Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

There are six things that the Lord hates, even seven things that are an abomination to him:

Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.

So she grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold expression she said to him,

He has taken a bag of money with him; he will not return until the end of the month."

She persuaded him with persuasive words; with her smooth talk she compelled him.

till an arrow pierces his liver -- like a bird hurrying into a trap, and he does not know that it will cost him his life.

then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

"Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding.

"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding.

What the wicked fears will come on him; what the righteous desire will be granted.

Like vinegar to the teeth and like smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

The one who diligently seeks good seeks favor, but the one who searches for evil -- it will come to him.

A person will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands will be rendered to him.

Anxiety in a person's heart weighs him down, but an encouraging word brings him joy.

The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him.

The one who walks in his uprightness fears the Lord, but the one who is perverted in his ways despises him.

The one who oppresses the poor insults his Creator, but whoever shows favor to the needy honors him.

The Lord abhors the sacrifices of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.

The scorner does not love one who corrects him; he will not go to the wise.

The path of life is upward for the wise person, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.

A laborer's appetite works on his behalf, for his hunger urges him to work.

A violent person entices his neighbor, and leads him down a path that is terrible.

An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him, and with shame comes a reproach.

A person's spirit sustains him through sickness -- but who can bear a crushed spirit?

A person's gift makes room for him, and leads him before important people.

The first to state his case seems right, until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.

All the relatives of a poor person hate him; how much more do his friends avoid him -- he pursues them with words, but they do not respond.

A person's wisdom makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord, and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

A person with great anger bears the penalty, but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again.

The king's terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him sins against himself.

The righteous person behaves in integrity; blessed are his children after him.

Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.

What the sluggard desires will kill him, for his hands refuse to work.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

If you strike him with the rod, you will deliver him from death.

The father of a righteous person will rejoice greatly; whoever fathers a wise child will have joy in him.

lest the Lord see it, and be displeased, and turn his wrath away from him.

The one who says to the guilty, "You are innocent," peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him.

Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will pay him back according to what he has done."

for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

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

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you yourself also be like him.

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

The one who hates others disguises it with his lips, but he stores up deceit within him.

When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.

The one who digs a pit will fall into it; the one who rolls a stone -- it will come back on him.

Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for a stranger, hold him in pledge.

If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse to him.

If you should pound the fool in the mortar among the grain with the pestle, his foolishness would not depart from him.

A rich person is wise in his own eyes, but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit; let no one support him.

The stingy person hastens after riches and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

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

A person's pride will bring him low, but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.

Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.

a strutting rooster, a male goat, and a king with his army around him.

The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him:

She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life.