For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

Like apples of gold in settings of silver
Is a word spoken in right circumstances.

Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to a listening ear.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
Is a faithful messenger to those who send him,
For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.

Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow
Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.

Like a bad tooth and an unsteady foot
Is confidence in a faithless man in time of trouble.

Like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar on soda,
Is he who sings songs to a troubled heart.

If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

It is better to live in a corner of the roof
Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

Like cold water to a weary soul,
So is good news from a distant land.

Like a trampled spring and a polluted well
Is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glory to search out one’s own glory.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls
Is a man who has no control over his spirit.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a fool.

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the back of fools.

Answer a fool as his folly deserves,
That he not be wise in his own eyes.

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like one who binds a stone in a sling,
So is he who gives honor to a fool.

Like a thorn which falls into the hand of a drunkard,
So is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Like an archer who wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or who hires those who pass by.

Like a dog that returns to its vomit
Is a fool who repeats his folly.

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

The sluggard says, “There is a lion in the road!
A lion is in the open square!”

As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the sluggard on his bed.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
He is weary of bringing it to his mouth again.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can give a discreet answer.

Like one who takes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and meddles with strife not belonging to him.

So is the man who deceives his neighbor,
And says, “Was I not joking?”

For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.

Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.

A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,
But who can stand before jealousy?

Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.

A sated man loathes honey,
But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

Like a bird that wanders from her nest,
So is a man who wanders from his home.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

As in water face reflects face,
So the heart of man reflects man.

The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold,
And each is tested by the praise accorded him.

When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,
And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

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

A poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.

The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

How blessed is the man who fears always,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is crooked will fall all at once.

To show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “It is not a transgression,”
Is the companion of a man who destroys.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.

By transgression an evil man is ensnared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.

The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such concern.

Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.

When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,
The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise man holds it back.

Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,
But happy is he who keeps the law.

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

He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He hears the oath but tells nothing.

An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.

Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son’s name?
Surely you know!

Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.

Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,

That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

There is a kind of man who curses his father
And does not bless his mother.

There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

There is a kind of man whose teeth are like swords
And his jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the afflicted from the earth
And the needy from among men.

Sheol, and the barren womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”

This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wrong.”

Under a slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:

The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

The lion which is mighty among beasts
And does not retreat before any,

The strutting rooster, the male goat also,
And a king when his army is with him.

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire strong drink,

For they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink to him who is perishing,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.

An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.

She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.

She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.

She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.

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

She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.

She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

“Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher,
“Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

All the rivers flow into the sea,
Yet the sea is not full.
To the place where the rivers flow,
There they flow again.

All things are wearisome;
Man is not able to tell it.
The eye is not satisfied with seeing,
Nor is the ear filled with hearing.

That which has been is that which will be,
And that which has been done is that which will be done.
So there is nothing new under the sun.

Is there anything of which one might say,
“See this, it is new”?
Already it has existed for ages
Which were before us.