55 Bible Verses about Proverbs

[Like] legs that hang limp from a lame person, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.

Hear this, all [you] peoples; give ear, all [you] inhabitants of [the] world, both low and high, rich and poor together. My mouth will speak wisdom, and the meditation of my heart [will be] understanding.read more.
I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will {propound} my riddle on a lyre.

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand sayings of understanding, to gain {insightful instruction}, righteousness and justice and equity,read more.
to give shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and purpose to the young, may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction, to understand a proverb and an expression, words of wisdom and their riddles.

[Like] a thorn that goes up in the hand of a drunkard, so [is] a proverb in the mouth of fools.

God gave wisdom to Solomon and very great discernment, as well as {breadth of understanding}, as the sand which is on the edge of the seashore. The wisdom of Solomon was greater than the wisdom of all the people of [the] east and more than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than all the men: Ethan the Ezrahite; Heman, Calcol, and Darda the children of Mahol; and {he was very well known}.read more.
He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five. He spoke concerning the trees, from the cedar which [is] in Lebanon up to the hyssop which grows on the wall; he also spoke concerning the animals, concerning the birds, concerning the creeping things, and concerning the fish. They came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon; from all the kings of the earth who had heard [of] his wisdom.

Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child grieves his mother.

These are also proverbs of Solomon which officials of Hezekiah king of Judah copied:

Fear of Yahweh [is] the instruction of the wise, and before honor [comes] humility.

On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod [is] for the back of one who lacks {sense}.

Pride comes, then disgrace comes, but wisdom [is] with the humble.

For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended, but he who is of perverse {mind} will be despised.

Only by insolence is strife set up, and wisdom [is] with those who take advice.

The wisdom of the clever is understanding his ways, but the folly of fools is deceit.

Getting wisdom: {how much} better than gold! And getting understanding: it is chosen {over} silver.

Deep waters [are] words of the mouth of a man; a gushing stream [is] a fountain of wisdom.

He who acquires wisdom loves himself; he who guards understanding [loves] to find good.

There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel to oppose Yahweh.

Do not tire [in order] to become rich; out of your understanding, [may you] desist

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be saved.

As for a rod and reproof, they will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced [by] his mother.

Yahweh will not cause a righteous person to go hungry, but the craving of the wicked he will thwart.

The wage of the righteous [leads] to life; the gain of the wicked to sin.

When good [is with] the righteous, [the] city rejoices, and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.

A person will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.

The light of the righteous will rejoice, but the lamp of the wicked will die out.

By his evildoing, the wicked will be overthrown, and the righteous will find refuge in his death.

A crown of glory is gray hair; by a righteous life it is gained.

A tower of strength is the name of Yahweh; into him the righteous will run and be safe.

[It is] a joy to the righteous to do justice, but dismay to those who do evil.

[Like] a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is the righteous who gives way before the wicked.

When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.

The blessing of Yahweh makes [one] rich, and he does not increase sorrow with it.

Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death.

Better [is] little with the fear of Yahweh than great treasure and trouble with it.

A {reputation} [is] to be chosen {rather than} great riches; {favor is better than silver and gold}. Rich and poor have [much] in common; Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

Do not tire [in order] to become rich; out of your understanding, [may you] desist Your eyes will {alight} on it, but there is nothing [to] it, for suddenly it will make for itself wings like an eagle and it will be exhausted [in] the heavens.

Better [to be] poor and walking in one's integrity than to be crooked of ways when one [is] rich.

A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad, but the friend of prostitutes will squander his wealth.

In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

He who lacks {sense} belittles his neighbor, but a person of intelligence will remain silent.

There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. A lip of truth endures forever, but a tongue of deception lasts only a moment.

Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it [causes] a break in spirit.

He who is crooked of heart will not find goodness, and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

Death and life [are] in the {power} of the tongue, and those who love her will eat of her fruit.

He who makes treasure by a lying tongue [is a] fleeting vapor [and] seeker of death.

{With patience} a ruler may be persuaded, and a soft tongue will break a bone.

He who rebukes a person will afterward find [more] favor than he who flatters [with the] tongue.

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, "Come with us! We shall lie in wait for blood; we shall ambush the innocent without cause. Like Sheol, we will swallow them alive and whole, {like those who descend to the pit}.read more.
We shall find all precious wealth, we shall fill our houses [with] booty, you shall throw your lot in our midst, there will be one purse for all of us." My child, do not walk in their way. Keep your foot from their paths, for their feet run to evil, and they hurry to shed blood, for "in vain is the net scattered, in the sight of any {winged bird}." They lie in wait for their [own] blood. They ambush their [own] lives. Thus are the ways of all who are greedy [for] gain-- it will take the life of its possessors.

My child, do not forget my instruction, and may your heart guard my commands. For length of days, years of life, and peace they shall add to you. May loyal love and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart.read more.
And you shall find favor and good sense in the eyes of God and humankind. {Trust Yahweh} with all your heart; do not lean toward your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will straighten your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and retreat from evil. There shall be healing for your {flesh}, and refreshment for your body. Honor Yahweh from your substance, and from the firstfruits of all that will come to you, and your barns shall be full of plenty, and your vats shall burst [with] new wine.

My child, be attentive to my wisdom, and to my understanding incline your ear; [in order] to keep prudence, and knowledge will guard your lips. For the lips of the strange woman will drip honey, and smoother than oil is her mouth.read more.
But her end is bitter as the wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down [to] death; her steps take hold [of] Sheol. She does not observe the path of life; her ways wander, [and] she does not know [it]. Now, O children, listen to me; do not depart from the sayings of my mouth. Keep your paths far from her, and do not go near to the door of her house, lest you give your honor to the others, and your years to the merciless, lest strangers take [their] fill of your strength, and your labors [go] to the house of a foreigner, and you groan at your end, when your flesh and body are consumed, and say "How I hated discipline, and I despised reproof!" and "I did not listen to the voice of my teachers, and I did not incline my ear to my instructors! I was almost at utter ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation." Drink water from your [own] cistern and flowing waters from inside your own well. Shall your springs be scattered outward? In the streets, [shall there be] streams of water? May they be yours alone, and not for strangers [who are] with you. May your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. [She is] a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you {always}; by her love may you be intoxicated continually. Why should you be intoxicated, my child, by a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a foreigner? For before the eyes of Yahweh [are] {human ways}, and all his paths he examines. His iniquities shall ensnare him, the evildoer, and in the vanity of his sin he shall be caught. He shall die {for lack of} discipline, and in the greatness of his folly he shall be lost.

My child, guard my sayings; store my commandments with you. Keep my commands and live, and my teaching like [the] {apple of your eye}. Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.read more.
Say to wisdom, "you are my sister," and you shall call insight, "{intimate friend}." [In order] to guard yourself from {an adulteress}, from the foreigner who {makes her words smooth}.

For the leech, [there are] two daughters; "Give, give!" [they cry]. As for three of these, they are not satisfied; as for four, they do not say enough. Sheol and barrenness of womb, the land is not satisfied [with] water, and fire does not say "enough!"

A woman of excellence, who will find? For her worth [is] far more than precious jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and gain he will not lack. She does him good, but not harm all the days of her life.read more.
She seeks wool and flax, and she works with the diligence of {her hands}. She is like the ships of a merchant; from far off she brings her food; And she arises while [it is] still night, and gives food to her household, and tasks to her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it, from the fruit of {her hand} she plants a vineyard. She girds her waist in strength, and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise [is] good; her lamp does not go out in the night. Her hands she puts onto the distaff, and her palms hold a spindle. Her palm she opens to the poor, and her hand she reaches [out] to the needy. She does not fear for her house [when] it snows, for {her entire household} is clothed [in] crimson. She makes for herself coverings; her clothing [is] fine linen and purple. Her husband is known at the gates, in his seat among the elders of the land. Linen garments she makes and sells, and she supplies sashes for the merchants. Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs {at the future}. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and instruction of kindness [is] upon her tongue. She looks after the ways of her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat. Her children rise and consider her happy, her husband [also], and he praises her; "Many daughters have done excellence, but {you surpass} all of them." Charm [is] deceit and beauty [is] vain; [but] a woman who fears Yahweh shall be praised. Give to her from the fruit of her hand, and may they praise her works in the city gates.