My son, listen to your father's instruction, and do not let go of your mother's teaching.

My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

My son, do not go along with them, and keep your feet away from their paths!

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

because you neglected all my advice and did not want my correction,

"Then they will call out to me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

"Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD;

they did not want my advice, and they rejected all my correction.

Do not let gracious love and truth leave you. Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart,

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not depend on your own understanding.

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

My son, do not reject the LORD's discipline, and do not despise his correction,

My son, do not let wisdom leave your sight. Carefully observe sound judgment and discernment,

Then you will travel safely on your way, and your foot will not stumble.

When you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be pleasant.

Do not be afraid of sudden disaster, or the devastation that comes to the wicked.

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

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come back. I will pay you tomorrow," when you have cash with you.

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

Do not bring a lawsuit against a person for no reason, when he has done you no harm.

Do not envy a violent man, and do not emulate his lifestyle.

I give you sound teaching, so do not abandon my instruction.

When I was a son to my father, not yet strong and an only son to my mother,

Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth!

Do not abandon her, and she will protect you. Love her, and she will watch over you.

When you walk, your step will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble.

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

Do not enter the path of the wicked, or go along the way of evil men.

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

Do not let them out of your sight; keep them within your heart.

Do not turn to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

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

I did not obey my teachers and did not listen to my instructors.

They should be for you alone and not for strangers who are with you.

Do not focus on her beauty in your mind, nor allow her to take you prisoner with her flirting eyes,

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

He will not consider any payment, nor will he be willing to accept it, no matter how large the bribe.

at twilight, during the evening, even during the darkest part of the night.

Even though he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the world's first grains of dust,

when he set a boundary for the sea so the waters would not exceed his limits, when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

But he does not realize that the dead lurk there, and her invited guests wind up in the depths of Sheol.

The blessing of the LORD establishes wealth, and difficulty does not accompany it.

Fearing the LORD prolongs life, but the wicked will not live long.

Be sure of this: the wicked will not go unpunished, but the descendants of the righteous will go free.

The lazy person does not roast what he has hunted, but diligence is one's most important possession.

A wise son heeds a father's correction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Whoever does not discipline his son hates him, but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.

A trustworthy witness does not deceive, but a false witness spews lies.

Stay away from a foolish man, for you will not find competent advice.

What the wise have to say disseminates knowledge, but it's not in the heart of fools to do so.

The arrogant mocker never loves the one who corrects him; he will not inquire of the wise.

The LORD detests those who are proud; truly they will not go unpunished.

When a king is ready to speak officially, what he says should not err with respect to justice.

A violent man entices his companion and leads him on a path that is not good.

Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster will not go unpunished.

The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

It's not good to be partial towards an evil person, thereby depriving the righteous of justice.

A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will not escape.

A witness to lies will not go unpunished; the teller of falsehoods will perish.

It's not fitting for a fool to live in luxury; neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

Do not love sleep or you'll become poor, keep your eyes open and you'll have plenty of food.

An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not good.

Train a child in the way appropriate for him, and when he becomes older, he will not turn from it.

Have I not written for you 30 sayings containing counsel and knowledge,

Don't make friends with a hot-tempered man, and do not associate with someone who is easily angered,

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will work for kings, not unimportant people.

for there is surely a future life, and what you hope for will not be cut off.

Then your poverty will come upon you like a robber, your need like an armed bandit.

If you find some honey, eat only what you need. Take too much, and you'll vomit.

Like a fluttering sparrow or a swallow in flight, a curse without cause will not alight.

Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth; a stranger, and never your own lips.

Whoever hides his transgressions will not succeed, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy.

The faithful man will prosper with blessings, but whoever is in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment.

The righteous person is concerned about the poor; but the wicked don't understand what they need to know.

By mere words a servant will not be corrected; even though he understands, there will be no response.

Surely I am beyond the senselessness of any man; I do not perceive things the way human beings do.

Keep deception and lies far away from me, and give me neither poverty nor wealth. Feed me with food that I need for today,

It is not for kings, Lemuel Not for kings to drink wine or for rulers to desire liquor.

She rises while it is still night, preparing meals for her family and providing for her women servants.

She is confident that her profits are sufficient. Her lamp does not go out at night.

She reaches out to the poor, opening her hands to those in need.