promotes peace.
11 A fountain of life is the mouth of the just, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12 Hatred stirs up disputes, but love covers all offenses.
13 On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom, (but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence).
14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool is imminent ruin.
15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the ruination of the lowly is their poverty.
16 The just man's recompense leads to life, the gains of the wicked, to sin.
17 A path to life is his who heeds admonition, but he who disregards reproof goes astray.
18 It is the lips of the liar that conceal hostility; but he who spreads accusations is a fool.
19 Where words are many, sin is not wanting; but he who restrains his lips does well.
20 Like choice silver is the just man's tongue; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The just man's lips nourish many, but fools die for want of sense.
22 It is the LORD'S blessing that brings wealth, and no effort can substitute for it.
23 Crime is the entertainment of the fool; so is wisdom for the man of sense.
24 What the wicked man fears will befall him, but the desire of the just will be granted.
25 When the tempest passes, the wicked man is no more; but the just man is established forever.
26 As vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, is the sluggard to those who use him as a messenger.
27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked are brief.
28 The hope of the just brings them joy, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nought.
29 The LORD is a stronghold to him who walks honestly, but to evildoers, their downfall.
30 The just man will never be disturbed, but the wicked will not abide in the land.
31 The mouth of the just yields wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off.
32 The lips of the just know how to please, but the mouth of the wicked, how to pervert.

Proverbs 11

1 False scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a full weight is his delight.
2 When pride comes, disgrace comes; but with the humble is wisdom.
3 The honesty of the upright guides them; the faithless are ruined by their duplicity.
4 Wealth is useless on the day of wrath, but virtue saves from death.
5 The honest man's virtue makes his way straight, but by his wickedness the wicked man falls.
6 The virtue of the upright saves them, but the faithless are caught in their own intrigue.
7 When a wicked man dies his hope perishes, and what is expected from strength comes to nought.
8 The just man escapes trouble, and the wicked man falls into it in his stead.
9 With his mouth the impious man would ruin his neighbor, but through their knowledge the just make their escape.
10 When the just prosper, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11 Through the blessing of the righteous the city is exalted, but through the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.
12 He who reviles his neighbor has no sense, but the intelligent man keeps silent.
13 A newsmonger reveals secrets, but a trustworthy man keeps a confidence.
14 For lack of guidance a people falls; security lies in many counselors.
15 He is in a bad way who becomes surety for another, but he who hates giving pledges is safe.
16 A gracious woman wins esteem, but she who hates virtue is covered with shame. (The slothful become impoverished, but the diligent gain wealth.)
17 A kindly man benefits himself, but a merciless man harms himself.
18 The wicked man makes empty profits, but he who sows virture has a sure reward.
19 Virtue directs toward life, but he who pursues evil does so to his death.
20 The depraved in heart are an abomination to the LORD, but those who walk blamelessly are his delight.
21 Truly the evil man shall not go unpunished, but those who are just shall escape.
22 Like a golden ring in a swine's snout is a beautiful woman with a rebellious disposition.
23 The desire of the just ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
24 One man is lavish yet grows still richer; another is too sparing, yet is the poorer.
25 He who confers benefits will be amply enriched, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
26 Him who monopolizes grain, the people curse--but blessings upon the head of him who distributes it!
27 He who seeks the good commands favor, but he who pursues evil will have evil befall him.
28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, but like green leaves the just flourish.
29 He who upsets his household has empty air for a heritage; and the fool will become slave to the wise man.
30 The fruit of virtue is a tree of life, but violence takes lives away.
31 If the just man is punished on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Proverbs 12

1 He who loves correction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2 The good man wins favor from the LORD, but the schemer is condemned by him.
3 No man is built up by wickedness, but the root of the just will never be disturbed.
4 A worthy wife is the crown of her husband, but a disgraceful one is like rot in his bones.
5 The plans of the just are legitimate; the designs of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush, but the speech of the upright saves them.
7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the just stands firm.
8 According to his good sense a man is praised, but one with a warped mind is despised.
9 Better a lowly man who supports himself than one of assumed importance who lacks bread.
10 The just man takes care of his beast, but the heart of the wicked is merciless.
11 He who tills his own land has food in plenty, but he who follows idle pursuits is a fool.
12 The stronghold of evil men will be demolished, but the root of the just is enduring.
13 In the sin of his lips the evil man is ensnared, but the just comes free of trouble.
14 From the fruit of his words a man has his fill of good things, and the work of his hands comes back to reward him.
15 The way of the fool seems right in his own eyes, but he who listens to advice is wise.
16 The fool immediately shows his anger, but the shrewd man passes over an insult.
17 He tells the truth who states what he is sure of, but a lying witness speaks deceitfully.
18 The prating of some men is like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise is healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever, the lying tongue, for only a moment.
20 Deceit is in the hands of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the just, but the wicked are overwhelmed with misfortune.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who are truthful are his delight.
23 A shrewd man conceals his knowledge, but the hearts of fools gush forth folly.
24 The diligent hand will govern, but the slothful will be enslaved.
25 Anxiety in a man's heart depresses it, but a kindly word makes it glad.
26 The just man surpasses his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The slothful man catches not his prey, but the wealth of the diligent man is great.
28 In the path of justice there is life, but the abominable way leads to death.

Proverbs 13

1 A wise son loves correction, but the senseless one heeds no rebuke.
2 From the fruit of his words a man eats good things, but the treacherous one craves violence.
3 He who guards his mouth protects his life; to open wide one's lips brings downfall.
4 The soul of the sluggard craves in vain, but the diligent soul is amply satisfied.
5 Anything deceitful the just man hates, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace.
6 Virtue guards one who walks honestly, but the downfall of the wicked is sin.
7 One man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
8 A man's riches serve as ransom for his life, but the poor man heeds no rebuke.
9 The light of the just shines gaily, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10 The stupid man sows discord by his insolence, but with those who take counsel is wisdom.
11 Wealth quickly gotten dwindles away, but amassed little by little, it grows.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a wish fulfilled is a tree of life.
13 He who despises the word must pay for it, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that a man may avoid the snares of death.
15 Good sense brings favor, but the way of the faithless is their ruin.
16 The shrewd man does everything with prudence, but the fool peddles folly.
17 A wicked messenger brings on disaster, but a trustworthy envoy is a healing remedy.
18 Poverty and shame befall the man who disregards correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.
19 Lust indulged starves the soul, but fools hate to turn from evil.
20 Walk with wise men and you will become wise, but the companion of fools will fare badly.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners, but the just shall be recompensed with good.
22 The good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the just.
23 A lawsuit devours the tillage of the poor, but some men perish for lack of a law court.
24 He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him takes care to chastise him.
25 When the just man eats, his hunger is appeased; but the belly of the wicked suffers want.