A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a sensible wife is from the Lord.

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

Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.

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Differing weights and varying measures—
both are detestable to the Lord.

There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.

Differing weights are detestable to the Lord,
and dishonest scales are unfair.

A man’s steps are determined by the Lord,
so how can anyone understand his own way?

The wicked are a ransom for the righteous,
and the treacherous, for the upright.

Precious treasure and oil are in the dwelling of a wise person,
but a foolish man consumes them.

A sensible person sees danger and takes cover,
but the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

There are thorns and snares on the path of the crooked;
the one who guards himself stays far from them.

For it is pleasing if you keep them within you
and if they are constantly on your lips.

indeed, she sets an ambush like a robber
and increases those among men who are unfaithful.

by knowledge the rooms are filled
with every precious and beautiful treasure.

Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent”—
people will curse him, and tribes will denounce him;

These too are proverbs of Solomon,
which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied.

A gossip’s words are like choice food
that goes down to one’s innermost being.

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.

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

A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished.

An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike.

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.

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There is a generation whose teeth are swords,
whose fangs are knives,
devouring the oppressed from the land
and the needy from among mankind.

The leech has two daughters: “Give, Give!”
Three things are never satisfied;
four never say, “Enough!”:

Three things are beyond me;
four I can’t understand:

Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:

the ants are not a strong people,
yet they store up their food in the summer;

hyraxes are not a mighty people,
yet they make their homes in the cliffs;

Three things are stately in their stride,
even four are stately in their walk:

Speak up for those who have no voice,
for the justice of all who are dispossessed.

She draws on her strength
and reveals that her arms are strong.

She sees that her profits are good,
and her lamp never goes out at night.

She is not afraid for her household when it snows,
for all in her household are doubly clothed.

Strength and honor are her clothing,
and she can laugh at the time to come.

“Many women are capable,
but you surpass them all!”

All the streams flow to the sea,
yet the sea is never full.
The streams are flowing to the place,
and they flow there again.

All things are wearisome;
man is unable to speak.
The eye is not satisfied by seeing
or the ear filled with hearing.

I have seen all the things that are done under the sun and have found everything to be futile, a pursuit of the wind.

For all his days are filled with grief, and his occupation is sorrowful; even at night, his mind does not rest. This too is futile.

I said to myself, “This happens concerning people, so that God may test them and they may see for themselves that they are like animals.”

All are going to the same place; all come from dust, and all return to dust.

Again, I observed all the acts of oppression being done under the sun. Look at the tears of those who are oppressed; they have no one to comfort them. Power is with those who oppress them; they have no one to comfort them.

So I admired the dead, who have already died, more than the living, who are still alive.

There is a person without a companion, without even a son or brother, and though there is no end to all his struggles, his eyes are still not content with riches. “So who am I struggling for,” he asks, “and depriving myself from good?” This too is futile and a miserable task.

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts.

Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Better to draw near in obedience than to offer the sacrifice as fools do, for they ignorantly do wrong.

Do not be hasty to speak, and do not be impulsive to make a speech before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

For when there are many words, they increase futility. What is the advantage for man?

For the king’s word is authoritative, and who can say to him, “What are you doing?”

For every activity there is a right time and procedure, even though man’s troubles are heavy on him.

Although a sinner commits crime a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I also know that it will go well with God-fearing people, for they are reverent before Him.

However, it will not go well with the wicked, and they will not lengthen their days like a shadow, for they are not reverent before God.

There is a futility that is done on the earth: there are righteous people who get what the actions of the wicked deserve, and there are wicked people who get what the actions of the righteous deserve. I say that this too is futile.

Indeed, I took all this to heart and explained it all: the righteous, the wise, and their works are in God’s hands.People don’t know whether to expect love or hate. Everything lies ahead of them.

This is an evil in all that is done under the sun: there is one fate for everyone. In addition, the hearts of people are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live—after that they go to the dead.

Whatever your hands find to do, do with all your strength, because there is no work, planning, knowledge, or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.

For man certainly does not know his time: like fish caught in a cruel net or like birds caught in a trap, so people are trapped in an evil time as it suddenly falls on them.

And I said, “Wisdom is better than strength, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

The calm words of the wise are heeded
more than the shouts of a ruler over fools.

The words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious,
but the lips of a fool consume him.

Blessed are you, land, when your king is a son of nobles
and your princes feast at the proper time—
for strength and not for drunkenness.

If the clouds are full, they will pour out rain on the earth;
whether a tree falls to the south or the north,
the place where the tree falls, there it will lie.

Rejoice, young man, while you are young,
and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.
And walk in the ways of your heart
and in the sight of your eyes;
but know that for all of these things God will bring you to judgment.

Remove sorrow from your heart,
and put away pain from your flesh,
because youth and the prime of life are fleeting.

before the sun and the light are darkened,
and the moon and the stars,
and the clouds return after the rain;

on the day when the guardians of the house tremble,
and the strong men stoop,
the women who grind cease because they are few,
and the ones who watch through the windows see dimly,

the doors at the street are shut
while the sound of the mill fades;
when one rises at the sound of a bird,
and all the daughters of song grow faint.

Also, they are afraid of heights and dangers on the road;
the almond tree blossoms,
the grasshopper loses its spring,
and the caper berry has no effect;
for man is headed to his eternal home,
and mourners will walk around in the street;

The sayings of the wise are like goads, and those from masters of collections are like firmly embedded nails. The sayings are given by one Shepherd.

Your cheeks are beautiful with jewelry,
your neck with its necklace.

M How beautiful you are, my darling.
How very beautiful!
Your eyes are doves.

W How handsome you are, my love.
How delightful!
Our bed is lush with foliage;

the beams of our house are cedars,
and our rafters are cypresses.

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(W) Catch the foxes for us—
the little foxes that ruin the vineyards—
for our vineyards are in bloom.

All of them are skilled with swords
and trained in warfare.
Each has his sword at his side
to guard against the terror of the night.

M How beautiful you are, my darling.
How very beautiful!
Behind your veil,
your eyes are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
streaming down Mount Gilead.

Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn sheep
coming up from washing,
each one having a twin,
and not one missing.

Your lips are like a scarlet cord,
and your mouth is lovely.
Behind your veil,
your brow is like a slice of pomegranate.

Your neck is like the tower of David,
constructed in layers.
A thousand bucklers are hung on it—
all of them shields of warriors.

Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle, that feed among the lilies.

You are absolutely beautiful, my darling,
with no imperfection in you.

Your lips drip sweetness like the honeycomb, my bride.
Honey and milk are under your tongue.
The fragrance of your garments is like the fragrance of Lebanon.

My sister, my bride, you are a locked garden—
a locked garden and a sealed spring.

Your branches are a paradise of pomegranates
with choicest fruits,
henna with nard—

You are a garden spring,
a well of flowing water
streaming from Lebanon.

His eyes are like doves
beside streams of water,
washed in milk
and set like jewels.

His cheeks are like beds of spice,
towers of perfume.
His lips are lilies,
dripping with flowing myrrh.

His arms are rods of gold
set with topaz.
His body is an ivory panel
covered with sapphires.

His legs are alabaster pillars
set on pedestals of pure gold.
His presence is like Lebanon,
as majestic as the cedars.

M You are as beautiful as Tirzah, my darling,
lovely as Jerusalem,
awe-inspiring as an army with banners.

Your teeth are like a flock of ewes
coming up from washing,
each one having a twin,
and not one missing.

There are 60 queens
and 80 concubines
and young women without number.

Y Come back, come back, Shulammite!
Come back, come back, that we may look at you!

M Why are you looking at the Shulammite,
as you look at the dance of the two camps?

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How beautiful are your sandaled feet, princess!
The curves of your thighs are like jewelry,
the handiwork of a master.

Your breasts are like two fawns,
twins of a gazelle.

How beautiful you are and how pleasant,
my love, with such delights!

Your stature is like a palm tree;
your breasts are clusters of fruit.