55 Bible Verses about Proverbs

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

For the music director, a psalm by the Korahites. Listen to this, all you nations! Pay attention, all you inhabitants of the world! Pay attention, all you people, both rich and poor! I will declare a wise saying; I will share my profound thoughts.read more.
I will learn a song that imparts wisdom; I will then sing my insightful song to the accompaniment of a harp.

The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel. To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity.read more.
To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person. (Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!) To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles.

Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great discernment; the breadth of his understanding was as infinite as the sand on the seashore. Solomon was wiser than all the men of the east and all the sages of Egypt. He was wiser than any man, including Ethan the Ezrahite or Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol. He was famous in all the neighboring nations.read more.
He composed 3,000 proverbs and 1,005 songs. He produced manuals on botany, describing every kind of plant, from the cedars of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows on walls. He also produced manuals on biology, describing animals, birds, insects, and fish. People from all nations came to hear Solomon's display of wisdom; they came from all the kings of the earth who heard about his wisdom.

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

The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.

These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:

The fear of the Lord provides wise instruction, and before honor comes humility.

Wisdom is found in the words of the discerning person, but the one who lacks wisdom will be disciplined.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

A person is praised in accordance with his wisdom, but the one who has a twisted mind is despised.

With pride comes only contention, but wisdom is with the well-advised.

The wisdom of the shrewd person is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deception.

How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold; to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

The words of a person's mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

The one who acquires wisdom loves himself; the one who preserves understanding will prosper.

There is no wisdom and there is no understanding, and there is no counsel against the Lord.

Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself.

The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

A rod and reproof impart wisdom, but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.

The Lord satisfies the appetite of the righteous, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

The reward which the righteous receive is life; the recompense which the wicked receive is judgment.

When the righteous do well, the city rejoices; when the wicked perish, there is joy.

No one can be established through wickedness, but a righteous root cannot be moved.

The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.

The wicked will be thrown down in his trouble, but the righteous have refuge even in the threat of death.

Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.

The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.

Doing justice brings joy to the righteous and terror to those who do evil.

Like a muddied spring and a polluted well, so is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.

The blessing from the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.

Wealth does not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from mortal danger.

Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth and turmoil with it.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth, good favor more than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the creator of them both.

Do not wear yourself out to become rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you gaze upon riches, they are gone, for they surely make wings for themselves, and fly off into the sky like an eagle!

A poor person who walks in his integrity is better than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

When words abound, transgression is inevitable, but the one who restrains his words is wise.

The one who denounces his neighbor lacks wisdom, but the one who has discernment keeps silent.

Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing. The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.

Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.

The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

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

Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a soft tongue can break a bone.

The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor than the one who flatters with the tongue.

My child, if sinners try to entice you, do not consent! If they say, "Come with us! We will lie in wait to shed blood; we will ambush an innocent person capriciously. We will swallow them alive like Sheol, those full of vigor like those going down to the Pit.read more.
We will seize all kinds of precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder. Join with us! We will all share equally in what we steal." My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path; for they are eager to inflict harm, and they hasten to shed blood. Surely it is futile to spread a net in plain sight of any bird, but these men lie in wait for their own blood, they ambush their own lives! Such are the ways of all who gain profit unjustly; it takes away the life of those who obtain it!

My child, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for they will provide a long and full life, and they will add well-being to you. Do not let truth and mercy leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.read more.
Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self. Honor the Lord from your wealth and from the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled completely, and your vats will overflow with new wine.

My child, be attentive to my wisdom, pay close attention to my understanding, in order to safeguard discretion, and that your lips may guard knowledge. For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her seductive words are smoother than olive oil,read more.
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. Lest she should make level the path leading to life, her paths are unstable but she does not know it. So now, children, listen to me; do not turn aside from the words I speak. Keep yourself far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, lest you give your vigor to others and your years to a cruel person, lest strangers devour your strength, and your labor benefit another man's house. And at the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are wasted away. And you will say, "How I hated discipline! My heart spurned reproof! For I did not obey my teachers and I did not heed my instructors. I almost came to complete ruin in the midst of the whole congregation!" Drink water from your own cistern and running water from your own well. Should your springs be dispersed outside, your streams of water in the wide plazas? Let them be for yourself alone, and not for strangers with you. May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in your young wife -- a loving doe, a graceful deer; may her breasts satisfy you at all times, may you be captivated by her love always. But why should you be captivated, my son, by an adulteress, and embrace the bosom of a different woman? For the ways of a person are in front of the Lord's eyes, and the Lord weighs all that person's paths. The wicked will be captured by his own iniquities, and he will be held by the cords of his own sin. He will die because there was no discipline; because of the greatness of his folly he will reel.

My child, keep my words and treasure up my commands in your own keeping. Keep my commands so that you may live, and obey my instruction as your most prized possession. Bind them on your forearm; write them on the tablet of your heart.read more.
Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding a close relative, so that they may keep you from the adulterous woman, from the loose woman who flatters you with her words.

The leech has two daughters: "Give! Give!" There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, "Enough" -- the grave, the barren womb, land that is not satisfied with water, and fire that never says, "Enough!"

Who can find a wife of noble character? For her value is far more than rubies. The heart of her husband has confidence in her, and he has no lack of gain. She brings him good and not evil all the days of her life.read more.
She obtains wool and flax, and she is pleased to work with her hands. She is like the merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. She also gets up while it is still night, and provides food for her household and a portion to her female servants. She considers a field and buys it; from her own income she plants a vineyard. She begins her work vigorously, and she strengthens her arms. She knows that her merchandise is good, and her lamp does not go out in the night. Her hands take hold of the distaff, and her hands grasp the spindle. She extends her hand to the poor, and reaches out her hand to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all of her household are clothed with scarlet. She makes for herself coverlets; her clothing is fine linen and purple. Her husband is well-known in the city gate when he sits with the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and honor, and she can laugh at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the ways of her household, and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children rise up and call her blessed, her husband also praises her: "Many daughters have done valiantly, but you surpass them all!" Charm is deceitful and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised. Give her credit for what she has accomplished, and let her works praise her in the city gates.