for receiving wise instruction
in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

a wise man will listen and increase his learning,
and a discerning man will obtain guidance—

for understanding a proverb or a parable,
the words of the wise, and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and discipline.

If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share our money”—

It is foolish to spread a net
where any bird can see it,

He stores up success for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity

whose paths are crooked,
and whose ways are devious.

Don’t consider yourself to be wise;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

for the Lord disciplines the one He loves,
just as a father, the son he delights in.

Happy is a man who finds wisdom
and who acquires understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver,
and her revenue is better than gold.

She is more precious than jewels;
nothing you desire compares with her.

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

She is a tree of life to those who embrace her,
and those who hold on to her are happy.

When it is in your power,
don’t withhold good from the one it belongs to.

Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.
I’ll give it tomorrow”—when it is there with you.

for the devious are detestable to the Lord,
but He is a friend to the upright.

The Lord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,
but He blesses the home of the righteous;

The wise will inherit honor,
but He holds up fools to dishonor.

Wisdom is supreme—so get wisdom.
And whatever else you get, get understanding.

Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.

For they can’t sleep
unless they have done what is evil;
they are robbed of sleep
unless they make someone stumble.

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.

But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they don’t know what makes them stumble.

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

in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood
and as sharp as a double-edged sword.

A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him;
he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.

He will die because there is no discipline,
and be lost because of his great stupidity.

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

For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,
and corrective discipline is the way to life.

For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread,
but an adulteress goes after a precious life.

So it is with the one who sleeps with
another man’s wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

People don’t despise the thief if he steals
to satisfy himself when he is hungry.

Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much;
he must give up all the wealth in his house.

Keep my commands and live;
protect my teachings
as the pupil of your eye.

She is loud and defiant;
her feet do not stay at home.

Her house is the road to Sheol,
descending to the chambers of death.

“People, I call out to you;
my cry is to mankind.

Listen, for I speak of noble things,
and what my lips say is right.

For my mouth tells the truth,
and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

For wisdom is better than jewels,
and nothing desirable can compare with it.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil.
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,
and perverse speech.

It is by me that kings reign
and rulers enact just law;

by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.

My fruit is better than solid gold,
and my harvest than pure silver.

giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

Listen to instruction and be wise;
don’t ignore it.

Anyone who listens to me is happy,
watching at my doors every day,
waiting by the posts of my doorway.

“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,

Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;
if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

The woman Folly is rowdy;
she is gullible and knows nothing.

“Whoever is inexperienced, enter here!”
To the one who lacks sense, she says,

“Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten secretly is tasty!”

Solomon’s proverbs:

A wise son brings joy to his father,
but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

The son who gathers during summer is prudent;
the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.

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

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.

The wise store up knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,
but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,
and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is wise.

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

As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,
so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.

The hope of the righteous is joy,
but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the honorable,
but destruction awaits the malicious.

The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate,
but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.

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Dishonest scales are detestable to the Lord,
but an accurate weight is His delight.

Wealth is not profitable on a day of wrath,
but righteousness rescues from death.

The righteous one is rescued from trouble;
in his place, the wicked one goes in.

When the righteous thrive, a city rejoices,
and when the wicked die, there is joyful shouting.

A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,
but it is torn down by the mouth of the wicked.

Without guidance, people fall,
but with many counselors there is deliverance.

If someone puts up security for a stranger,
he will suffer for it,
but the one who hates such agreements is protected.

A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

One person gives freely,
yet gains more;
another withholds what is right,
only to become poor.

The one who searches for what is good finds favor,
but if someone looks for trouble, it will come to him.

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.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
but violence takes lives.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.

Man cannot be made secure by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous is immovable.

A capable wife is her husband’s crown,
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.

A man is praised for his insight,
but a twisted mind is despised.

An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech,
but a righteous one escapes from trouble.

A fool’s way is right in his own eyes,
but whoever listens to counsel is wise.

A fool’s displeasure is known at once,
but whoever ignores an insult is sensible.

Whoever speaks the truth declares what is right,
but a false witness, deceit.

There is one who speaks rashly,
like a piercing sword;
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
but those who promote peace have joy.

A righteous man is careful in dealing with his neighbor,
but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

A lazy man doesn’t roast his game,
but to a diligent man, his wealth is precious.