because the price of a whore is a loaf of bread, and an adulterous woman stalks a man's precious life.

So also is it with someone who has sex with his neighbor's wife; anyone touching her will not remain unpunished.

A thief isn't despised if he steals to meet his needs when he is hungry,

but when he is discovered, he must restore seven-fold, forfeiting the entire value of his house.

Whoever commits adultery with a woman is out of his mind; by doing so he corrupts his own soul.

Keep my commands and you'll live. Guard my teaching as you do your eyesight.

and I noticed among the naive that is, I discerned among the youths a senseless young man.

Look! A woman makes her way to meet him, dressed as a prostitute and intending to entrap him.

She is brazen and defiant her feet don't remain at home.

Now she is in the street, now in the plazas, she lurks near every corner.

until an arrow pierces his liver. As a bird darts into a snare, he doesn't realize his fatal decision.

Listen, because I have noble things to say, and what I have to say will reveal what is right.

For my mouth speaks the truth wickedness is detestable to me.

Everything I have to say is just; there isn't anything corrupt or perverse in my speech.

Everything I say is sensible to someone who understands, and correct to those who have acquired knowledge.

because wisdom is better than precious gems and nothing you desire can compare to it."

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, an evil lifestyle, and perverted speech I despise.

By me leaders rule, as do noble officials and all who govern justly.

Wealth and honor accompany me, as do enduring wealth and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, better than even refined gold, and my benefit surpasses the purest silver.

"The LORD made me as he began his planning, before his ancient activity commenced.

Listen to instruction and be wise. Don't ignore it.

Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorways

"Let whoever is naive, turn in here." To anyone lacking sense, she says,

Don't rebuke a mocker or he will hate you. Rebuke a wise person, and he will love you.

Counsel a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man, and he will add to his learning.

The fear of the LORD is where wisdom begins, and knowing holiness demonstrates understanding.

If you are wise, your wisdom will assist you. If you mock, you alone will be held responsible.

The foolish woman is loud, undisciplined, and without knowledge.

"Whoever is naive, turn in here!" And to anyone lacking sense, she says,

"Stolen waters are sweet, and food eaten in secret is delicious."

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son grieves his mother.

Whoever harvests during summer acts wisely, but the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

The wise person accepts commands, but the chattering fool will be brought down.

What the righteous say is a flowing fountain, but what the wicked say conceals violence.

Wisdom characterizes the speech of the discerning, but the rod is for the backs of those lacking discernment.

Those who are wise store up knowledge, but when the fool speaks, destruction is near.

The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth, but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

Whoever heeds correction is on the pathway to life, but someone who ignores exhortation goes astray.

Whoever conceals hatred is a deceitful liar, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

Transgression is at work where people talk too much, but anyone who holds his tongue is prudent.

What the righteous person says is like precious silver; the thoughts of the wicked are compared to small things.

Just as the fool considers wickedness his joy, so is wisdom to the discerning man.

When the storm ends, the wicked vanish, but the righteous person is forever firm.

As vinegar is to the mouth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy person to those who send him.

To the upright, the way of the LORD is a place of safety, but it's a place of ruin to those who practice evil.

Righteous lips know what is prudent, but the words of the wicked are perverse.

When pride appears, disgrace accompanies it, but humility is present with wisdom.

The righteous person is delivered from trouble; it comes upon the wicked instead.

The city rejoices when the righteous prosper, and when the wicked perish there is jubilation.

Through the blessing of the righteous a city is built up, but what the wicked say tears it down.

Devious minds are abhorrent to the LORD, but those whose ways are innocent are his delight.

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion.

The desire of the righteous is to seek good, but the hope of the wicked results in wrath.

People will curse whoever withholds grain, but blessing will come to whoever is selling.

Whoever troubles his household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be a servant to the wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who wins people is wise.

The person who loves correction loves knowledge, but anyone who hates a rebuke is stupid.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband, but a wife who puts him to shame is like bone cancer.

The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

A man is praised because of his wise words, but the perverted mind will be despised.

The righteous person looks out for the welfare of his livestock, but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

The wicked desires what evil people gain, but the foundation of the righteous is productive.

The lifestyle of the fool is right in his own opinion, but wise is the man who listens to advice.

The truth teller speaks what is right, but the false witness speaks what is deceitful.

Some speak rashly like the cutting of a sword, but what the wise say promotes healing.

A truthful saying is trusted forever, but the liar only for a moment.

Deceit is at home in the heart of those who plan evil, but those who promote peace rejoice.

Deceitful speech is reprehensible to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.

A person's anxiety weighs down his heart, but an appropriate word is encouraging.

The righteous person is cautious with respect to his neighbor, but the lifestyle of the wicked leads them astray.

The lazy person does not roast what he has hunted, but diligence is one's most important possession.

In the pathway to righteousness there is life, and in that lifestyle there is no death.

A wise son heeds a father's correction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.

Anyone who guards his words protects his life; anyone who talks too much is ruined.

A righteous person hates deceit, but the wicked person is shameful and disgraceful.

One person pretends to be wealthy, but has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet is rich.

The life of a wealthy man may be held for ransom, but whoever is poor receives no threats.

The light of the righteous shines, but the lamp of the wicked is extinguished.

Arrogance only brings quarreling, but those receiving advice are wise.

Delayed hope makes the heart ill, but fulfilled longing is a tree of life.

What the wise have to teach is a fountain of life and causes someone to avoid the snares of death.

Fulfilled longing is sweet to the soul, but avoiding evil is detestable to the fool.

Whoever keeps company with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.

A good person leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren, but the wealth of the wicked is reserved for the righteous.

Whoever does not discipline his son hates him, but whoever loves him is diligent to correct him.

Every wise woman builds up her household, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

Someone whose conduct is upright fears the LORD, but whoever is devious in his ways despises him.

What a fool says brings a rod to his back, but the words of the wise protect them.

Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is clean, but profits come through the strength of the ox.

There is a pathway that seems right to a man, but in the end it's a road to death.

The wise person fears and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

A quick tempered person does foolish things, and a devious man is hated.

The poor person is shunned by his neighbor, but many are the friends of the wealthy.

Won't those who plot evil go astray? But gracious love and truth are for those who plan what is good.

In hard work there is always profit, but too much chattering leads to poverty.

The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the stupidity of fools is just that stupidity!

A truthful witness saves lives, but the person who lies is deceitful.

Rock-solid security is found in the fear of the LORD, and within it one's children find refuge.

The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, enabling anyone to escape the snares of death.