listening closely to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;

For wisdom will enter your mind,
and knowledge will delight your heart.

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;

Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;

he taught me and said:
“Your heart must hold on to my words.
Keep my commands and live.

Don’t lose sight of them;
keep them within your heart.

Guard your heart above all else,
for it is the source of life.

and you will say, “How I hated discipline,
and how my heart despised correction.

He always plots evil with perversity in his heart—
he stirs up trouble.

a heart that plots wicked schemes,
feet eager to run to evil,

Always bind them to your heart;
tie them around your neck.

Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.

Tie them to your fingers;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;
don’t stray onto her paths.

Doesn’t Wisdom call out?
Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?

The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.

A wise heart accepts commands,
but foolish lips will be destroyed.

The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little value.

The one who brings ruin on his household
will inherit the wind,
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

A shrewd person conceals knowledge,
but a foolish heart publicizes stupidity.

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
but a good word cheers it up.

Delayed hope makes the heart sick,
but fulfilled desire is a tree of life.

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

Even in laughter a heart may be sad,
and joy may end in grief.

There is profit in all hard work,
but endless talk leads only to poverty.

A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

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

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

A joyful heart makes a face cheerful,
but a sad heart produces a broken spirit.

All the days of the oppressed are miserable,
but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Bright eyes cheer the heart;
good news strengthens the bones.

The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.

A man’s heart plans his way,
but the Lord determines his steps.

Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.

A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.

A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.

A man’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.

Many plans are in a man’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.

Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;
but a man of understanding draws it out.

Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin”?

A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.

The lamp that guides the wicked—
haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—is sin.

The one who loves a pure heart
and gracious lips—the king is his friend.

Foolishness is tangled up in the heart of a youth;
the rod of discipline will drive it away from him.

for it’s like someone calculating inwardly.
“Eat and drink,” he says to you,
but his heart is not with you.

My son, if your heart is wise,
my heart will indeed rejoice.

My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.

Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

I saw, and took it to heart;
I looked, and received instruction:

Singing songs to a troubled heart
is like taking off clothing on a cold day
or like pouring vinegar on soda.

Smooth lips with an evil heart
are like glaze on an earthen vessel.

When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,
for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Oil and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.

Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.

As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.

Happy is the one who is always reverent,
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.

The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will not lack anything good.