Proverbs

1Wine [is] a scorner — strong drink [is] noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.

2The fear of a king [is] a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.

3An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.

4Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of a man [is] deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.

6A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

7The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!

8A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,

9Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'

10A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them [are] an abomination to Jehovah.

11Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

12A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

13Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes — be satisfied [with] bread.

14'Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.

15Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, [are] lips of knowledge.

16Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.

17Sweet to a man [is] the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled [with] gravel.

18Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.

19A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver [with] his lips make not thyself surety.

20Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.

21An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.

22Do not say, 'I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.

23An abomination to Jehovah [are] a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit [are] not good.

24From Jehovah [are] the steps of a man, And man — how understandeth he his way?

25A snare to a man [is] he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.

26A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.

27The breath of man [is] a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.

28Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.

29The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.

30The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!

1Wine is a mocker and beer is a brawler.Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

2The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion.He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

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

4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6Many men claim to be men of unfailing love,but who can find a faithful man?

7A righteous man walks in integrity.Blessed are his children after him.

8A king who sits on the throne of judgmentscatters away all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure.I am clean and without sin”?

10Differing weights and differing measures,both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

11Even a child makes himself known by his doings,whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,the LORD has made even both of them.

13Don’t love sleep, lest you come to poverty.Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.

14“It’s no good, it’s no good,” says the buyer;but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.

15There is gold and abundance of rubies,but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

16Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger;and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.

17Fraudulent food is sweet to a man,but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.

18Plans are established by advice;by wise guidance you wage war!

19He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets;therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

20Whoever curses his father or his mother,his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

21An inheritance quickly gained at the beginningwon’t be blessed in the end.

22Don’t say, “I will pay back evil.”Wait for the LORD, and he will save you.

23The LORD detests differing weights,and dishonest scales are not pleasing.

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

25It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication,then later to consider his vows.

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

27The spirit of man is the LORD’s lamp,searching all his innermost parts.

28Love and faithfulness keep the king safe.His throne is sustained by love.

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

30Wounding blows cleanse away evil,and beatings purge the innermost parts.