The King’s Heart

¹The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;He directs it where He pleases.

²All a man’s ways seem right to him,but the LORD weighs the heart.

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

⁴Haughty eyes and a proud heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.

⁵The plans of the diligent bring plenty,as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶Making a fortune by a lying tongueis a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.

⁷The violence of the wicked will sweep them awaybecause they refuse to do what is just.

⁸The way of a guilty man is crooked,but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹Better to live on a corner of the roofthan to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰The soul of the wicked man craves evil;his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.

¹²The Righteous Oneconsiders the house of the wickedand brings the wicked to ruin.

¹³Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,he too shall cry out and receive no answer.

¹⁴A gift in secret soothes anger,and a covert bribepacifies great wrath.

¹⁵Justice executed is a joy to the righteous,but a terror to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶The man who strays from the path of understandingwill rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷He who loves pleasure will become poor;the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.

¹⁸The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,and the faithless for the upright.

¹⁹Better to live in the desertthan with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.

²⁰Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,but a foolish man consumes them.

²¹He who pursues righteousness and loving devotionfinds life, righteousness, and honor.

²²A wise man scales the city of the mightyand pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³He who guards his mouth and tonguekeeps his soul from distress.

²⁴Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—of him who acts with excessive pride.

²⁵The craving of the slacker kills himbecause his hands refuse to work.

²⁶All day long he covets more,but the righteous give without restraint.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—how much more so when brought with ill intent!

²⁸A lying witness will perish,but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.

²⁹A wicked man hardens his face,but the upright man makes his way sure.

³⁰There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counselthat can prevail against the LORD.

³¹A horse is prepared for the day of battle,but victory is of 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.

More Proverbs of Solomon

¹These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

²It is the glory of God to conceal a matterand the glory of kings to search it out.

³As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,so the hearts of kings cannot be searched.

⁴Remove the dross from the silver,and a vessel for a silversmith will come forth.

⁵Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,and his throne will be established in righteousness.

⁶Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king,and do not stand in the place of great men;

⁷for it is better to be told, “Come up here!”than to be demoted in the presence of the prince.Even whatyou have seen with your own eyes,

⁸do not bring hastily to court.Otherwise, what will you do in the endwhen your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹Argue your case with your neighborwithout betraying another’s confidence,

¹⁰lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,and your infamy never go away.

¹¹A word fitly spokenis like apples of gold in settings of silver.

¹²Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine goldis a wise man’s rebuke to a listening ear.

¹³Like the cold of snow in the time of harvestis a trustworthy messenger to those who send him;he refreshes the soul of his masters.

¹⁴Like clouds and wind without rainis the man who boasts of gifts never given.

¹⁵Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶If you find honey, eat just what you need,lest you have too much and vomit it up.

¹⁷Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house,lest he grow weary and hate you.

¹⁸Like a club or sword or sharp arrowis a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

¹⁹Like a broken tooth or a foot out of jointis confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

²⁰Like one who removes a garment on a cold dayor vinegar poured on a woundis one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

²²For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head,and the LORD will reward you.

²³As the north wind brings forth rain,so a backbiting tongue brings angry looks.

²⁴Better to live on a corner of the roofthan to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

²⁵Like cold water to a weary soulis good news from a distant land.

²⁶Like a muddied spring or a polluted wellis a righteous man who gives way to the wicked.

²⁷It is not good to eat too much honeyor to search out one’s own glory.

²⁸Like a city whose walls are broken downis a man who does not control his temper.

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.