(The wise man, hearing, will get greater learning, and the acts of the man of good sense will be wisely guided:)

To get the sense of wise sayings and secrets, and of the words of the wise and their dark sayings.

If they say, Come with us; let us make designs against the good, waiting secretly for the upright, without cause;

But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Truly, if you are crying out for good sense, and your request is for knowledge;

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

For the upright [those who are in right standing with God] will live in the land
And those [of integrity] who are blameless [in God’s sight] will remain in it;

But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart;

So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support.

Happy [blessed, considered fortunate, to be admired] is the man who finds [skillful and godly] wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding and insight [learning from God’s word and life’s experiences],

For her good profit is better than getting silver, and her return is better than fine gold.

My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes.

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Though God scoffs at scoffers, he gives grace to the humble.

The wise will inherit honor and glory,
But dishonor and shame is conferred on fools.

Hear, O ye children, the fatherly exhortation, and take good heed, that ye may learn wisdom.

For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

I have instructed you in the way of [skillful and godly] wisdom;
I have led you in upright paths.

that thou mayest regard good counsel, and that thy lips may keep nurture.

And strangers will be filled with your strength
And your hard-earned wealth will go to the house of a foreigner [who does not know God];

Let thy well-spring be blessed, - and get thy joy from the wife of thy youth: -

The hind of loves and the wild goat of grace; her breasts shall satiate thee in all time; thou shalt always wander in her loves.

How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?

A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his way causing trouble with false words;

My son, be guided by your father’s [God-given] commandment (instruction)
And do not reject the teaching of your mother;

When you walk about, they (the godly teachings of your parents) will guide you;
When you sleep, they will keep watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you.

A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

And among the naive [the inexperienced and gullible],
I saw among the youths
A young man lacking [good] sense,

For the good-man is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.

“All the words of my mouth are in righteousness (upright, in right standing with God);
There is nothing contrary to truth or perverted (crooked) in them.

They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.

Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold.

For wisdom is good above pearls, and all delights shall not be made equal with her.

“I, [godly] wisdom, reside with prudence [good judgment, moral courage and astute common sense],
And I find knowledge and discretion.

I possess good advice and competence;
I have understanding and strength.

Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

“Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness (right standing with God).

My fruit is good above gold, and above pure gold; and my gain above tried silver.

For whoso is finding me, hath found life, And bringeth out good-will from Jehovah.

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says,

The one who corrects a mocker
will bring dishonor on himself;
the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.

Give instruction to a wise man and he will become even wiser;
Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.

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

If thou be wise, thy wisdom shall do thyself good: but if thou thinkest scorn thereof, it shall be thine own harm.

"Stolen waters are sweet, and the bread that is privily eaten, hath a good taste."

Nothing good comes from ill-gotten wealth, but righteousness delivers from death.

He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame.

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

The memorial of the just shall have a good report; but the name of the ungodly shall stink.

The wages of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God] is [a worthwhile, meaningful] life,
The income of the wicked, punishment.

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

It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom.

The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire.

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
but the years of the wicked are cut short.

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.

The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.

Riches will not provide security in the day of wrath and judgment,
But righteousness rescues from death.

The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall.

In the good of the righteous a city exulteth, And in the destruction of the wicked is singing.

By the blessing [of the influence] of the upright the city is exalted,
But by the mouth of the wicked it is torn down.

He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.

Where no good counsel is, there the people decay; but whereas are many that can give counsel, there is wealth.

A gracious and good woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,
But he who pursues evil attains his own death.

A beautiful woman who rejects good sense
is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].

A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment,
But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.

He is good being despised, and a servant to him above him, honoring himself, and wanting bread.

A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.

He who speaks truth [when he testifies] tells what is right,
But a false witness utters deceit [in court].

Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.

The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.

Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.

Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself,
But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.

Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.

Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man.

Get thee from the presence of a man that is a dullard, when thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.

The wisdom of the sensible is to understand his way,
But the foolishness of [shortsighted] fools is deceit.

A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is good will.

The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps.