A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
And like a high wall in his own imagination.

He who gives an answer before he hears,
It is folly and shame to him.

The cast lot puts an end to strife
And decides between the mighty ones.

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city,
And contentions are like the bars of a citadel.

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

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.

The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.

House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.

Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger.

One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,
And He will repay him for his good deed.

Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.

What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

The fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge.

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

The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man,
But any fool will quarrel.

A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding draws it out.

Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
But who can find a trustworthy man?

A righteous man who walks in his integrity—
How blessed are his sons after him.

A king who sits on the throne of justice
Disperses all evil with his eyes.

“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
But when he goes his way, then he boasts.

There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;
But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.

Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;
And for foreigners, hold him in pledge.

He who curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will go out in time of darkness.

An inheritance gained hurriedly at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.

Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,
And a false scale is not good.

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

Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But the Lord weighs the hearts.

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

The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the wicked to ruin.

A gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

He who loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man swallows it up.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the naive go on, and are punished for it.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.

Train up a child in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside;
I will be killed in the streets!”

The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;
He who is cursed of the Lord will fall into it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
That they may be ready on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the Lord,
I have taught you today, even you.

Do you see a man skilled in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.

When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is before you,

When you set your eyes on it, it is gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

My son, if your heart is wise,
My own heart also will be glad;

And my inmost being will rejoice
When your lips speak what is right.

Do not let your heart envy sinners,
But live in the fear of the Lord always.

Listen, my son, and be wise,
And direct your heart in the way.

Do not be with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;

For the heavy drinker and the glutton will come to poverty,
And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise son will be glad in him.

Give me your heart, my son,
And let your eyes delight in my ways.

For a harlot is a deep pit
And an adulterous woman is a narrow well.

Those who linger long over wine,
Those who go to taste mixed wine.

Do not look on the wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the cup,
When it goes down smoothly;

And you will be like one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
Or like one who lies down on the top of a mast.

“They struck me, but I did not become ill;
They beat me, but I did not know it.
When shall I awake?
I will seek another drink.”

For by wise guidance you will wage war,
And in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Wisdom is too exalted for a fool,
He does not open his mouth in the gate.

One who plans to do evil,
Men will call a schemer.

The devising of folly is sin,
And the scoffer is an abomination to men.

If you are slack in the day of distress,
Your strength is limited.

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;

For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again,
But the wicked stumble in time of calamity.

Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles;

These also are sayings of the wise.
To show partiality in judgment is not good.

Prepare your work outside
And make it ready for yourself in the field;
Afterwards, then, build your house.

When I saw, I reflected upon it;
I looked, and received instruction.

Then your poverty will come as a robber
And your want like an armed man.

Take away the wicked before the king,
And his throne will be established in righteousness.

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

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.

Do not go out hastily to argue your case;
Otherwise, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?

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.

Have you found honey? Eat only what you need,
That you not have it in excess and vomit it.

Let your foot rarely be in your neighbor’s house,
Or he will become weary of you and hate you.

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.

For you will heap burning coals on his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

The north wind brings forth rain,
And a backbiting tongue, an angry countenance.

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

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

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

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
So a curse without cause does not alight.

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

He cuts off his own feet and drinks violence
Who sends a message by the hand of a fool.