1  ^bDo not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

2  ^cLet another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

3  A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,

^dbut a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4  Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

5  Better is ^eopen rebuke

than hidden love.

6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

7  One who is full loathes honey,

but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

8  Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

9  Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.¹

10  ^fDo not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,

and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is near

than a brother who is far away.

11  Be wise, my son, ^gand make my heart glad,

that I may ^hanswer him who reproaches me.

12  ⁱThe prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13  Take a man’s garment when he has ^jput up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.²

14  ^kWhoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

15  ^lA continual dripping on a rainy day

and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

16  to restrain her is to restrain the wind

or to grasp³ oil in one’s right hand.

17  ^mIron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.⁴

18  ⁿWhoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

19  As in water face reflects face,

so the heart of man reflects the man.

20  Sheol and Abaddon are ^onever satisfied,

and ^pnever satisfied are the eyes of man.

21  ^qThe crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and a man is tested by his praise.

22  Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle

along with crushed grain,

yet his folly will not depart from him.

23  Know well the condition of your flocks,

and give attention to your herds,

24  for ^rriches do not last forever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

25  When the grass is gone and the new growth appears

and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,

26  the lambs will provide your clothing,

and the goats the price of a field.

27  There will be enough goats’ milk for your food,

for the food of your household

and maintenance for your girls.

1  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 profit⁵

^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 Lord⁶ 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;⁷

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 man⁸ 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.

1  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 gifts⁹ 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.¹⁰

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,¹¹

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.¹²

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.