Solomon An abridgment of the proverbs attributed to Solomon. Verse references such as ³·⁹ indi- cate the original source of the text, but donʼt imply a full quotation. # My Son ³·¹My son, donʼt forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, ²for they will bring you many days, years of life, and peace. ³Donʼt let kind- ness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴Then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. ³·⁵Trust in Gᴏᴅ with all your heart, and donʼt lean on your own understanding. ⁶In all your ways acknowl- edge him, and he will make your paths straight. ⁷Donʼt be wise in your own eyes. Fear Gᴏᴅ, and turn a- way from evil. ⁸It will be healing to your body, and refreshment to your bones. ³·⁹Honor Gᴏᴅ with your wealth, and with the first- fruits of all your produce, ¹⁰then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. ³·¹¹My son, donʼt reject the discipline of Gᴏᴅ or loathe his reproof; ¹²for Gᴏᴅ reproves the one he loves, just as a father reproves the son in whom he delights. ³·¹³Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding. ¹⁴For she is more profita- ble than silver, and her gain is better than fine gold. ¹⁵She is more precious than jewels, and noth- ing you desire compares with her. ¹⁶Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and hon- or. ¹⁷Her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful. ¹⁸She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Those who hold her fast are happy. ³·¹⁹Gᴏᴅ founded the earth by wisdom. He established the heavens by understanding. ²⁰By his knowledge the depths broke open, and the clouds drip with dew. ³·²¹My son, donʼt lose sight of them. Keep sound wis- dom and discretion. ²²They will be life for your soul, and adornment for your neck. ²³Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot wonʼt stum- ble. ²⁴When you lie down, you wonʼt be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. ³·²⁵Donʼt fear sudden disaster or the ruin of the wicked when it comes, ²⁶for Gᴏᴅ will be your confi- dence, and will keep your foot from being caught. ³·²⁷Donʼt withhold good from those who deserve it, when itʼs in your power to do it. ²⁸Donʼt say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back. Iʼll give it tomor- row,” when you have it with you. ²⁹Donʼt plan evil against your neighbor, who lives trustingly beside you. ³·³⁰Donʼt contend with a man without cause, when he has done you no harm. ³¹Donʼt envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, ³²for the devious are an abom- ination to Gᴏᴅ, but he is a friend to the upright. ³·³³The curse of Gᴏᴅ is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. ³⁴He mocks the mockers, but shows favor to the humble. ³⁵The wise will inherit honor, but fools get shame. — ⁴·¹Listen, sons, to a fatherʼs instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain understanding. ²For I give you sound instruction. Donʼt abandon my teach- ing. ⁴·³When I was a son to my father, tender and the on- ly son in my motherʼs sight, ⁴he taught me, and said to me: “Let your heart hold on to my words. Keep my commandments and live. ⁵Get wisdom. Get understand- ing. Donʼt forget or turn away from the words of my mouth. ⁶Donʼt forsake her, and she will guard you. Love her, and she will watch over you. ⁷The begin- ning of wisdom is this: get wisdom, and whatever else you get, get understanding. ⁸Prize her, and she will exalt you. If you embrace her, she will honor you. ⁹She will place on your head a garland of grace. She will present you with a crown of beauty.” ⁴·¹⁰Listen, my son, and accept my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. ¹¹Iʼve taught you in the way of wisdom. Iʼve led you in upright paths. ¹²When you walk, your steps wonʼt be hindered. When you run, you wonʼt stumble. ¹³Hold on to instruc- tion. Donʼt let go. Guard her, for she is your life. ⁴·¹⁴Donʼt enter the path of the wicked, and donʼt walk in the way of evil men. ¹⁵Avoid it. Donʼt trav- el on it. Turn away from it, and pass on. ¹⁶For they cannot sleep unless they do evil. Theyʼre robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble. ¹⁷For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of vi- olence. ¹⁸But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter un- til midday. ¹⁹The way of the wicked is like dark- ness. They donʼt know what makes them stumble. ⁴·²⁰My son, pay attention to my words. Listen care- fully to my sayings. ²¹Donʼt lose sight of them. Keep them within your heart. ²²For theyʼre life to those who find them, and health to their whole body. ⁴·²³Watch over your heart with all diligence, for the springs of life flow from it. ²⁴Put away from you de- ceitful speech, and put devious talk far from you. ⁴·²⁵Let your eyes look directly ahead and your gaze straight in front of you. ²⁶Carefully consider the path of your feet, then all your ways will be sure. ²⁷Donʼt turn to the right or to the left. Keep your foot from evil. — ⁵·¹My son, pay attention to my wisdom. Listen care- fully to my understanding, ²that you may maintain dis- cretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge. ⁵·³The lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, ⁴but in the end sheʼs as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a double-edged sword. ⁵Her feet go down to death. Her steps lead straight to hell. ⁶She doesnʼt ponder the path of life. Her ways are unstable, and she doesnʼt know it. ⁵·⁷Now then, my sons, listen to me, and donʼt depart from the words of my mouth. ⁸Keep your way far from her. Donʼt go near the door of her house ⁹lest you give your vigor to others and your years to someone cruel, ¹⁰lest strangers feast on your wealth, your labors enrich the house of a foreigner, ¹¹and at the end of your life you groan when your flesh and body are consumed. ¹²You will say, “How I hated disci- pline! How my heart despised reproof! ¹³I didnʼt o- bey my teachers or listen to my instructors! ¹⁴I am almost in utter ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation.” ⁵·¹⁵Drink water from your own cistern, and fresh wa- ter from your own well. ¹⁶Should your springs be scattered abroad, streams of water in the streets? ¹⁷Let them be yours alone, and not for strangers with you. ¹⁸Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, ¹⁹as a loving deer and a graceful doe. Let her breasts satisfy you always, and be exhilarated always with her love. ⁵·²⁰Why, my son, should you be exhilarated with a for- bidden woman, or embrace the bosom of a stranger? ²¹For a manʼs ways are before the eyes of Gᴏᴅ, and he considers all his paths. ²²The iniquities of the wick- ed entrap him. He is held in the cords of his sin. ²³He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he will go astray. — ⁶·¹My son, if youʼve put up security for your neigh- bor or have given a pledge for a stranger, ²if youʼve been snared or caught with the words of your mouth, ³then do this, my son, and free yourself. Youʼve fall- en into your neighborʼs hands. Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor. ⁴Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber. ⁵Save yourself like a gazelle from the hunterʼs hand, and like a bird from the fowlerʼs hand. ⁶·⁶Go to the ant, you idler. Observe its ways, and be wise. ⁷Without chief, officer, or ruler, ⁸it prepares its provisions in summer, and gathers its food dur- ing harvest. ⁶·⁹How long will you lie down, you idler? When will you get up from your sleep? ¹⁰A little sleep, a lit- tle slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, ¹¹and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man. ⁶·¹²A worthless person, a wicked man, goes around speaking perversely. ¹⁴With perversity in his heart, he devises evil continually, and sows discord. ¹⁵Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly. In- stantly he will be broken beyond healing. ⁶·¹⁶Seven things are an abomination to Gᴏᴅ: ¹⁷haugh- ty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run swiftly to evil, ¹⁹a false witness who utters lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. ⁶·²⁰My son, keep your fatherʼs command, and donʼt for- sake your motherʼs teaching. ²¹Always bind them on your heart. Tie them around your neck. ²²When you walk, theyʼll guide you. When you sleep, theyʼll watch over you. When you wake up, theyʼll talk to you. ²³For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and corrective discipline is the way to life, ²⁴keeping you from the evil woman, from the flatter- ing tongue of an adulteress. ⁶·²⁵Donʼt desire her beauty in your heart or let her captivate you with her eyes. ²⁶For a prostituteʼs fee is only a loaf of bread, but a married woman hunts down a precious life. ²⁷Can a man embrace fire with- out burning his clothes? ²⁸Or can he walk on hot coals without scorching his feet? ²⁹So is he who goes in to his neighborʼs wife. None who touches her will go unpunished. ⁶·³⁰People donʼt despise a thief if he steals to sat- isfy his hunger, ³¹but if caught, he must repay sev- enfold. He will give everything in his house. ⁶·³²He who commits adultery lacks sense, and destroys himself. ³³He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace wonʼt be erased. ³⁴For jealousy enrages a husband, and he will show no mercy in the day of vengeance. ³⁵He wonʼt accept compensation. He will re- fuse, though you give many gifts. # Relationships ⁷·¹⁰A woman met him, dressed as a prostitute, and cun- ning of heart. ¹³She seizes him, kisses him, and bra- zenly says to him, ¹⁴“I had to offer peace offerings. Today Iʼve paid my vows. ¹⁶Iʼve spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens from Egypt. ¹⁸Come, letʼs drink our fill of love until morning. Letʼs de- light ourselves with caresses.” ²¹She seduces him with her persuasive speech. With her flattering lips she lures him. ²²He follows her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a trap. ²⁵Donʼt let your heart turn aside to her ways. Donʼt stray into her paths. ²⁶For she has cast down many victims, and all her slain are numerous. ¹¹·²⁹He who troubles his own house will inherit the wind. ¹²·⁴An excellent wife is her husbandʼs crown, but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones. ¹³·²⁰He who walks with wise men will become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. ¹³·²⁴He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently. ¹⁴·⁷Leave the presence of a fool, for you wonʼt find knowledge in his speech. ¹⁴·²⁸A large population is a kingʼs glory, but with- out people a prince is ruined. ¹⁵·¹⁷Better is a serving of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened ox served with hatred. ¹⁶·⁷When a manʼs ways please Gᴏᴅ, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. ¹⁷·⁶Grandchildren are the crown of old men, and fathers are the glory of their sons. ¹⁷·⁹He who conceals an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends. ¹⁷·¹²Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rath- er than a fool in his folly. ¹⁷·²¹He who sires a fool does so to his own sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy. ²⁵A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. ¹⁸·¹He who isolates himself seeks his own desire, and rebels against all sound wisdom. ¹⁸·²²He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Gᴏᴅ. ¹⁸·²⁴He who has many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. ¹⁹·¹⁴A house and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Gᴏᴅ. ²⁰·²A kingʼs terror is like the lionʼs roar; he who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. ²⁰·¹⁹A gossip reveals secrets, therefore donʼt asso- ciate with him who talks too much. ²²·⁶Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he wonʼt depart from it. ²⁵·¹⁷Seldom set foot in your neighborʼs house, lest he grow weary of you, and hate you. ²⁹·³He who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes wastes his wealth. # Instruction ⁸·¹Doesnʼt wisdom call, and understanding raise her voice? ⁴“To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. ⁵O naive ones, learn prudence. O fools, learn sense. ¹⁰Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. ¹¹For wisdom is better than jewels, and all desirable things cannot compare to it. ²²Gᴏᴅ possessed me at the beginning of his way, before his works of old. ²⁷When he established the heavens, I was there. ³²Now, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. ³³Listen to instruction and be wise. Donʼt neglect it. ³⁵For he who finds me finds life, and will obtain favor of Gᴏᴅ.” ⁹·⁸Donʼt reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you. Re- prove a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still. Teach a right- eous man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰The fear of Gᴏᴅ is the beginning of wisdom. ¹⁰·¹⁷He who heeds instruction is on the path of life, but he who ignores reproof goes astray. ¹²·¹⁵The foolʼs way is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. ¹³·¹⁴The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one away from the snares of death. ¹³·¹⁸Poverty and shame will come to him who ignores instruction, but he who heeds reproof will be honored. ¹⁷·¹⁰A rebuke goes deeper into one who has under- standing than a hundred lashes into a fool. ¹⁹·²⁷Cease listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of knowledge. # Wise and Foolish ¹⁰·¹A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. ¹⁰·²³Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. ¹¹·²⁹The fool will be servant to the wise of heart. ¹²·¹⁶A foolʼs displeasure is known at once, but a pru- dent man ignores an insult. ¹⁴·¹⁵The naive believes everything, but the prudent considers his steps. ¹⁶A wise man is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and care- less. ¹⁷·²A prudent servant will rule over a shameful son, and will share the inheritance among the brothers. ²²·³The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the naive go on and suffer for it. # Righteous and Wicked ¹⁰·²Ill-gotten gains donʼt profit, but righteousness delivers from death. ³Gᴏᴅ wonʼt let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. ¹⁰·⁷The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. ¹⁰·²⁰The tongue of the righteous is like choice sil- ver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. ²¹The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. ¹⁰·²⁷The fear of Gᴏᴅ prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be shortened. ¹¹·⁵The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way, but the wicked will fall by his own wicked- ness. ⁶The righteousness of the upright will rescue them, but the treacherous will be trapped by their own desires. ⁸The righteous is delivered from trou- ble, but the wicked takes his place. ¹¹·¹⁸The wicked earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. ¹¹·²³The desire of the righteous turns out well, but the expectation of the wicked is wrath. ¹¹·³¹If the righteous will be rewarded on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner. ¹²·³A man wonʼt be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous wonʼt be moved. ⁷The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous will stand. ¹²·²⁶The righteous is a guide to his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray. ¹³·²¹Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous will be rewarded with good. ¹³·²⁵The righteous has enough to satisfy his appe- tite, but the stomach of the wicked is empty. ¹⁴·¹⁹The evil bow down before the good, and the wick- ed at the gates of the righteous. ¹⁴·²²Wonʼt they who devise evil go astray? But those who devise good will find kindness and truth. ¹⁴·³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a dis- grace to any people. ¹⁵·⁸The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Gᴏᴅ, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. ²¹·¹⁵When justice is done, itʼs a joy to the right- eous, but a terror to evildoers. ²⁸·¹The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. # Diligence ¹⁰·⁴A slack hand causes poverty, but a diligent hand makes rich. ⁵A son who gathers in the summer is pru- dent, but one who sleeps during harvest is shameful. ¹⁰·²⁶Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the idler to those who send him. ¹²·²⁴The hand of the diligent will rule, but the slothful will be put to forced labor. ¹³·⁴The idler craves, yet gets nothing, but the dili- gent is fully satisfied. ¹⁴·²³There is profit in all labor, but mere talk leads only to poverty. ¹⁶·²⁶A workerʼs appetite works for him, for his hun- ger urges him on. ¹⁸·⁹Whoever is slack in his work is brother to him who destroys. ¹⁹·¹⁵Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle man will suffer hunger. ¹⁹·²⁴The idler buries his hand in the dish, but wonʼt even bring it back to his mouth. ²⁰·⁴The idler doesnʼt plow in season, so he looks dur- ing harvest and has nothing. ²⁰·¹³Donʼt love sleep lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes and youʼll have plenty of food. ²²·¹³The idler says, “Thereʼs a lion outside. Iʼll be killed in the streets.” ²⁶·¹⁴As a door turns on its hinges, so does the i- dler on his bed. ²⁶·¹⁶The idler is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who can answer sensibly. ²⁷·²³Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; ²⁴for riches arenʼt forever and a crown doesnʼt endure to all generations. ²⁸·¹⁹He who works his land will have plenty of food, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plen- ty of poverty. # Integrity ¹⁰·⁹He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out. ¹¹·³The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the treacherous will destroy them. ²⁰·⁷A righteous man who walks in his integrity; bless- ed are his children after him. ²¹·³To do righteousness and justice is more accepta- ble to Gᴏᴅ than sacrifice. ²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; how much more when he brings it with evil intent. ²⁸·⁶Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than the rich who is crooked in his ways. ²⁸·¹⁸He who walks in integrity will be delivered, but he who is crooked will suddenly fall. # Contention ¹⁰·¹²Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all offenses. ¹⁵·¹⁸A hot-tempered man stirs up conflict, but the slow to anger calms contention. ¹⁷·¹⁴Starting a conflict is like releasing a flood, so abandon the dispute before it breaks out. ¹⁸·¹⁸Casting the lot ends quarrels, and decides be- tween powerful opponents. ¹⁸·¹⁹An offended brother is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle. ²⁰·³Staying away from strife is an honor for a man, but any fool will quarrel. ²¹·⁹Itʼs better to live in a corner of the roof than in a house shared with a contentious woman. ¹⁹Itʼs better to live in a desert than with a contentious and complaining woman. ²²·¹⁰Drive out the mocker, and contention will de- part, and quarrels and dishonor will cease. ²⁶·²⁰Without wood the fire goes out, and without a gossip contention dies down. ²¹Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a contentious man for kindling strife. # Understanding ¹⁰·¹³Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. ¹³·¹⁶Every prudent man works with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. ¹⁴·¹²There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. ¹⁶·¹⁶How much better to get wisdom than gold. To get understanding is preferable to silver. ¹⁸·¹³He who answers before he listens: it is folly and shame to him. ¹⁸·¹⁵The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge. ¹⁹·²Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good, and has- ty feet go astray. ¹⁹·²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction so that you may be wise the rest of your days. # Speech ¹⁰·¹⁸He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool. ¹⁰·¹⁹When there are many words, transgression is una- voidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise. ¹¹·¹²He who belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. ¹³A gossip goes about revealing secrets, but he who is trustworthy conceals a matter. ¹¹·²²A beautiful woman without discretion is like a gold ring in a pigʼs snout. ¹²·¹³An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will escape from trou- ble. ¹²·¹⁸There is one who speaks rashly like thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. ¹²·²³A prudent man conceals knowledge, but a foolʼs heart proclaims folly. ¹³·³He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. ¹⁴·³In the foolʼs mouth is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will protect them. ¹⁵·¹A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. ⁴A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit. ¹⁵·²³A man finds joy in giving an apt answer; and a timely word, how good it is! ¹⁵·²⁸The heart of the righteous ponders how to an- swer, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things. ¹⁶·²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the body. ¹⁶·²⁸A perverse man spreads strife, and a gossip sep- arates close friends. ¹⁷·²⁷He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. ²⁸E- ven a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent. When he closes his lips, heʼs considered prudent. ¹⁸·²A fool doesnʼt delight in understanding, but on- ly in airing his opinion. ⁶His lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a beating. ⁷His mouth is his ruin, and his lips are the snare of his soul. ²⁰·¹⁵Thereʼs gold and an abundance of jewels, but lips of knowledge are a rare treasure. ²¹·²³He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps him- self out of trouble. ²²·¹¹He who loves purity of heart, and speaks gra- ciously will have the king as a friend. ²⁶·¹⁸Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, ¹⁹is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, “I was only joking!” ²⁷·¹⁴He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning will be counted as cursing. ²⁹·²⁰Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. # Honesty ¹¹·¹Dishonest scales are an abomination to Gᴏᴅ, but an accurate weight is his delight. ¹²·²²Lying lips are an abomination to Gᴏᴅ, but those who act faithfully are his delight. ¹⁶·¹¹A just balance and scales belong to Gᴏᴅ, all the weights in the bag are his concern. ¹⁷·¹⁵Acquitting the guilty and condemning the right- eous are both alike an abomination to Gᴏᴅ. ¹⁷·²³A wicked man takes a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice. ¹⁸·⁵Being partial to the wicked is not good, neither is depriving the righteous of justice. ¹⁹·⁵A false witness wonʼt go unpunished, and he who speaks lies wonʼt escape. ²⁰·¹⁷Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but af- terward his mouth will be full of gravel. ²⁰·²³Differing weights are an abomination to Gᴏᴅ, and a false scale is not good. # Humility ¹¹·²When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. ¹²·⁹Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant than he who honors himself and lacks bread. ¹⁵·²⁵Gᴏᴅ will tear down the house of the proud, but will protect the borders of the widow. ¹⁶·⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Gᴏᴅ; be assured, he will not go unpunished. ¹⁶·¹⁸Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall. ¹⁶·¹⁹Itʼs better to be humble in spirit among the low- ly, than to divide the spoil with the proud. ¹⁸·¹²Before destruction, a manʼs heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. ²¹·³⁰No wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel will prevail against Gᴏᴅ. ²²·⁴The reward for humility and fear of Gᴏᴅ is rich- es, honor, and life. ²⁶·¹²Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? Thereʼs more hope for a fool than for him. ²⁷·¹Donʼt boast about tomorrow, for you donʼt know what a day may bring. ²⁷·²Let another praise you and not your own mouth; a stranger and not your own lips. ²⁹·²³A manʼs pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor. # Counsel ¹¹·¹⁴Without guidance the people fall, but with many counselors there is safety. ¹⁴·²⁷The fear of Gᴏᴅ is a fountain of life, turning one away from the snares of death. ¹⁵·²²Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. ¹⁶·³³The lot is cast into the lap, but its every de- cision is from Gᴏᴅ. ²⁰·¹⁸Establish plans by counsel, and make war with wise guidance. # Finance ¹¹·¹⁵He who is guarantor for a stranger will surely suffer for it, but he who hates such agreements is se- cure. ¹¹·²⁸He who trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. ¹³·⁷There is one who pretends to be rich, yet has nothing. Another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. ¹³·¹¹Wealth obtained by fraud will dwindle, but he who gathers by labor will increase it. ¹³·²²A good man leaves an inheritance to his childrenʼs children, but the sinnerʼs wealth is stored up for the righteous. ¹⁴·⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant harvest comes through an oxʼs strength. ¹⁴·²⁰The poor is hated even by his neighbor, but there are many who love the rich. ¹⁵·⁶There is great wealth in the house of the right- eous, but trouble accompanies the income of the wick- ed. ¹⁵·²⁷He who profits illicitly troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live. ¹⁶·⁸Better a little with righteousness than great in- come with injustice. ¹⁹·⁴Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is separated from his friend. ⁶Many seek a generous manʼs favor, and everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts. ⁷All a poor manʼs brothers hate him. How much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with words, but theyʼre gone. ²¹·⁵The plans of the diligent lead surely to abun- dance, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to pov- erty. ²¹·⁶Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue is a fleet- ing vapor and the pursuit of death. ²¹·¹⁷He who loves pleasure will become poor. He who loves wine and oil will not get rich. ²⁰There is pre- cious treasure and oil in a wise manʼs dwelling, but a fool consumes them. ²²·¹A good name is to be chosen over great riches, and favor over silver and gold. ²²·²The rich and the poor have this in common: Gᴏᴅ is the maker of them all. ²²·⁷The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender. ²⁶·¹⁰Like an archer who wounds everyone, so is he who hires a fool or who hires those passing by. ²⁸·²²A stingy man hastens after wealth, and doesnʼt know that poverty will come upon him. # Kindness ¹¹·¹⁷A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man harms himself. ¹²·¹⁰A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, but even the mercy of the wicked is cruel. ¹⁴·²¹He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who shows kindness to the poor is happy. ³¹He who oppresses the poor insults his maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him. ¹⁷·¹³If anyone returns evil for good, evil will nev- er leave his house. ²¹·²¹He who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor. ²⁶·²⁷He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone, it will come back on him. # Generosity ¹¹·²⁴One gives freely yet increases all the more, and another withholds what is due but comes only to pov- erty. ²⁵The generous man will prosper, and he who waters will also be watered himself. ²⁶The people will curse him who withholds grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. ¹⁹·¹⁷Kindness to the poor is a loan to Gᴏᴅ, and he will repay his good deed. ²⁰·²⁵Itʼs a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and on- ly make inquiry after the vows. ²¹·¹³He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also call out and not be answered. ²²·⁹He who is generous will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor. ¹⁶He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth or who gives to the rich will only come to poverty. ²⁵·²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if heʼs thirsty, give him water to drink. ²⁷·⁷He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry any bitter thing is sweet. ²⁸·²⁷He who gives to the poor will never want, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses. # Emotion ¹²·²⁵Anxiety in a manʼs heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. ¹³·¹²Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life. ¹⁴·¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in grief. ¹⁴·¹⁷A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil schemes is hated. ²⁹He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a quick tem- per promotes folly. ¹⁴·³⁰A tranquil heart is life to the body, but envy makes the bones rot. ¹⁵·¹³A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but a sorrowful heart breaks the spirit. ¹⁵·¹⁵All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast. ¹⁶·¹⁴A kingʼs wrath is a messenger of death, but a wise man appeases it. ¹⁶·³²He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city. ¹⁷·⁵Whoever mocks the poor insults his maker, and he who rejoices at calamity wonʼt go unpunished. ¹⁷·²²A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. ¹⁸·¹⁴A manʼs spirit can endure sickness, but who can bear a broken spirit? ¹⁹·³A manʼs foolishness ruins his way yet he rages against Gᴏᴅ. ¹⁹·¹¹Good sense makes a man slow to anger, and itʼs his glory to overlook an offense. ¹⁹·¹⁹A man of great anger will pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you will have to do it again. ²⁰·¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and who- ever is led astray by them is not wise. ²⁰·²²Donʼt say, “I will repay evil”. Wait for Gᴏᴅ, and he will save you. ²⁹·¹¹A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man holds it back.