Proverbs

1The king’s heart is in the LORD’s hand like the watercourses.He turns it wherever he desires.

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

3To do righteousness and justiceis more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4A high look and a proud heart,the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

5The plans of the diligent surely lead to profit;and everyone who is hasty surely rushes to poverty.

6Getting treasures by a lying tongueis a fleeting vapor for those who seek death.

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

8The way of the guilty is devious,but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetopthan to share a house with a contentious woman.

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

11When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom.When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked,and brings the wicked to ruin.

13Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor,he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.

14A gift in secret pacifies anger,and a bribe in the cloak, strong wrath.

15It is joy to the righteous to do justice;but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

16The man who wanders out of the way of understandingshall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

17He who loves pleasure will be a poor man.He who loves wine and oil won’t be rich.

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

19It is better to dwell in a desert land,than with a contentious and fretful woman.

20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,but a foolish man swallows it up.

21He who follows after righteousness and kindnessfinds life, righteousness, and honor.

22A wise man scales the city of the mighty,and brings down the strength of its confidence.

23Whoever guards his mouth and his tonguekeeps his soul from troubles.

24The proud and arrogant man—“Scoffer” is his name—he works in the arrogance of pride.

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

26There are those who covet greedily all day long;but the righteous give and don’t withhold.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination—how much more, when he brings it with a wicked mind!

28A false witness will perish.A man who listens speaks to eternity.

29A wicked man hardens his face;but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

30There is no wisdom nor understandingnor counsel against the LORD.

31The horse is prepared for the day of battle;but victory is with the LORD.

1As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will he shall turn it.

2Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts.

3To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims.

4Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin.

5The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want.

6He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death.

7The robberies of the wicked shall be their downfall, because they would not do judgment.

8The perverse way of a man is strange: but as for him that is pure, his work is right.

9It is better to sit in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling women, and in a common house.

10The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour.

11When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge.

12The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil.

13He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself and shall not be heard.

14A secret present quencheth anger: and a gift in the bosom the greatest wrath.

15It is joy to the just to do judgment: and dread to them that work iniquity.

16A man that shall wander out of the way of doctrine, shall abide in the company of the giants.

17He that loveth good cheer, shall be in want: he that loveth wine, and fat things, shall not be rich.

18The wicked is delivered up for the just: and the unjust for the righteous.

19It is better to dwell in a wilderness, than with a quarrelsome and passionate woman.

20There is a treasure to be desired, and oil in the dwelling of the just: and the foolish man shall spend it.

21He that followeth justice and mercy, shall find life, justice, and glory.

22The wise man hath scaled the city of the strong, and hath cast down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from distress.

24The proud and the arrogant is called ignorant, who in anger worketh pride.

25Desires kill the slothful: for his hands have refused to work at all.

26He longeth and desireth all the day: but he that is just, will give, and will not cease.

27The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered of wickedness.

28A lying witness shall perish: an obedient man shall speak of victory.

29The wicked man impudently hardeneth his face: but he that is righteous, correcteth his way.

30There is no wisdom, there is no prudence, there is no counsel against the Lord.

31The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but the Lord giveth safety.