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Proverbs 17:28

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Chapter 10
The Proverbs of Solomon
1The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.

2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
but righteousness delivers from death.

3The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4A slack hand causes poverty,
but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son,
but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.

6Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.

8The wise of heart will receive commandments,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

10Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all offenses.

13On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,
but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

14The wise lay up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

15A rich man's wealth is his strong city;
the poverty of the poor is their ruin.

16The wage of the righteous leads to life,
the gain of the wicked to sin.

17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever utters slander is a fool.

19When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

21The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.

22The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
and he adds no sorrow with it.Or and toil adds nothing to it

23Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.

24What the wicked dreads will come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

25When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.

26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those who send him.

27The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked will be short.

28The hope of the righteous brings joy,
but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

29The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless,
but destruction to evildoers.

30The righteous will never be removed,
but the wicked will not dwell in the land.

31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Chapter 11
1A false balance is an abomination to the Lord,
but a just weight is his delight.

2When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with the humble is wisdom.

3The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.

5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight,
but the wicked falls by his own wickedness.

6The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish,
and the expectation of wealthOr of his strength, or of iniquity perishes too.

8The righteous is delivered from trouble,
and the wicked walks into it instead.

9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,
but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices,
and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness.

11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.

12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,
but a man of understanding remains silent.

13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

14Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm,
but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.

16A gracious woman gets honor,
and violent men get riches.

17A man who is kind benefits himself,
but a cruel man hurts himself.

18The wicked earns deceptive wages,
but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward.

19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,
but he who pursues evil will die.

20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord,
but those of blameless ways are his delight.

21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished,
but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.

22Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.

23The desire of the righteous ends only in good;
the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer;
another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched,
and one who waters will himself be watered.

26The people curse him who holds back grain,
but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it.

27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,Or acceptance
but evil comes to him who searches for it.

28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart.

30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and whoever captures souls is wise.

31If the righteous is repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Chapter 12
1Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.

2A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.

3No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

4An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.

5The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.

6The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

7The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.

8A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.

9Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.

10Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

11Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.

12Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.

13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.

14From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.

16The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.

17Whoever speaksHebrew breathes out the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.

18There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.

21No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.

22Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.

23A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.

24The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.

25Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.

26One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,Or The righteous chooses his friends carefully
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.Or but diligence is precious wealth

28In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.

Chapter 13
1A wise son hears his father's instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

3Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,
while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.

5The righteous hates falsehood,
but the wicked brings shameOr stench and disgrace.

6Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless,
but sin overthrows the wicked.

7One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.

8The ransom of a man's life is his wealth,
but a poor man hears no threat.

9The light of the righteous rejoices,
but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10By insolence comes nothing but strife,
but with those who take advice is wisdom.

11Wealth gained hastilyOr by fraud will dwindle,
but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.

12Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.

14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

15Good sense wins favor,
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.Probable reading (compare Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate); Hebrew is rugged, or is an enduring rut

16In everything the prudent acts with knowledge,
but a fool flaunts his folly.

17A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is honored.

19A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

20Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

21DisasterOr Evil pursues sinners,
but the righteous are rewarded with good.

22A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children,
but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.

23The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food,
but it is swept away through injustice.

24Whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.Or who loves him disciplines him early

25The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked suffers want.

Chapter 14
1The wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.

2Whoever walks in uprightness fears the Lord,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.

3By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,Or In the mouth of a fool is a rod of pride
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.

5A faithful witness does not lie,
but a false witness breathes out lies.

6A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,
but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.

7Leave the presence of a fool,
for there you do not meet words of knowledge.

8The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,
but the folly of fools is deceiving.

9Fools mock at the guilt offering,
but the upright enjoy acceptance.Hebrew but among the upright is acceptance

10The heart knows its own bitterness,
and no stranger shares its joy.

11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.Hebrew ways of death

13Even in laughter the heart may ache,
and the end of joy may be grief.

14The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways,
and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.

15The simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps.

16One who is wise is cautiousOr fears [the Lord] and turns away from evil,
but a fool is reckless and careless.

17A man of quick temper acts foolishly,
and a man of evil devices is hated.

18The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19The evil bow down before the good,
the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20The poor is disliked even by his neighbor,
but the rich has many friends.

21Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner,
but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.

22Do they not go astray who devise evil?
Those who devise good meetOr show steadfast love and faithfulness.

23In all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty.

24The crown of the wise is their wealth,
but the folly of fools brings folly.

25A truthful witness saves lives,
but one who breathes out lies is deceitful.

26In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.

27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death.

28In a multitude of people is the glory of a king,
but without people a prince is ruined.

29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

30A tranquilOr healing heart gives life to the flesh,
but envyOr jealousy makes the bones rot.

31Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker,
but he who is generous to the needy honors him.

32The wicked is overthrown through his evildoing,
but the righteous finds refuge in his death.

33Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding,
but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools.Or Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding, but makes itself known in the midst of fools

34Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a reproach to any people.

35A servant who deals wisely has the king's favor,
but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully.

Chapter 15
1A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.

2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.

3The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4A gentleOr healing tongue is a tree of life,
but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5A fool despises his father's instruction,
but whoever heeds reproof is prudent.

6In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.

7The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the hearts of fools.Or the hearts of fools are not steadfast

8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

9The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,
but he loves him who pursues righteousness.

10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way;
whoever hates reproof will die.

11Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord;
how much more the hearts of the children of man!

12A scoffer does not like to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.

13A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but by sorrow of heart the spirit is crushed.

14The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

15All the days of the afflicted are evil,
but the cheerful of heart has a continual feast.

16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.

17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

18A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

19The way of a sluggard is like a hedge of thorns,
but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish man despises his mother.

21Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.

22Without counsel plans fail,
but with many advisers they succeed.

23To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!

24The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.

25The Lord tears down the house of the proud
but maintains the widow's boundaries.

26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord,
but gracious words are pure.

27Whoever is greedy for unjust gain troubles his own household,
but he who hates bribes will live.

28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

29The Lord is far from the wicked,
but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

30The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshesHebrew makes fat the bones.

31The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.

32Whoever ignores instruction despises himself,
but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence.

33The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.

Chapter 16
1The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.

3Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established.

4The Lord has made everything for its purpose,
even the wicked for the day of trouble.

5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.

6By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

7When a man's ways please the Lord,
he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8Better is a little with righteousness
than great revenues with injustice.

9The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.

10An oracle is on the lips of a king;
his mouth does not sin in judgment.

11A just balance and scales are the Lord's;
all the weights in the bag are his work.

12It is an abomination to kings to do evil,
for the throne is established by righteousness.

13Righteous lips are the delight of a king,
and he loves him who speaks what is right.

14A king's wrath is a messenger of death,
and a wise man will appease it.

15In the light of a king's face there is life,
and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

16How much better to get wisdom than gold!
To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;
whoever guards his way preserves his life.

18Pride goes before destruction,
and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor
than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20Whoever gives thought to the wordOr to a matter will discover good,
and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

21The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

22Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,
but the instruction of fools is folly.

23The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

24Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

25There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.Hebrew ways of death

26A worker's appetite works for him;
his mouth urges him on.

27A worthless man plots evil,
and his speechHebrew what is on his lips is like a scorching fire.

28A dishonest man spreads strife,
and a whisperer separates close friends.

29A man of violence entices his neighbor
and leads him in a way that is not good.

30Whoever winks his eyes plansHebrew to plan dishonest things;
he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

31Gray hair is a crown of glory;
it is gained in a righteous life.

32Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.

Chapter 17
1Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feastingHebrew sacrifices with strife.

2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts.

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.

7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a prince.

8A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.

9Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly.

13If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?

17A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.

18One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

19Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

20A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23The wicked accepts a bribe in secretHebrew a bribe from the bosom
to pervert the ways of justice.

24The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.

26To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Chapter 18
1Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.

2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.

3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.

4The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

5It is not good to be partial toHebrew to lift the face of the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.

6A fool's lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.

7A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.

8The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.

9Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.

10The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

11A rich man's wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.

12Before destruction a man's heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.

13If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.

14A man's spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?

15An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16A man's gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.

17The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.

18The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.

19A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

20From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

21Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.

22He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.

23The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.

24A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Chapter 19
1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

2DesireOr A soul without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

3When a man's folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.

4Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

6Many seek the favor of a generous man,Or of a noble
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7All a poor man's brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.The meaning of the Hebrew sentence is uncertain

8Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.

9A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.

10It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12A king's wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife's quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

14House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.

16Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises his ways will die.

17Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.

18Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.

19A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

20Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.

21Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

22What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.

23The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.

24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

26He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who brings shame and reproach.

27Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools.

Chapter 20
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.Or will not become wise

2The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
but every fool will be quarreling.

4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

5The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,
but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find?

7The righteous who walks in his integrity—
blessed are his children after him!

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment
winnows all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?

10UnequalOr Two kinds of; also verse 23 weights and unequal measures
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

11Even a child makes himself known by his acts,Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
the Lord has made them both.

13Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

14“Bad, Bad,” says the buyer,
but when he goes away, then he boasts.

15There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

18Plans are established by counsel;
by wise guidance wage war.

19Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips

20If one curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

21An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
will not be blessed in the end.

22Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.

23Unequal weights are an abomination to the Lord,
and false scales are not good.

24A man's steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?

25It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
and to reflect only after making vows.

26A wise king winnows the wicked
and drives the wheel over them.

27The spiritHebrew breath of man is the lamp of the Lord,
searching all his innermost parts.

28Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

29The glory of young men is their strength,
but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

30Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Chapter 21
1The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he turns it wherever he will.

2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the heart.

3To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lampOr the plowing of the wicked, are sin.

5The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.

8The way of the guilty is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.

9It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

10The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.

11When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.

13Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.

14A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe,Hebrew a bribe in the bosom strong wrath.

15When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.

16One who wanders from the way of good sense
will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.

19It is better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.

20Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish man devours it.

21Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

23Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

24“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.

25The desire of the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.

26All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with evil intent.

28A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.

29A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright gives thought toOr establishes his ways.

30No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.

31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Chapter 22
1A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.

2The rich and the poor meet together;
the Lord is the maker of them all.

3The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
but the simple go on and suffer for it.

4The reward for humility and fear of the Lord
is riches and honor and life.Or The reward for humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and honor and life

5Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.

6Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

8Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of his fury will fail.

9Whoever has a bountifulHebrew good eye will be blessed,
for he shares his bread with the poor.

10Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
and quarreling and abuse will cease.

11He who loves purity of heart,
and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.

12The eyes of the Lord keep watch over knowledge,
but he overthrows the words of the traitor.

13The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be killed in the streets!”

14The mouth of forbiddenHebrew strange women is a deep pit;
he with whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

16Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

English Standard Version (ESV) English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.

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scott32756 - (eBible Novice) over 2 years ago.
Be careful to listen.
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