The wise will hear and increase their learning,
And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth],

For they are a garland of grace on your head,
And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.

If they say, “Come with us;
Let us lie in wait to shed blood,
Let us ambush the innocent without cause;

So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain;
Greed takes away the lives of its possessors.

So you will walk in the way of good men [that is, those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character],
And keep to the paths of the righteous.

For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the land
And those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God’s sight] will remain in it;

So find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

Then your barns will be abundantly filled
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back,
And tomorrow I will give it,”
When you have it with you.

And you say, “How I hated instruction and discipline,
And my heart despised correction and reproof!

For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].

So your poverty will come like an approaching prowler who walks [slowly, but surely]
And your need [will come] like an armed man [making you helpless].

My son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction)
And do not reject the teaching of your mother;

So is the one who goes in to his neighbor’s wife;
Whoever touches her will not be found innocent or go unpunished.

Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;

Passing through the street near her corner;
And he took the path to her house

In the twilight, in the evening;
In the black and dark night.

So she caught him and kissed him
And with a brazen and impudent face she said to him:

“So I came out to meet you [that you might share with me the feast of my offering],
Diligently I sought your face and I have found you.

When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the waters would not transgress [the boundaries set by] His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth—

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says,

The rich man’s wealth is his fortress;
The ruin of the poor is their poverty.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.

The [reverent] fear of the Lord [worshiping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect] prolongs one’s life,
But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout,
So is a beautiful woman who is without discretion [her lack of character mocks her beauty].

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him [as a harvest].

The [arrogant] fool’s anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense],
But a prudent man ignores an insult.

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.

A wise son heeds and accepts [and is the result of] his father’s discipline and instruction,
But a scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.

In the mouth of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God] is a rod for his back,
But the lips of the wise [when they speak with godly wisdom] will protect them.

In a multitude of people is a king’s glory,
But in a lack of people is a [pretentious] prince’s ruin.

The king’s favor and good will are toward a servant who acts wisely and discreetly,
But his anger and wrath are toward him who acts shamefully.

A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction,
But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain];
But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

There is severe discipline for him who turns from the way [of righteousness];
And he who hates correction will die.

Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].

When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

A man’s mind plans his way [as he journeys through life],
But the Lord directs his steps and establishes them.

A just balance and [honest] scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights of the bag are His concern [established by His eternal principles].

In the light of the king’s face is life,
And his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.

He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good,
And blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the Lord.

Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

To show respect to the wicked person is not good,
Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.

A fool’s lips bring contention and strife,
And his mouth invites a beating.

A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall [of protection] in his own imagination and conceit.

A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.

A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.

The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass.

Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).

The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish,
But will not even bring it to his mouth again.

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

Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
Wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue and save you.

Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the Lord.
How then can a man [fully] understand his way?

Loyalty and mercy, truth and faithfulness, protect the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it whichever way He wishes.

So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the Lord,
I have taught these things to you today, even to you.

Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances],
Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?
He will stand [in honor] before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,”
Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].

And you will be [as unsteady] as one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
And [as vulnerable to disaster] as one who lies down on the top of a ship’s mast, saying,

“They struck me, but I was not hurt!
They beat me, but I did not feel it!
When will I wake up?
I will seek more wine.”

Wisdom is too exalted for a [hardened, arrogant] fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment].

If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives?
And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul?
And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?

Know that [skillful and godly] wisdom is [so very good] for your life and soul;
If you find wisdom, then there will be a future and a reward,
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

Or the Lord will see your gloating and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from your enemy.

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for his deed.”

Then your poverty will come as a robber,
And your want like an armed man.

As the heavens for height and the earth for depth,
So the hearts and minds of kings are unsearchable.

Argue your case with your neighbor himself [before you go to court];
And do not reveal another’s secret,

Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest,
So is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
For he refreshes the life of his masters.

Let your foot seldom be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become tired of you and hate you.

For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

The north wind brings forth rain;
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
So is good news from a distant land.

It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool.

Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,
So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].

Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw],
So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.

Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].

Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.

Like a dog that returns to his vomit
Is a fool who repeats his foolishness.

Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].

So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)
And then says, “Was I not joking?”

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].

Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.

Stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But a fool’s [unreasonable] wrath is heavier and more burdensome than both of them.

Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety],
So is a man who wanders from his home.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad;
So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

As iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].

He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who faithfully protects and cares for his master will be honored.