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.

The reward for humility and fearing the Lord is riches and honor and life.

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

A generous person will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor.

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

For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you, and they are ready on your lips.

Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,

for the Lord will plead their case and will rob those who are robbing them.

Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge or who puts up security for debts.

Do not crave that ruler's delicacies, for that food is deceptive.

When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!

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 speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

for their Protector is strong; he will plead their case against you.

For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well.

Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed wine.

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."

for their hearts contemplate violence, and their lips speak harm.

for with guidance you wage your war, and with numerous advisers there is victory.

Wisdom is unattainable for a fool; in court he does not open his mouth.

Eat honey, my child, for it is good, and honey from the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.

for the evil person has no future, and the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

Fear the Lord, my child, as well as the king, and do not associate with rebels,

for suddenly their destruction will overtake them, and who knows the ruinous judgment both the Lord and the king can bring?

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

Remove the dross from the silver, and material for the silversmith will emerge;

for it is better for him to say to you, "Come up here," than to put you lower before a prince, whom your eyes have seen.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to those who send him, for he refreshes the heart of his masters.

When you find honey, eat only what is sufficient for you, lest you become stuffed with it and vomit it up.

for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable for people to seek their own glory.

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools!

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Where there is no wood, a fire goes out, and where there is no gossip, contention ceases.

Like charcoal is to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious person to kindle strife.

When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, for there are seven abominations within him.

Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not enter your brother's house in the day of your disaster; a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.

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

Take a man's garment when he has given security for a stranger, and when he gives surety for a stranger, hold him in pledge.

As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, so a person is proved by the praise he receives.

for riches do not last forever, nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

the lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats will be for the price of a field.

And there will be enough goat's milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for the sustenance of your servant girls.

The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.

To show partiality is terrible, for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.

The one who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his steps.

The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity; as for the upright, they seek his life.

A servant cannot be corrected by words, for although he understands, there is no answer.

Do you see someone who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

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

Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.

Remove falsehood and lies far from me; do not give me poverty or riches, feed me with my allotted portion of bread,

The leech has two daughters: "Give! Give!" There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, "Enough" --

the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, "Enough!"

There are three things that are too wonderful for me, four that I do not understand:

Under three things the earth trembles, and under four things it cannot bear up:

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

There are three things that are magnificent in their step, four things that move about magnificently:

For as the churning of milk produces butter and as punching the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,

Open your mouth on behalf of those unable to speak, for the legal rights of all the dying.

Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies.

She also gets up while it is still night, and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet.

She makes for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates.

For with great wisdom comes great frustration; whoever increases his knowledge merely increases his heartache.

I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind was guiding me with wisdom) and the effects of behaving foolishly, so that I might discover what is profitable for people to do on earth during the few days of their lives.

I increased my possessions: I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

I designed royal gardens and parks for myself, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.

I constructed pools of water for myself, to irrigate my grove of flourishing trees.

I also amassed silver and gold for myself, as well as valuable treasures taken from kingdoms and provinces. I acquired male singers and female singers for myself, and what gives a man sensual delight -- a harem of beautiful concubines!

So I was far wealthier than all my predecessors in Jerusalem, yet I maintained my objectivity:

I did not restrain myself from getting whatever I wanted; I did not deny myself anything that would bring me pleasure. So all my accomplishments gave me joy; this was my reward for all my effort.

Next, I decided to consider wisdom, as well as foolish behavior and ideas. For what more can the king's successor do than what the king has already done?

For the wise man, like the fool, will not be remembered for very long, because in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. Alas, the wise man dies -- just like the fool!

So I loathed life because what happens on earth seems awful to me; for all the benefits of wisdom are futile -- like chasing the wind.

So I loathed all the fruit of my effort, for which I worked so hard on earth, because I must leave it behind in the hands of my successor.

Who knows if he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will be master over all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so wisely on earth! This also is futile!

So I began to despair about all the fruit of my labor for which I worked so hard on earth.

For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge, and skill; however, he must hand over the fruit of his labor as an inheritance to someone else who did not work for it. This also is futile, and an awful injustice!

For all day long his work produces pain and frustration, and even at night his mind cannot relax! This also is futile!

There is nothing better for people than to eat and drink, and to find enjoyment in their work. I also perceived that this ability to find enjoyment comes from God.

For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from him.

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!

For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth:

A time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live,

and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil, for these things are a gift from God.

I also know that whatever God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken away from it. God has made it this way, so that men will fear him.

Whatever exists now has already been, and whatever will be has already been; for God will seek to do again what has occurred in the past.

I thought to myself, "God will judge both the righteous and the wicked; for there is an appropriate time for every activity, and there is a time of judgment for every deed.

I also thought to myself, "It is for the sake of people, so God can clearly show them that they are like animals.

For the fate of humans and the fate of animals are the same: As one dies, so dies the other; both have the same breath. There is no advantage for humans over animals, for both are fleeting.