Proverbs

A Good Name

1A good name is more desirable than great riches;favor is better than silver and gold.

2The rich and the poor have this in common:The LORD is Maker of them all.

3The prudent see danger and take cover,but the simple keep going and suffer the consequences.

4The rewards of humility and the fear of the LORDare wealth and honor and life.

5Thorns and snares lie on the path of the perverse;he who guards his soul stays far from them.

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

7The rich rule over the poor,and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8He who sows injustice will reap disaster,and the rod of his fury will be destroyed.

9A generous manwill be blessed,for he shares his bread with the poor.

10Drive out the mocker, and conflict will depart;even quarreling and insults will cease.

11He who loves a pure heart and gracious lipswill have the king for a friend.

12The LORD’s eyes keep watch over knowledge,but He frustrates the words of the faithless.

13The slacker says, “There is a lion outside!I will be slain in the streets!”

14The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;he who is under the wrath of the LORD will fall into it.

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

16Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself or giving gifts to the richwill surely lead to poverty.

Saying 1

17Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge—

18for it is pleasing when you keep them within youand they are constantly on your lips.

19So that your trust may be in the LORD,I instruct you today—yes, you.

20Have I not written for you thirty sayingsabout counsel and knowledge,

21to show you true and reliable words,that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

Saying 2

22Do not rob a poor man because he is poor,and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,

23for the LORD will take up their caseand will plunder those who rob them.

Saying 3

24Do not make friends with an angry man,and do not associate with a hot-tempered man,

25or you may learn his waysand entangle yourself in a snare.

Saying 4

26Do not be one who gives pledges,who puts up security for debts.

27If you have nothing with which to pay,why should your bed be taken from under you?

Saying 5

28Do not move an ancient boundary stonewhich your fathers have placed.

Saying 6

29Do you see a man skilled in his work?He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

1A good name is better than great riches: and good favour is above silver and gold.

2The rich and poor have met one another: the Lord is the maker of them both.

3The prudent man saw the evil, and hid himself: the simple passed on, and suffered loss.

4The fruit of humility is the fear of the Lord, riches and glory and life.

5Arms and swords are in the way of the perverse: but he that keepeth his own soul departeth far from them.

6It is a proverb: A young man according to his way, even when he is old he will not depart from it.

7The rich ruleth over the poor: and the borrower is servant to him that lendeth.

8He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed.

9He that is inclined to mercy shall be blessed: for of his bread he hath given to the poor. He that maketh presents shall purchase victory and honour: but he carrieth away the souls of the receivers.

10Cast out the scoffer, and contention shall go out with him, and quarrels and reproaches shall cease.

11He that loveth cleanness of heart, for the grace of his lips shall have the king for his friend.

12The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge: and the words of the unjust are overthrown.

13The slothful man saith: There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.

14The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit: he whom the Lord is angry with, shall fall into it.

15Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, and the rod of correction shall drive it away.

16He that oppresseth the poor, to increase his own riches, shall himself give to one that is richer, and shall be in need.

17Incline thy ear, and hear the words of the wise: and apply thy heart to my doctrine:

18Which shall be beautiful for thee, if thou keep it in thy bowels, and it shall flow in thy lips:

19That thy trust may be in the Lord, wherefore I have also shewn it to thee this day.

20Behold I have described it to thee three manner of ways, in thoughts and knowledge:

21That I might shew thee the certainty, and the words of truth, to answer out of these to them that sent thee.

22Do no violence to the poor, because he is poor: and do not oppress the needy in the gate:

23Because the Lord will judge his cause, and will afflict them that have afflicted his soul.

24Be not a friend to an angry man, and do not walk with a furious man:

25Lest perhaps thou learn his ways, and take scandal to thy soul.

26Be not with them that fasten down their hands, and that offer themselves sureties for debts:

27For if thou have not wherewith to restore, what cause is there, that he should take the covering from thy bed?

28Pass not beyond the ancient bounds which thy fathers have set.

29Hast thou seen a man swift in his work? he shall stand before kings, and shall not be before those that are obscure.