A wicked person shows boldness with his face, but as for the upright, he discerns his ways.

A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory is from the Lord.

A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.

Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse, but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.

The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge, but he overthrows the words of the faithless person.

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

for he is like someone calculating the cost in his mind. "Eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you;

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but rather be zealous in fearing the Lord all the time.

You will say, "They have struck me, but I am not harmed! They beat me, but I did not know it! When will I awake? I will look for another drink."

If you say, "But we did not know about this," does not the one who evaluates hearts consider? Does not the one who guards your life know? Will he not repay each person according to his deeds?

Although a righteous person may fall seven times, he gets up again, but the wicked will be brought down by calamity.

But there will be delight for those who convict the guilty, and a pleasing blessing will come on them.

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

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.

Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey, but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet.

A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself, but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.

The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion.

When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them.

Evil people do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it all.

The one who keeps the law is a discerning child, but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.

The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way will himself fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good.

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

When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory, but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.

The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.

Blessed is the one who is always cautious, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.

The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom, but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered, but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.

The one who works his land will be satisfied with food, but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.

A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings, but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.

The greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

The one who gives to the poor will not lack, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.

When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves, but when they perish, the righteous increase.

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down.

In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare, but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.

Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath.

A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.

When the wicked increase, transgression increases, but the righteous will see their downfall.

When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!

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

Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy; he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.

The fear of people becomes a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.

Many people seek the face of a ruler, but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.

There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise:

ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;

rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags;

locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks;

a lizard you can catch with the hand, but it gets into the palaces of the king.

"Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all!"

Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages.

All the streams flow into the sea, but the sea is not full, and to the place where the streams flow, there they will flow again.

I thought to myself, "Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile." But I found that it also is futile.

The wise man can see where he is going, but the fool walks in darkness. Yet I also realized that the same fate happens to them both.

For to the one who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy, but to the sinner, he gives the task of amassing wealth -- only to give it to the one who pleases God. This task of the wicked is futile -- like chasing the wind!

God has made everything fit beautifully in its appropriate time, but he has also placed ignorance in the human heart so that people cannot discover what God has ordained, from the beginning to the end of their lives.

So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors.

But better than both is the one who has not been born and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth.

The fool folds his hands and does no work, so he has nothing to eat but his own flesh.

For if they fall, one will help his companion up, but pity the person who falls down and has no one to help him up.

Furthermore, if two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, but how can one person keep warm by himself?

A poor but wise youth is better than an old and foolish king who no longer knows how to receive advice.

The sleep of the laborer is pleasant -- whether he eats little or much -- but the wealth of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

Even if a man fathers a hundred children and lives many years -- even if he lives a long, long time, but cannot enjoy his prosperity -- even if he were to live forever -- I would say, "A stillborn child is better off than he is!"

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of merrymaking.

For wisdom provides protection, just as money provides protection. But the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its owner.

In times of prosperity be joyful, but in times of adversity consider this: God has made one as well as the other, so that no one can discover what the future holds.

I have examined all this by wisdom; I said, "I am determined to comprehend this" -- but it was beyond my grasp.

I discovered this: More bitter than death is the kind of woman who is like a hunter's snare; her heart is like a hunter's net and her hands are like prison chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is captured by her.

What I have continually sought, I have not found; I have found only one upright man among a thousand, but I have not found one upright woman among all of them.

This alone have I discovered: God made humankind upright, but they have sought many evil schemes.

Not only that, but I have seen the wicked approaching and entering the temple, and as they left the holy temple, they boasted in the city that they had done so. This also is an enigma.

But it will not go well with the wicked, nor will they prolong their days like a shadow, because they do not stand in fear before God.

But whoever is among the living has hope; a live dog is better than a dead lion.

For the living know that they will die, but the dead do not know anything; they have no further reward -- and even the memory of them disappears.

However, a poor but wise man lived in the city, and he could have delivered the city by his wisdom, but no one listened to that poor man.

So I concluded that wisdom is better than might, but a poor man's wisdom is despised; no one ever listens to his advice.

Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner can destroy much that is good.

A wise person's good sense protects him, but a fool's lack of sense leaves him vulnerable.

The words of a wise person win him favor, but the words of a fool are self-destructive.

Feasts are made for laughter, and wine makes life merry, but money is the answer for everything.

So, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all, but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many -- all that is about to come is obscure.

Rejoice, young man, while you are young, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Follow the impulses of your heart and the desires of your eyes, but know that God will judge your motives and actions.

Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also taught knowledge to the people; he carefully evaluated and arranged many proverbs.

The Beloved to the Maidens: I am dark but lovely, O maidens of Jerusalem, dark like the tents of Qedar, lovely like the tent curtains of Salmah.

The Beloved about Her Lover: All night long on my bed I longed for my lover. I longed for him but he never appeared.

"I will arise and look all around throughout the town, and throughout the streets and squares; I will search for my beloved." I searched for him but I did not find him.

The Beloved about Her Lover: I was asleep, but my mind was dreaming. Listen! My lover is knocking at the door! The Lover to His Beloved: "Open for me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one! My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night."

I opened for my beloved, but my lover had already turned and gone away. I fell into despair when he departed. I looked for him but did not find him; I called him but he did not answer me.

But she is unique! My dove, my perfect one! She is the special daughter of her mother, she is the favorite of the one who bore her. The maidens saw her and complimented her; the queens and concubines praised her:

If she is a wall, we will build on her a battlement of silver; but if she is a door, we will barricade her with boards of cedar.

Listen, O heavens, pay attention, O earth! For the Lord speaks: "I raised children, I brought them up, but they have rebelled against me!

An ox recognizes its owner, a donkey recognizes where its owner puts its food; but Israel does not recognize me, my people do not understand."

Do not bring any more meaningless offerings; I consider your incense detestable! You observe new moon festivals, Sabbaths, and convocations, but I cannot tolerate sin-stained celebrations!

But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword." Know for certain that the Lord has spoken.