“But he who fails to find me or sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love and court death.”

For by me (wisdom from God) your days will be multiplied,
And years of life shall be increased.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [for your own benefit];
If you scoff [thoughtlessly ridicule and disdain], you alone will pay the penalty.

She sits at the doorway of her house,
On a seat by the high and conspicuous places of the city,

“Stolen waters (pleasures) are sweet [because they are forbidden];
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

But he does not know that the spirits of the dead are there,
And that her guests are [already] in the depths of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.

Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God],
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found,
But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.

He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing],
But he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].

The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.

A false balance and dishonest business practices are extremely offensive to the Lord,
But an accurate scale is His delight.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

The righteousness of the upright will rescue them,
But the treacherous will be caught by their own greed.

When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

Where there is no [wise, intelligent] guidance, the people fall [and go off course like a ship without a helm],
But in the abundance of [wise and godly] counselors there is victory.

The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].

The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord,
But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!

There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.

If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings],
How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!

The thoughts and purposes of the [consistently] righteous are just (honest, reliable),
But the counsels and schemes of the wicked are deceitful.

The wicked are overthrown [by their evil] and are no more,
But the house of the [consistently] righteous will stand [securely].

A righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].

In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality—eternal life].

Righteousness (being in right standing with God) guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness undermines and overthrows the sinner.

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].

Good understanding wins favor [from others],
But the way of the unfaithful is hard [like barren, dry soil].

Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor,
But [without protection] it is swept away by injustice.

Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,
But much revenue [because of good crops] comes by the strength of the ox.

Fools mock sin [but sin mocks the fools],
But among the upright there is good will and the favor and blessing of God.

The naive or inexperienced person [is easily misled and] believes every word he hears,
But the prudent man [is discreet and astute and] considers well where he is going.

The naive [are unsophisticated and easy to exploit and] inherit foolishness,
But the sensible [are thoughtful and far-sighted and] are crowned with knowledge.

Do they not go astray who devise evil and wander from the way of righteousness?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body,
But passion and envy are like rottenness to the bones.

Righteousness [moral and spiritual integrity and virtuous character] exalts a nation,
But sin is a disgrace to any people.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors].

The way [of life] of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord,
But He loves one who pursues righteousness [personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character].

Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the abyss, the place of eternal punishment) lie open before the Lord—
How much more the hearts and inner motives of the children of men.

All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].

Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

Without consultation and wise advice, plans are frustrated,
But with many counselors they are established and succeed.

Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the Lord,
But pure words are pleasant words to Him.

The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke (reprimand, censure)
Will remain among the wise.

All the ways of a man are clean and innocent in his own eyes [and he may see nothing wrong with his actions],
But the Lord weighs and examines the motives and intents [of the heart and knows the truth].

Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].

The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.

Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income [gained] with injustice.

A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative];
His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment.

A just balance and [honest] scales are the Lord’s;
All the weights of the bag are His concern [established by His eternal principles].

It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly,
For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.

The wise in heart will be called understanding,
And sweet speech increases persuasiveness and learning [in both speaker and listener].

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.

The silver-haired head is a crown of splendor and glory;
It is found in the way of righteousness.

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

Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.

Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].

Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous
Are both repulsive to the Lord.

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?

[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],
But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.

It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].

The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?

The mind of the prudent [always] acquires knowledge,
And the ear of the wise [always] seeks knowledge.

A man’s stomach will be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth;
He will be satisfied with the consequence of his words.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone.

Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger,
And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].

A foolish (ungodly) son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a [quarrelsome] wife are like a constant dripping [of water].

House and wealth are the inheritance from fathers,
But a wise, understanding, and sensible wife is [a gift and blessing] from the Lord.

Discipline and teach your son while there is hope,
And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.

Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).

That which is desirable in a man is his loyalty and unfailing love,
But it is better to be a poor man than a [wealthy] liar.

Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of [thickheaded] fools.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler;
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.

The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—
How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].

Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures,
Both of them are detestable and offensive to the Lord.

Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts,
Whether his conduct is pure and right.

The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
The [omnipotent] Lord has made both of them.

Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

There is gold, and an abundance of pearls,
But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness [the most precious of all].

Plans are established by counsel;
So make war [only] with wise guidance.

Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp [of life] will be extinguished in time of darkness.

Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the Lord,
And fraudulent scales are not good.

Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the Lord.
How then can a man [fully] understand his way?

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord;
He turns it whichever way He wishes.

Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].

The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance];
His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes.

The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—
How the wicked are cast down to ruin.