- These are the proverbs of Solomon, son of King David: Know wisdom and instruction in justice and judgment. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom. Consent not in the enticements of sinners. They shall eat the fruit of their own way. #Prv1
- Further benefits of seeking wisdom are expounded: Discretion shall protect you; understanding will keep you. Wisdom will save you from the crooked ways of the wicked. Wisdom will save you from wayward women whose paths incline unto death. Keep the paths of the righteous. #Prv2
- Do not despise the chastening of the Lord; even a father disciplines a son he loves. The merchandise of wisdom exceeds silver; its returns are greater than gold. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Do not withhold good or devise evil. The wise inherit glory. #Prv3
- Get wisdom and gain understanding. Do not forget or forsake wisdom. Exalt her and she will bring you honor. Follow my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. Enter not into the path of the wicked. Their way is darkness. Above all, keep my words in your heart. #Prv4
- My son, attend to my wisdom. The lips of a strange woman drip honey; her mouth is smoother than oil. But her end is as bitter as wormwood. Her feet go down to death. Drink waters from your own cistern. Rejoice with the wife of your youth. #Prv5
- Do not put surety to a friend. If you have, humble yourself and get free of the bond. Consider the ant, which having no ruler, gathers food in the harvest. Do not be lazy, or poverty will be your reward. The Lord hates 7 things. Do not forsake the law of your mother. #Prv6
- Keep my commandments to live & my law as the apple of your eye. Bind them on your fingers. A woman dressed as a harlot caught a young man & took him to her bed perfumed with myrrh, aloes & cinnamon. He goes after her as an ox to the slaughter. Her house is the way to hell. #Prv7
- Wisdom is better than rubies. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride and arrogance. Before the mountains were settled, I was brought forth. When he prepared the heavens, I was there. When he made the foundations of the earth, I was there, beside him, rejoicing. #Prv8
- Wisdom sets its table for the simple & the seekers. Do not rebuke mockers lest you earn their anger; rebuke the wise & he will love you. The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord. A foolish woman is unruly, her bread good, but her guests are in the depths of hell. #Prv9
- The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a proud father but a foolish son is the sorrow of his mother. Slackers become poor and the diligent rich. A rod is for the back of he without sense. Hatred stirs up strife but love covers sins. Fear of the Lord prolongs your days. #Prv10
- Riches are worthless in the days of wrath. A gossip betrays secrets; the faithful keep them. A fair woman who lacks discretion is like a jewel of gold in a pig’s snout. He that troubles his own family shall inherit the wind. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. #Prv11
- A virtuous woman is her husband’s crown; a shameful wife is rot. A nobody with a servant is better than a proud person lacking bread. The root of the righteous endures. Counsels of peace bring joy. A kind word makes the heart glad. The way of righteousness is life. #Prv12
- One person pretends to be rich but has nothing. Another pretends to be poor but is wealthy. Hope deferred makes the heart sick; longing fulfilled is a tree of life. The law of the wise is a fountain. He that spares the rod hates his son; he that loves him disciplines him. #Prv13
- A wise woman builds her house. A faithful witness does not lie. Depart from the presence of a fool. The poor are hated by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. Happy is he who shows mercy to the poor. Be slow to anger. The crown of the wise is their riches. #Prv14
- A gentle answer turns away wrath but harsh words stir up anger. A merry heart makes for a cheerful mien, but a heavy heart crushes the spirit. A dinner of herbs with love is better than a feast with hate. An unruly person stirs up strife; he that is slow to anger stops it. #Prv15
- Commit your works to the Lord, & he will establish your plans. The proud are an abomination to the Lord. Pride goeth before destruction & a haughty spirit before a fall. Pleasant words are a honeycomb & sweet to the soul. Gray hair is a crown of splendor on the righteous. #Prv16
- A liar gives ear to a naughty tongue. Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. Children’s children are the crown to the aged; the glory of children are their fathers. A rebuke to the wise is more than 100 lashes to the fool. Even a fool who holds his peace is found wise. #Prv17
- Fools prefer to air their opinion rather than gain understanding. The fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. It is not good to be partial to the wicked & so deprive the innocent of justice. A brother offended is like a fortified city. The tongue has power of life & death. #Prv18
- It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—even worse for a slave to rule over princes! Whoso pities the poor lends to the Lord. Hear counsel & receive instruction to be wise. A quarrelsome wife is the constant dripping of a leaky roof; a prudent wife is from the Lord. #Prv19
- Wine is a mocker & beer a brawler; whosoever is led astray by them is not wise. Blessed are the children of the just. Even a child is known by his doings.* Divers weights are hated by the Lord. The glory of young men is their strength; gray hair is the splendor of old age. #Prv20 *Commentary on age of consent
- The king’s heart is in the hand of God; he turns it as he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes. He that loves pleasure shall be poor; he that loves wine and (olive) oil shall not be rich. A secret gift soothes anger. The sacrifice of the wicked is abominable. #Prv21
- A good name exceeds riches. Start children off on the way for life. He that sows injustice reaps calamity. The mouth of strange women is a deep pit that men fall into. In 30 sayings, do not: exploit the poor; make friends with a hothead; put surety, move property stones; #Prv22
- Do not be gluttonous. Labor not to be rich: riches make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle to heaven. Hearken unto the father that begat ye and despise not thy mother in her old age. Be not among the winebibbers & riotous eaters of flesh. A whore is a deep ditch. #Prv23
- Adversity makes the weak faint. A just man falls 7 times & rises up; the wicked fall into mischief. Do not fret over or be envious of the wicked. An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. Say not, I will do to him what he does for me, but render according to his worth. #Prv24
- Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence: Better to be called up than sent back. The rebuke of the wise is like an ornament of gold. A gentle tongue can break a bone. Do not eat too much honey or you will vomit. Give food & drink to your enemy & heap coals on his head. #Prv25
- A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass & a rod for the fool’s back. Answer not a fool unto his own folly lest thou be like him. Answer, lest he be wise in his own conceit. As a dog returns to his vomit, so a fool to his folly. Where there is no wood, the fire goes out. #Prv26
- Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Let someone else praise you & not your own mouth. The full loath honey, but to the hungry even the bitter tastes sweet. A loud blessing is a curse. Gather the lambs & find plenty of goats’ milk. #Prv27
- When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding. Blessed is the one who trembles before God. The one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit. When the wicked perish, the righteous thrive. #Prv28
- Those who flatter are spreading nets for their feet. The Lord gave both the poor & the oppressor sight. Judge fairly & your throne will be established forever. Where there is no vision, the people perish. See a man hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than him. #Prv29
- Sayings of Agur: Who has gathered wind in his fists? The leech’s 2 daughters cry Give, give. There are 3 things that are never satisfied: the grave, barren womb, earth and fire. There are 3 things that are amazing, 4 that I do not understand: eagle, snake, ship, courtship. #Prv30
- Words of King Lemuel, taught to him by his mother: It is not for kings to drink wine. Give strong drink to the dying & wine to the melancholy. Who can find a virtuous woman? her price is far above rubies. She lays her hands to the spindle; her hands hold the distaff. #Prv31