A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Without wood a fire goes out. Without gossip, contention ceases.

As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, so is a contentious man to kindling strife.

When his speech is charming, do not believe him; for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

for riches are not forever, nor does even the crown endure to all generations.

The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.

There will be plenty of goats' milk for your food, for your family's food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.

He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.

To show partiality is not good; yet a man will do wrong for a piece of bread.

A stingy man hurries after riches, and doesn't know that poverty waits for him.

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren't concerned about knowledge.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in the LORD is kept safe.

Remove far from me falsehood and lies. Give me neither poverty nor riches. Feed me with the food that is needful for me;

"The leach has two daughters: 'Give, give.' "There are three things that are never satisfied; four that do not say, 'Enough:'

Sheol, the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water; and the fire that doesn't say, 'Enough.'

"There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I do not understand:

"For three things the earth tremble, and under four, it can't bear up:

For a servant when he is king; a fool when he is filled with food;

for an unloved woman when she is married; and a handmaid who is heir to her mistress.

"There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

"There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:

The lion, which is mightiest among animals, and doesn't turn away for any;

For as the churning of milk brings forth butter, and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife."

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for princes to take strong drink,

Open your mouth for the mute, in the cause of all who are left desolate.

Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.

She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

I said to myself, "Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge."

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

I also gathered silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. I got myself male and female singers, and the delights of the sons of men?musical instruments, and that of all sorts.

Whatever my eyes desired, I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my heart from any joy, for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor, and this was my portion from all my labor.

I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly. For what can the man who comes after the king do? Just that which he has already done.

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no memory for ever, seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. Indeed, the wise man must die just like the fool.

So I hated life, because the work that is worked under the sun was grievous to me; for all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

For what has a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, in which he labors under the sun?

For all his days are sorrows, and his travail is grief; yes, even in the night his heart takes no rest. This also is vanity.

There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.

For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, apart from him?

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.

I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.

I said in my heart, "God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work."

I said in my heart, "As for the sons of men, God tests them, so that they may see that they themselves are like animals.

For that which happens to the sons of men happens to animals. Even one thing happens to them. As the one dies, so the other dies. Yes, they have all one breath; and man has no advantage over the animals: for all is vanity.

Therefore I saw that there is nothing better, than that a man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion: for who can bring him to see what will be after him?

There is one who is alone, and he has neither son nor brother. There is no end to all of his labor, neither are his eyes satisfied with wealth. For whom then, do I labor, and deprive my soul of enjoyment? This also is vanity, yes, it is a miserable business.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, and doesn't have another to lift him up.

For out of prison he came forth to be king; yes, even in his kingdom he was born poor.

Guard your step when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil.

Do not be rash with your mouth, and do not let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool's speech with a multitude of words.

When you vow a vow to God, do not defer to pay it; for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay that which you vow.

For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, do not marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.

Moreover the profit of the earth is for all. The king profits from the field.

As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he go again as he came, and shall take nothing for his labor, which he may carry away in his hand.

This also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go. And what profit does he have who labors for the wind?

Behold, that which I have seen to be good and proper is for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy good in all his labor, in which he labors under the sun, all the days of his life which God has given him; for this is his portion.

For he shall not often reflect on the days of his life; because God occupies him with the joy of his heart.

a man to whom God gives riches, wealth, and honor, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God gives him no power to eat of it, but a foreigner eats it. This is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

for it comes in vanity, and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness.

All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he spends like a shadow? For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For you do not ask wisely about this.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?

It is good that you should take hold of this. Yes, also from that do not withdraw your hand; for he who fears God will come forth from them all.

for often your own heart knows that you yourself have likewise cursed others.

All this have I proved in wisdom. I said, "I will be wise;" but it was far from me.

That which is, is far off and exceedingly deep. Who can find it out?

Behold, this only have I found: that God made man upright; but they search for many schemes.

Do not be hasty to go out of his presence. Do not persist in an evil thing, for he does whatever pleases him,

for the king's word is supreme. Who can say to him, "What are you doing?"

For there is a time and procedure for every purpose, although the misery of man is heavy on him.

For he doesn't know that which will be; for who can tell him how it will be?

Though a sinner commits crimes a hundred times, and lives long, yet surely I know that it will be better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him.

But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he lengthen days like a shadow; because he doesn't fear God.