own house shall inherit the wind.
The foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life.
He who is wise wins souls.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be repaid in the earth,
how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12
1 Whoever loves correction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2 A good man shall obtain favour from the LORD,
but he will condemn a man of wicked plans.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband,
but a disgraceful wife is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are just,
but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
6 The words of the wicked are about lying in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are no more,
but the house of the righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom,
but he who has a warped mind shall be despised.
9 Better is he who is little known, and has a servant,
than he who honours himself and lacks bread.
10 A righteous man respects the life of his animal,
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He who tills his land shall have plenty of bread,
but he who chases fantasies is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desires the plunder of evil men,
but the root of the righteous flourishes.
13 An evil man is trapped by sinfulness of lips,
but the righteous shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth.
The work of a man’s hands shall be rewarded to him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but he who is wise listens to counsel.
16 A fool shows his annoyance the same day,
but one who overlooks an insult is prudent.
17 He who is truthful testifies honestly,
but a false witness lies.
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the piercing of a sword,
but the tongue of the wise heals.
19 Truth’s lips will be established forever,
but a lying tongue is only momentary.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil,
but joy comes to the promoters of peace.
21 No mischief shall happen to the righteous,
but the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who do the truth are his delight.
23 A prudent man keeps his knowledge,
but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
24 The hands of the diligent ones shall rule,
but laziness ends in slave labour.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,
but a kind word makes it glad.
26 A righteous person is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The slothful man doesn’t roast his game,
but the possessions of diligent men are prized.
28 In the way of righteousness is life;
in its path there is no death.
13
1 A wise son listens to his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.
2 By the fruit of his lips, a man enjoys good things,
but the unfaithful crave violence.
3 He who guards his mouth guards his soul.
One who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
4 The soul of the sluggard desires, and has nothing,
but the desire of the diligent shall be fully satisfied.
5 A righteous man hates lies,
but a wicked man brings shame and disgrace.
6 Righteousness guards the way of integrity,
but wickedness overthrows the sinner.
7 There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing.
There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.
8 The ransom of a man’s life is his riches,
but the poor hear no threats.
9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
10 Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is with people who take advice.
11 Wealth gained dishonestly dwindles away,
but he who gathers by hand makes it grow.
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoever despises instruction will pay for it,
but he who respects a command will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a spring of life,
to turn from the snares of death.
15 Good understanding wins favour,
but the way of the unfaithful is hard.
16 Every prudent man acts from knowledge,
but a fool exposes folly.
17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
but a trustworthy envoy gains healing.
18 Poverty and shame come to him who refuses discipline,
but he who heeds correction shall be honoured.
19 Longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
but fools detest turning from evil.
20 One who walks with wise men grows wise,
but a companion of fools suffers harm.
21 Misfortune pursues sinners,
but prosperity rewards the righteous.
22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
but the wealth of the sinner is stored for the righteous.
23 An abundance of food is in poor people’s fields,
but injustice sweeps it away.
24 One who spares the rod hates his son,
but one who loves him is careful to discipline him.
25 The righteous one eats to the satisfying of his soul,
but the belly of the wicked goes hungry.
14
1 Every wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2 He who walks in his uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is perverse in his ways despises him.
3 The fool’s talk brings a rod to his back,
but the lips of the wise protect them.
4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean,
but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
5 A truthful witness will not lie,
but a false witness pours out lies.
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom, and doesn’t find it,
but knowledge comes easily to a discerning person.
7 Stay away from a foolish man,
for you won’t find knowledge on his lips.
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to think about his way,
but the folly of fools is deceit.
9 Fools mock at making atonement for sins,
but amongst the upright there is good will.
10 The heart knows its own bitterness and joy;
he will not share these with a stranger.
11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,
but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12 There is a way which seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
13 Even in laughter the heart may be sorrowful,
and mirth may end in heaviness.
14 The unfaithful will be repaid for his own ways;
likewise a good man will be rewarded for his ways.
15 A simple man believes everything,
but the prudent man carefully considers his ways.
16 A wise man fears and shuns evil,
but the fool is hot headed and reckless.
17 He who is quick to become angry will commit folly,
and a crafty man is hated.
18 The simple inherit folly,
but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19 The evil bow down before the good,
and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20 The poor person is shunned even by his own neighbour,
but the rich person has many friends.
21 He who despises his neighbour sins,
but he who has pity on the poor is blessed.
22 Don’t they go astray who plot evil?
But love and faithfulness belong to those who plan good.
23 In all hard work there is profit,
but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
24 The crown of the wise is their riches,
but the folly of fools crowns them with folly.
25 A truthful witness saves souls,
but a false witness is deceitful.
26 In the fear of the LORD is a secure fortress,
and he will be a refuge for his children.
27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
turning people from the snares of death.
28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory,
but in the lack of people is the destruction of the prince.
29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding,
but he who has a quick temper displays folly.
30 The life of the body is a heart at peace,
but envy rots the bones.
31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker,
but he who is kind to the needy honours him.
32 The wicked is brought down in his calamity,
but in death, the righteous has a refuge.
33 Wisdom rests in the heart of one who has understanding,
and is even made known in the inward part of fools.
34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35 The king’s favour is towards a servant who deals wisely,
but his wrath is towards one who causes shame.
15
1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools gush out folly.
3 The LORD’s eyes are everywhere,
keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life,
but deceit in it crushes the spirit.
5 A fool despises his father’s correction,
but he who heeds reproof shows prudence.
6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure,
but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so with the heart of fools.
8 The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD,
but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
10 There is stern discipline for one who forsakes the way.
Whoever hates reproof shall die.
11 Sheol† and Abaddon are before the LORD—
how much more then the hearts of the children of men!
12 A scoffer doesn’t love to be reproved;
he will not go to the wise.
13 A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but an aching heart breaks the spirit.
14 The heart of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,
but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
15 All the days of the afflicted are wretched,
but one who has a cheerful heart enjoys a continual feast.
16 Better is