for acquiring the discipline that produces wise behavior, righteousness, justice, and upright living;

Let the wise listen and increase their learning; let the person of understanding receive guidance

in understanding proverbs, clever sayings, words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If they say, "Come with us! Let's lie in wait for blood; let's ambush some innocent person for no reason at all.

Throw your lot in with us, and all of us will have one purse."

Look, it is useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds,

Such is the way of all those who seek illicit gain it takes away the lives of those who possess it.

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright and is a shield to those who walk in integrity

Then you will understand what is right, just, and upright every good path.

whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways,

This is how you will walk in the way of good men and will keep to the paths of the righteous.

Do not be wise in your own opinion. Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

because the LORD corrects the person he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in.

How joyful is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding,

because her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her yield than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are riches and honor.

She is a tree of life for those who embrace her, and whoever clutches her tightly will be joyful.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.

Do not plan to harm your neighbor, when he is living peacefully beside you.

Indeed, a perverse man is utterly disgusting to the LORD, but he takes the upright into his confidence.

The LORD's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

The wise will inherit honor, but he holds fools up for ridicule.

Wisdom is of utmost importance, therefore get wisdom, and with all your effort work to acquire understanding.

Hold on to instruction, do not let it go! Guard wisdom, because she is your life!

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn that grows brighter until the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness, and they do not know what they are stumbling over.

Never talk deceptively and don't keep company with people whose speech is corrupt.

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil.

But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood, and as sharp as a double-edged sword.

You aren't thinking about where her life is headed; her steps wander, but you do not realize it.

Indeed, what a man does is always in the LORD's presence, and he weighs all his paths.

Go to the ant, you lazy man! Observe its ways and become wise.

Because the command is a lamp and the Law a light, rebukes that discipline are a way of life

because the price of a whore is a loaf of bread, and an adulterous woman stalks a man's precious life.

So also is it with someone who has sex with his neighbor's wife; anyone touching her will not remain unpunished.

A thief isn't despised if he steals to meet his needs when he is hungry,

but when he is discovered, he must restore seven-fold, forfeiting the entire value of his house.

Whoever commits adultery with a woman is out of his mind; by doing so he corrupts his own soul.

Keep my commands and you'll live. Guard my teaching as you do your eyesight.

and I noticed among the naive that is, I discerned among the youths a senseless young man.

Look! A woman makes her way to meet him, dressed as a prostitute and intending to entrap him.

She is brazen and defiant her feet don't remain at home.

Now she is in the street, now in the plazas, she lurks near every corner.

until an arrow pierces his liver. As a bird darts into a snare, he doesn't realize his fatal decision.

Listen, because I have noble things to say, and what I have to say will reveal what is right.

For my mouth speaks the truth wickedness is detestable to me.

Everything I have to say is just; there isn't anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.

Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.

because wisdom is better than precious gems and nothing you desire can compare to it."

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise.

By me leaders rule, as do noble officials and all who govern justly.

Wealth and honor accompany me, as do enduring wealth and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, better than even refined gold, and my benefit surpasses the purest silver.

"The LORD made me as he began his planning, before his ancient activity commenced.

Listen to instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it.

Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorways

"Let whoever is naive, turn in here." To anyone lacking sense, she says,

Don't rebuke a mocker or he will hate you. Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.

Counsel a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will add to his learning.

The fear of the LORD is where wisdom begins, and knowing holiness demonstrates understanding.

If you are wise, your wisdom will assist you. If you mock, you alone will be held responsible.

The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and without knowledge.

"Whoever is naive, turn in here!" And to anyone lacking sense, she says,

"Stolen waters are sweet, and food eaten in secret is delicious."

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grieves his mother.

Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely, but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

The wise person accepts commands, but the chattering fool will be brought down.

What the righteous say is a flowing fountain, but what the wicked say conceals violence.

Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning, but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.

Those who are wise store up knowledge, but when the fool speaks, destruction is near.

The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth, but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life, but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.

Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Transgression is at work where people talk too much, but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent.

What the righteous person says is like precious silver; the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things.

Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy, so is wisdom to the discerning man.

When the storm ends, the wicked vanish, but the righteous person is forever firm.

As vinegar is to the mouth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy person to those who send him.

To the upright, the way of the LORD is a place of safety, but it's a place of ruin to those who practice evil.

Righteous lips know what is prudent, but the words of the wicked are perverse.

When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom.

The righteous person is delivered from trouble; it comes upon the wicked instead.

The city rejoices when the righteous prosper, and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.

Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up, but what the wicked say tears it down.

Devious minds are abhorrent to the LORD, but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

The desire of the righteous is to seek good, but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

People will curse whoever withholds grain, but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who wins people is wise.

The person who loves correction loves knowledge, but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but a wife who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.

The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

A man is praised because of his wise words, but the perverted mind will be despised.

The righteous person looks out for the welfare of his livestock, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

The wicked desires what evil people gain, but the foundation of the righteous is productive.

The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion, but wise is the man who listens to advice.

The truth teller speaks what is right, but the false witness speaks what is deceitful.