Loving Discipline and Knowledge

¹Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,but he who hates correction is stupid.

²The good man obtains favor from the LORD,but the LORD condemns a man who devises evil.

³A man cannot be established through wickedness,but the righteous cannot be uprooted.

⁴A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,but she who causes shame is like decay in his bones.

⁵The plans of the righteous are just,but the counsel of the wicked leads to deceit.

⁶The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,but the speech of the upright rescues them.

⁷The wicked are overthrown and perish,but the house of the righteous will stand.

⁸A man is praised according to his wisdom,but a twisted mind is despised.

⁹Better to be lightly esteemed yet have a servant,than to be self-important but lack food.

¹⁰A righteous man regards the life of his animal,but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.

¹¹The one who works his land will have plenty of food,but whoever chases fantasies lacks judgment.

¹²The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,but the root of the righteous flourishes.

¹³An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,but a righteous man escapes from trouble.

¹⁴By fruitful speech a man is filled with good things,and the work of his hands returns to him.

¹⁵The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,but a wise man listens to counsel.

¹⁶A fool’s anger is known at once,but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

¹⁷He who speaks the truth declares what is right,but a false witness speaks deceit.

¹⁸Speaking rashly is like a piercing sword,but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever,but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

²⁰Deceit is in the hearts of those who devise evil,but the counselors of peace have joy.

²¹No harm befalls the righteous,but the wicked are filled with trouble.

²²Lying lips are detestable to the LORD,but those who deal faithfully are His delight.

²³A shrewd man keeps his knowledge to himself,but a foolish heart proclaims its folly.

²⁴The hand of the diligent will rule,but laziness ends in forced labor.

²⁵Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man,but a good word cheers it up.

²⁶A righteous man is cautious in friendship,but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

²⁷A lazy man does not roast his game,but a diligent man prizes his possession.

²⁸There is life in the path of righteousness,but another path leads to death.

The Wise Woman

¹Every wise woman builds her house,but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

²He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD,but the one who is devious in his ways despises Him.

³The proud speech of a fool brings a rod to his back,but the lips of the wise protect them.

⁴Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.

⁵An honest witness does not deceive,but a dishonest witness pours forth lies.

⁶A mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

⁷Stay away from a foolish man;you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

⁸The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way,but the folly of fools deceives them.

⁹Fools mock the making of amends,but goodwill is found among the upright.

¹⁰The heart knows its own bitterness,and no stranger shares in its joy.

¹¹The house of the wicked will be destroyed,but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹²There is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way of death.

¹³Even in laughter the heart may ache,and joy may end in sorrow.

¹⁴The backslider in heart receives the fill of his own ways,but a good man is rewarded for his ways.

¹⁵The simple man believes every word,but the prudent man watches his steps.

¹⁶A wise man fearsand turns from evil,but a fool is careless and reckless.

¹⁷A quick-tempered man acts foolishly,and a devious man is hated.

¹⁸The simple inherit folly,but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹The evil bow before the good,and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

²⁰The poor man is hated even by his neighbor,but many are those who love the rich.

²¹He who despises his neighbor sins,but blessed is he who shows kindness to the poor.

²²Do not those who contrive evil go astray?But those who plan goodness findloving devotion and faithfulness.

²³There is profit in all labor,but mere talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴The crown of the wise is their wealth,but the effort of fools is folly.

²⁵A truthful witness saves lives,but one who utters lies is deceitful.

²⁶He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence,and his children shall have a place of refuge.

²⁷The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,turning a man from the snares of death.

²⁸A large population is a king’s splendor,but a lack of subjects is a prince’s ruin.

²⁹A patient man has great understanding,but a quick-tempered man promotes folly.

³⁰A tranquil heart is life to the body,but envy rots the bones.

³¹Whoever oppresses the poor taunts their Maker,but whoever is kind to the needy honors Him.

³²The wicked man is thrown down by his own sin,but the righteous man has a refuge even in death.

³³Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning;even among fools she is known.

³⁴Righteousness exalts a nation,but sin is a disgrace to any people.

³⁵A king delights in a wise servant,but his anger falls on the shameful.

The Reply of the Tongue Is from the LORD

¹The plans of the heart belong to man,but the reply of the tongue is from the LORD.

²All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes,but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.

³Commit your works to the LORDand your plans will be achieved.

⁴The LORD has made everything for His purpose—even the wicked for the day of disaster.

⁵Everyone who is proud in heart is detestable to the LORD;be assured that he will not go unpunished.

⁶By loving devotion and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,and by the fear of the LORD one turns aside from evil.

⁷When a man’s ways please the LORD,He makes even the man’s enemies live at peace with him.

⁸Better a little with righteousnessthan great gain with injustice.

⁹A man’s heart plans his course,but the LORD determines his steps.

¹⁰A divine verdict is on the lips of a king;his mouth must not betray justice.

¹¹Honest scales and balances are from the LORD;all the weights in the bag are His concern.

¹²Wicked behavior is detestable for kings,for a throne is established through righteousness.

¹³Righteous lips are a king’s delight,and he who speaks honestly is beloved.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is a messenger of death,but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵When a king’s face brightens, there is life;his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

¹⁶How much better to acquire wisdom than gold!To gain understanding is more desirable than silver.

¹⁷The highway of the upright leads away from evil;he who guards his way protects his life.

¹⁸Pride goes before destruction,and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humblethan to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰Whoever heeds instruction will find success,and blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.

²¹The wise in heart are called discerning,and pleasant speech promotes instruction.

²²Understanding is a fountain of life to its possessor,but the discipline of fools is folly.

²³The heart of the wise man instructs his mouthand adds persuasiveness to his lips.

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb,sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

²⁵There is a way that seems right to a man,but its end is the way of death.

²⁶A worker’s appetite works for himbecause his hunger drives him onward.

²⁷A worthless man digs up evil,and his speechis like a scorching fire.

²⁸A perverse man spreads dissension,and a gossip divides close friends.

²⁹A violent man entices his neighborand leads him down a path that is not good.

³⁰He who winks his eye devises perversity;he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

³¹Gray hair is a crown of glory;it is attained along the path of righteousness.

³²He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior,and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.

³³The lot is cast into the lap,but its every decision is from the LORD.

The Man of Integrity

¹Better a poor man who walks with integritythan a fool whose lips are perverse.

²Even zeal is no good without knowledge,and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.

³A man’s own folly subverts his way,yet his heart rages against the LORD.

⁴Wealth attracts many friends,but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

⁵A false witness will not go unpunished,and one who utters lies will not escape.

⁶Many seek the favor of the prince,and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

⁷All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him!He may pursue them with pleading,but they are nowhere to be found.

⁸He who acquires wisdom loves himself;one who safeguards understanding will find success.

⁹A false witness will not go unpunished,and one who pours out lies will perish.

¹⁰Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

¹¹A man’s insight gives him patience,and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

¹²A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion,but his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³A foolish son is his father’s ruin,and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.

¹⁴Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers,but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

¹⁵Laziness brings on deep sleep,and an idle soul will suffer hunger.

¹⁶He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul,but he who is careless in his ways will die.

¹⁷Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD,and He will repay the lender.

¹⁸Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;do not be party to his death.

¹⁹A man of great anger must pay the penalty;if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

²⁰Listen to counsel and accept discipline,that you may be wise the rest of your days.

²¹Many plans are in a man’s heart,but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.

²²The desire of a man is loving devotion;better to be poor than a liar.

²³The fear of the LORD leads to life,that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.

²⁴The slacker buries his hand in the dish;he will not even bring it back to his mouth.

²⁵Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware;rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶He who assaults his father or evicts his motheris a son who brings shame and disgrace.

²⁷If you cease to hear instruction, my son,you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸A corrupt witness mocks justice,and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.

²⁹Judgments are prepared for mockers,and beatings for the backs of fools.