Proverbs 18

1 In estrangement one seeks pretexts: with all persistence he picks a quarrel.
2 The fool takes no delight in understanding, but rather in displaying what he thinks.
3 With wickedness comes contempt, and with disgrace comes scorn.
4 The words from a man's mouth are deep waters, but the source of wisdom is a flowing brook.
5 It is not good to be partial to the guilty, and so to reject a rightful claim.
6 The fool's lips lead him into strife, and his mouth provokes a beating.
7 The fool's mouth is his ruin; his lips are a snare to his life.
8 The words of a talebearer are like dainty morsels that sink into one's inmost being.
9 The man who is slack in his work is own brother to the man who is destructive.
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the just man runs to it and is safe.
11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city; he fancies it a high wall.
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honors.
13 He who answers before he hears--his is the folly and the shame.
14 A man's spirit sustains him in infirmity--but a broken spirit who can bear?
15 The mind of the intelligent gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16 A man's gift clears the way for him, and gains him access to great men.
17 The man who pleads his case first seems to be in the right; then his opponent comes and puts him to the test.
18 The lot puts an end to disputes, and is decisive in a controversy between the mighty.
19 A brother is a better defense than a strong city, and a friend is like the bars of a castle.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man has his fill; with the yield of his lips he sates himself.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who make it a friend shall eat its fruit.
22 He who finds a wife finds happiness; it is a favor he receives from the LORD.
23 The poor man implores, but the rich man answers harshly.
24 Some friends bring ruin on us, but a true friend is more loyal than a brother.

Proverbs 19

1 Better a poor man who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked in his ways and rich.
2 Without knowledge even zeal is not good; and he who acts hastily, blunders.
3 A man's own folly upsets his way, but his heart is resentful against the LORD.
4 Wealth adds many friends, but the friend of the poor man deserts him.
5 The false witness will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies will not escape.
6 Many curry favor with a noble; all are friends of the man who has something to give.
7 All the poor man's brothers hate him; how much more do his friends shun him!
8 He who gains intelligence is his own best friend; he who keeps understanding will be successful.
9 The false witness will not go unpunished, and he who utters lies will perish.
10 Luxury is not befitting a fool; much less should a slave rule over princes.
11 It is good sense in a man to be slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor, like dew on the grass.
13 The foolish son is ruin to his father, and the nagging of a wife is a persistent leak.
14 Home and possessions are an inheritance from parents, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 Laziness plunges a man into deep sleep, and the sluggard must go hungry.
16 He who keeps the precept keeps his life, but the despiser of the word will die.
17 He who has compassion on the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his good deed.
18 Chastise your son, for in this there is hope; but do not desire his death.
19 The man of violent temper pays the penalty; even if you rescue him, you will have it to do again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may eventually become wise.
21 Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the decision of the LORD that endures.
22 From a man's greed comes his shame; rather be a poor man than a liar.
23 The fear of the LORD is an aid to life; one eats and sleeps without being visited by misfortune.
24 The sluggard loses his hand in the dish; he will not even lift it to his mouth.
25 If you beat an arrogant man, the simple learn a lesson; if you rebuke an intelligent man, he gains knowledge.
26 He who mistreats his father, or drives away his mother, is a worthless and disgraceful son.
27 If a son ceases to hear instruction, he wanders from words of knowledge.
28 An unprincipled witness perverts justice, and the mouth of the wicked pours out iniquity.
29 Rods are prepared for the arrogant, and blows for the backs of fools.

Proverbs 20

1 Wine is arrogant, strong drink is riotous; none who goes astray for it is wise.
2 The dread of the king is as when a lion roars; he who incurs his anger forfeits his life.
3 It is honorable for a man to shun strife, while every fool starts a quarrel.
4 In seedtime the sluggard plows not; when he looks for the harvest, it is not there.
5 The intention in the human heart is like water far below the surface, but the man of intelligence draws it forth.
6 Many are declared to be men of virtue: but who can find one worthy of trust?
7 When a man walks in integrity and justice, happy are his children after him!
8 A king seated on the throne of judgment dispels all evil with his glance.
9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am cleansed of my sin?
10 Varying weights, varying measures, are both an abomination to the LORD.
11 Even by his manners the child betrays whether his conduct is innocent and right.
12 The ear that hears, and the eye that sees--the LORD has made them both.
13 Love not sleep, lest you be reduced to poverty; eyes wide open mean abundant food.
14 Bad, bad! says the buyer; but once he has gone his way, he boasts.
15 Like gold or a wealth of corals, wise lips are a precious ornament.
16 Take his garment who becomes surety for another, and for strangers yield it up!
17 The bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.
18 Plans made after advice succeed; so with wise guidance wage your war.
19 A newsmonger reveals secrets; so have nothing to do with a babbler!
20 If one curses his father or mother, his lamp will go out at the coming of darkness.
21 Possessions gained hastily at the outset will in the end not be blessed.
22 Say not, I will repay evil! Trust in the LORD and he will help you.
23 Varying weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.
24 Man's steps are from the LORD; how, then, can a man understand his way?
25 Rashly to pledge a sacred gift is a trap for a man, or to regret a vow once made.
26 A wise king winnows the wicked, and threshes them under the cartwheel.
27 A lamp from the LORD is the breath of man; it searches through all his inmost being.
28 Kindness and piety safeguard the king, and he upholds his throne by justice.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the dignity of old men is gray hair.
30 Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes, and a scourging to the inmost being.

Proverbs 21

1 Like a stream is the king's heart in the hand of the LORD; wherever it pleases him, he directs it.
2 All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the LORD who proves hearts.
3 To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart--the tillage of the wicked is sin.
5 The plans of the diligent are sure of profit, but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.
6 He who makes a fortune by a lying tongue is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.
7 The oppression of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
8 The way of the culprit is crooked, but the conduct of the innocent is right.
9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than in a roomy house with a quarrelsome woman.
10 The soul of the wicked man desires evil; his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.
11 When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser; when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The just man appraises the house of the wicked: there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.
13 He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.
14 A secret gift allays anger, and a concealed present, violent wrath.
15 To practice justice is a joy for the just, but terror for evildoers.
16 The man who strays from the way of good sense will abide in the assembly of the shades.
17 He who loves pleasure will suffer want; he who loves wine and perfume will not be rich.
18 The wicked man serves as ransom for the just, and the faithless man for the righteous.
19 It is better to dwell in a wilderness than with a quarrelsome and vexatious wife.
20 Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise, but the fool consumes it.
21 He who pursues justice and kindness will find life and honor.
22 The wise man storms a city of the mighty, and overthrows the stronghold in which it trusts.
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from trouble.
24 Arrogant is the name for the man of overbearing pride who acts with scornful effrontery.
25 The sluggard's propensity slays him, for his hands refuse to work.
26 Some are consumed with avarice all the day, but the just man gives unsparingly.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, the more so when they offer it with a bad intention.
28 The false witness will perish, but he who listens will finally have his say.
29 The wicked man is brazenfaced, but the upright man pays heed to his ways.
30 There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel, against the LORD.
31 The horse is equipped for the day of battle, but victory is the LORD'S.