28  The wicked flee ^swhen no one pursues,

but the righteous are bold as a lion.

2  When a land transgresses, it has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge,

its stability will long continue.

3  A poor man who ^toppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

4  Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

5  Evil men ^udo not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it completely.

6  ^vBetter is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is ^wcrooked in his ways.

7  The one who keeps the law is a son with understanding,

but a ^xcompanion of ^ygluttons shames his father.

8  Whoever multiplies his wealth by ^zinterest and profit¹

^agathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

9  If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his ^bprayer is an abomination.

10  ^cWhoever misleads the upright into an evil way

will ^dfall into his own pit,

but the blameless will have a goodly inheritance.

11  A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor man who has understanding will find him out.

12  ^eWhen the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

^fbut when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.

13  Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

but ^ghe who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

14  ^hBlessed is the one who fears the Lord² always,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15  Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16  A ruler who ⁱlacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17  If one is burdened ^jwith the blood of another,

he will be a fugitive until death;³

let no one help him.

18  Whoever ^kwalks in integrity will be delivered,

but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall.

19  ^lWhoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

20  A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever ^mhastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

21  ⁿTo show partiality is not good,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

22  A stingy man⁴ hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

23  ^oWhoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

than he who flatters with his tongue.

24  Whoever ^probs his ^qfather or his mother

and says, “That is no transgression,”

is a companion to a man who destroys.

25  A greedy man stirs up ^rstrife,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will be enriched.

26  Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

27  ^sWhoever gives to the poor will not want,

but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse.

28  When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

29  He who is often ^treproved, yet stiffens his neck,

will ^usuddenly be broken beyond healing.

2  ^vWhen the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3  ^wHe who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

but a ^xcompanion of prostitutes ^ysquanders his wealth.

4  By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts¹ tears it down.

5  A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

6  ^zAn evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

7  A righteous man ^aknows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man ^bdoes not understand such knowledge.

8  Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

9  ^cIf a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

10  Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright.²

11  ^dA fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

12  If a ruler listens to falsehood,

all his officials will be wicked.

13  ^eThe poor man and the oppressor meet together;

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14  If a king faithfully judges the poor,

^fhis throne will be established forever.

15  ^gThe rod and ^hreproof give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

16  When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but the righteous will look upon their downfall.

17  ⁱDiscipline your son, and he will give you rest;

he will give delight to your heart.

18  Where there is no prophetic vision the people ^jcast off restraint,³

but ^kblessed is he who keeps the law.

19  By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

for ^lthough he understands, he will not respond.

20  Do you see a man who is hasty ^min his words?

ⁿThere is more hope for a fool than for him.

21  Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

will in the end find him his heir.⁴

22  ^oA man of wrath stirs up ^pstrife,

and one given to anger causes much transgression.

23  ^qOne’s pride will bring him low,

but he who is ^rlowly in spirit will obtain ^shonor.

24  The partner of a thief hates his own life;

he ^thears the curse, but discloses nothing.

25  The fear of man lays a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

26  Many seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that a man gets justice.

27  An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

The man declares, I am weary, O God;

I am weary, O God, and worn out.²

2  Surely I am too stupid to be a man.

I have not the understanding of a man.

3  I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I ^uknowledge of the Holy One.

4  Who has ^vascended to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in his fists?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

^wWhat is his name, and what is his son’s name?

Surely you know!

5  ^xEvery word of God proves true;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6  Do not add to his words,

lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.

7  Two things I ask of you;

deny them not to me before I die:

8  Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;

^yfeed me with the food that is needful for me,

9  lest I be full and deny you

and say, “Who is the Lord?”

or lest I be poor and ^zsteal

and profane the name of my God.

10  Do not slander a servant to his master,

lest he curse you, and you be held guilty.

11  There are those³ who curse their ^afathers

and do not bless their mothers.

12  There are those who are ^bclean in their own eyes

but are not washed of their filth.

13  There are those—how lofty are their eyes,

how high their eyelids lift!

14  There are those whose teeth are swords,

whose ^cfangs are knives,

to devour the poor from off the earth,

the needy from among mankind.

15  The leech has two daughters:

Give and Give.⁴

^dThree things are never satisfied;

four never say, “Enough”:

16  ^eSheol, the barren womb,

the land never satisfied with water,

and the fire that never says, “Enough.”

17  The eye that mocks a father

and scorns to obey a mother

will be picked out by the ravens of the valley

and ^featen by the vultures.

18  Three things are ^gtoo wonderful for me;

four I do not understand:

19  the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a serpent on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a virgin.

20  This is the way of an ^hadulteress:

she eats and wipes her mouth

and says, “I have done no wrong.”

21  Under three things the earth trembles;

under four it cannot bear up:

22  a slave when he becomes king,

and a fool when he is filled with food;

23  ⁱan unloved woman when she ^jgets a husband,

and ^ka maidservant when she displaces her mistress.

24  Four things on earth are small,

but they are exceedingly wise:

25  the ^lants are a people not strong,

yet they provide their food in the summer;

26  the rock badgers are a people not mighty,

yet they make their homes in the cliffs;

27  ^mthe locusts have no king,

yet all of them ⁿmarch in rank;

28  the lizard you can take in your hands,

yet it is in kings’ palaces.

29  Three things are stately in their tread;

four are stately in their stride:

30  the lion, which is mightiest among beasts

and does not turn back before any;

31  the strutting rooster,⁵ the he-goat,

and a king whose army is with him.⁶

32  If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,

or if you have been devising evil,

^oput your hand on your mouth.

33  For pressing milk produces curds,

pressing the nose produces blood,

and pressing anger produces strife.

2  What are you doing, my son?¹ What are you doing, son of my womb?

What are you doing, son of my vows?

3  ^pDo not give your strength to ^qwomen,

your ways to those who destroy kings.

4  It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink ^rwine,

or for rulers to take strong drink,

5  lest they drink and forget what has been decreed

and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

6  Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;²

7  let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8  ^sOpen your mouth for the mute,

for the rights of all who are destitute.³

9  Open your mouth, ^tjudge righteously,

^udefend the rights of the poor and needy.

10  ^{4 v}An excellent wife ^wwho can ^xfind?

She is far more precious than jewels.

11  The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

12  She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

13  She seeks ^ywool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

14  She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

15  She rises ^zwhile it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

16  She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

17  She dresses herself⁵ with ^astrength

and makes her arms strong.

18  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

19  She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

20  She ^bopens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

21  She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.⁶

22  She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23  Her husband is known ^cin the gates

when he ^dsits among the elders of the land.

24  She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

25  Strength and dignity are ^eher clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

26  She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and ^fthe teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

27  She looks well to ^gthe ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28  Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29  “Many women have done ^hexcellently,

but you surpass them all.”

30  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31  Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

2  ^cVanity² of vanities, says the Preacher,

vanity of vanities! ^dAll is vanity.

3  What does man ^egain by all the toil

at which he toils ^funder the sun?

4  A generation goes, and a generation comes,

but the earth remains forever.

5  The sun rises, and the sun goes down,

and hastens³ to the place where it rises.

6  The wind blows to the south

and goes around to the north;

around and around goes the wind,

and on its circuits the wind returns.

7  All streams run to the sea,

but the sea is not full;

to the place where the streams flow,

there they flow again.

8  All things are full of weariness;

a man cannot utter it;

the ^geye is not satisfied with seeing,

nor the ear filled with hearing.

9  ^hWhat has been is what will be,

and what has been done is what will be done,

and there is nothing new under the sun.

10  Is there a thing of which it is said,

“See, this is new”?

It has been already

in the ages before us.

11  There is no ⁱremembrance of former things,⁴

nor will there be any remembrance

of later things⁵ yet to be

among those who come after.

15  ^oWhat is crooked cannot be made straight,

and what is lacking cannot be counted.

18  For in ^rmuch wisdom is much vexation,

and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.