A large population is a king’s splendor,
but a shortage of people is a ruler’s devastation.

A tranquil heart is life to the body,
but jealousy is rottenness to the bones.

The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker,
but one who is kind to the needy honors Him.

Wisdom resides in the heart of the discerning;
she is known even among fools.

Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.

A king favors a wise servant,
but his anger falls on a disgraceful one.

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The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive,
but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.

The tongue that heals is a tree of life,
but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.

A fool despises his father’s discipline,
but a person who accepts correction is sensible.

The lips of the wise broadcast knowledge,
but not so the heart of fools.

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable to the Lord,
but the prayer of the upright is His delight.

Discipline is harsh for the one who leaves the path;
the one who hates correction will die.

A mocker doesn’t love one who corrects him;
he will not consult the wise.

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love
than a fattened ox with hatred.

A slacker’s way is like a thorny hedge,
but the path of the upright is a highway.

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

Plans fail when there is no counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.

A man takes joy in giving an answer;
and a timely word—how good that is!

The Lord is far from the wicked,
but He hears the prayer of the righteous.

One who listens to life-giving rebukes
will be at home among the wise.

The fear of the Lord is what wisdom teaches,
and humility comes before honor.

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The reflections of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Everyone with a proud heart is detestable to the Lord;
be assured, he will not go unpunished.

Wickedness is atoned for by loyalty and faithfulness,
and one turns from evil by the fear of the Lord.

God’s verdict is on the lips of a king;
his mouth should not give an unfair judgment.

Wicked behavior is detestable to kings,
since a throne is established through righteousness.

A king’s fury is a messenger of death,
but a wise man appeases it.

When a king’s face lights up, there is life;
his favor is like a cloud with spring rain.

Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.

Anyone with a wise heart is called discerning,
and pleasant speech increases learning.

Insight is a fountain of life for its possessor,
but the discipline of fools is folly.

A wise heart instructs its mouth
and increases learning with its speech.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.

A worthless man digs up evil,
and his speech is like a scorching fire.

A violent man lures his neighbor,
leading him in a way that is not good.

The one who narrows his eyes is planning deceptions;
the one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

Gray hair is a glorious crown;
it is found in the way of righteousness.

Patience is better than power,
and controlling one’s temper, than capturing a city.

The lot is cast into the lap,
but its every decision is from the Lord.

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A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and share an inheritance among brothers.

A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,
and the Lord is the tester of hearts.

Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,
and the pride of sons is their fathers.

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

To start a conflict is to release a flood;
stop the dispute before it breaks out.

A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a difficult time.

A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,
but a fool’s eyes roam to the ends of the earth.

A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to the one who bore him.

It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person
or to beat a noble for his honesty.

The intelligent person restrains his words,
and one who keeps a cool head
is a man of understanding.

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,
discerning when he seals his lips.

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It is not good to show partiality to the guilty
by perverting the justice due the innocent.

A fool’s mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.

The one who is truly lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.

The name of Yahweh is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are protected.

A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.

Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud,
but humility comes before honor.

The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.

The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.

An offended brother is harder to reach
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.

A man with many friends may be harmed,
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.

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Better a poor man who lives with integrity
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

Even zeal is not good without knowledge,
and the one who acts hastily sins.

Wealth attracts many friends,
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

Many seek a ruler’s favor,
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.

Luxury is not appropriate for a fool—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

A person’s insight gives him patience,
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.

A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.

A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.

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

Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,
and He will give a reward to the lender.

Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t be intent on killing him.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.

The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

Wine is a mocker, beer is a brawler,
and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

A king’s terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.

It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

The slacker does not plow during planting season;
at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.

Counsel in a man’s heart is deep water;
but a man of understanding draws it out.

The one who lives with integrity is righteous;
his children who come after him will be happy.

Even a young man is known by his actions—
if his behavior is pure and upright.

“It’s worthless, it’s worthless!” the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

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

Take his garment,
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.

Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;
avoid someone with a big mouth.

It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.

A wise king separates out the wicked
and drives the threshing wheel over them.

The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life,
searching the innermost parts.

The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.

A king’s heart is like streams of water in the Lord’s hand:
He directs it wherever He chooses.

Doing what is righteous and just
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

The lamp that guides the wicked—
haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—is sin.

The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.

Making a fortune through a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, a pursuit of death.

A guilty man’s conduct is crooked,
but the behavior of the innocent is upright.

When a mocker is punished,
the inexperienced become wiser;
when one teaches a wise man,
he acquires knowledge.

Justice executed is a joy to the righteous
but a terror to those who practice iniquity.

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