Proverbs 16:1--22:29

16:1 The intentions of the heart belong to a man,

but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.

16:2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,

but the Lord evaluates the motives.

16:3 Commit your works to the Lord,

and your plans will be established.

16:4 The Lord works everything for its own ends –

even the wicked for the day of disaster.

16:5 The Lord abhors every arrogant person;

rest assured that they will not go unpunished.

16:6 Through loyal love and truth iniquity is appeased;

through fearing the Lord one avoids evil.

16:7 When a person’s ways are pleasing to the Lord,

he even reconciles his enemies to himself.

16:8 Better to have a little with righteousness

than to have abundant income without justice.

16:9 A person plans his course,

but the Lord directs his steps.

16:10 The divine verdict is in the words of the king,

his pronouncements must not act treacherously against justice.

16:11 Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;

all the weights in the bag are his handiwork.

16:12 Doing wickedness is an abomination to kings,

because a throne is established in righteousness.

16:13 The delight of kings is righteous counsel,

and they love the one who speaks uprightly.

16:14 A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death,

but a wise person appeases it.

16:15 In the light of the king’s face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds of the spring rain.

16:16 How much better it is to acquire wisdom than gold;

to acquire understanding is more desirable than silver.

16:17 The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil;

the one who guards his way safeguards his life.

16:18 Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

16:19 It is better to be lowly in spirit with the afflicted

than to share the spoils with the proud.

16:20 The one who deals wisely in a matter will find success,

and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

16:21 The one who is wise in heart is called discerning,

and kind speech increases persuasiveness.

16:22 Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it,

but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

16:23 A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise

and it adds persuasiveness to his words.

16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

16:25 There is a way that seems right to a person,

but its end is the way that leads to death.

16:26 A laborer’s appetite works on his behalf,

for his hunger urges him to work.

16:27 A wicked scoundrel digs up evil,

and his slander is like a scorching fire.

16:28 A perverse person spreads dissension,

and a gossip separates the closest friends.

16:29 A violent person entices his neighbor,

and leads him down a path that is terrible.

16:30 The one who winks his eyes devises perverse things,

and one who compresses his lips brings about evil.

16:31 Gray hair is like a crown of glory;

it is attained in the path of righteousness.

16:32 Better to be slow to anger than to be a mighty warrior,

and one who controls his temper is better than one who captures a city.

16:33 The dice are thrown into the lap,

but their every decision is from the Lord.

17:1 Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness

than a house full of feasting with strife.

17:2 A servant who acts wisely will rule

over an heir who behaves shamefully,

and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.

17:3 The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold,

likewise the Lord tests hearts.

17:4 One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel;

a liar listens to a malicious tongue.

17:5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator;

whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

17:6 Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly,

and the glory of children is their parents.

17:7 Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool;

how much less are lies for a ruler!

17:8 A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it;

in whatever he does he succeeds.

17:9 The one who forgives an offense seeks love,

but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

17:10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person

than a hundred blows on a fool.

17:11 An evil person seeks only rebellion,

and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

17:12 It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,

than to encounter a fool in his folly.

17:13 As for the one who repays evil for good,

evil will not leave his house.

17:14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water;

stop it before strife breaks out!

17:15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent –

both of them are an abomination to the Lord.

17:16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,

since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?

17:17 A friend loves at all times,

and a relative is born to help in adversity.

17:18 The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge,

and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

17:19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression;

whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

17:20 The one who has a perverse heart does not find good,

and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

17:21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

17:22 A cheerful heart brings good healing,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

17:23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly

to pervert the ways of justice.

17:24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person,

but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

17:25 A foolish child is a grief to his father,

and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

17:26 It is terrible to punish a righteous person,

and to flog honorable men is wrong.

17:27 The truly wise person restrains his words,

and the one who stays calm is discerning.

17:28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise,

and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

18:1 One who has isolated himself seeks his own desires;

he rejects all sound judgment.

18:2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding

but only in disclosing what is on his mind.

18:3 When a wicked person arrives, contempt shows up with him,

and with shame comes a reproach.

18:4 The words of a person’s mouth are like deep waters,

and the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.

18:5 It is terrible to show partiality to the wicked,

by depriving a righteous man of justice.

18:6 The lips of a fool enter into strife,

and his mouth invites a flogging.

18:7 The mouth of a fool is his ruin,

and his lips are a snare for his life.

18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down into the person’s innermost being.

18:9 The one who is slack in his work

is a brother to one who destroys.

18:10 The name of the Lord is like a strong tower;

the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.

18:11 The wealth of a rich person is like a strong city,

and it is like a high wall in his imagination.

18:12 Before destruction the heart of a person is proud,

but humility comes before honor.

18:13 The one who gives an answer before he listens –

that is his folly and his shame.

18:14 A person’s spirit sustains him through sickness –

but who can bear a crushed spirit?

18:15 The discerning person acquires knowledge,

and the wise person seeks knowledge.

18:16 A person’s gift makes room for him,

and leads him before important people.

18:17 The first to state his case seems right,

until his opponent begins to cross-examine him.

18:18 A toss of a coin ends disputes,

and settles the issue between strong opponents.

18:19 A relative offended is harder to reach than a strong city,

and disputes are like the barred gates of a fortified citadel.

18:20 From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied,

with the product of his lips is he satisfied.

18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

and those who love its use will eat its fruit.

18:22 The one who finds a wife finds what is enjoyable,

and receives a pleasurable gift from the Lord.

18:23 A poor person makes supplications,

but a rich man answers harshly.

18:24 A person who has friends may be harmed by them,

but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

19:1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

19:2 It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge,

and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

19:3 A person’s folly subverts his way,

and his heart rages against the Lord.

19:4 Wealth adds many friends,

but a poor person is separated from his friend.

19:5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.

19:6 Many people entreat the favor of a generous person,

and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts.

19:7 All the relatives of a poor person hate him;

how much more do his friends avoid him –

he pursues them with words, but they do not respond.

19:8 The one who acquires wisdom loves himself;

the one who preserves understanding will prosper.

19:9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and the one who spouts out lies will perish.

19:10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool;

how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

19:11 A person’s wisdom makes him slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

19:12 A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

19:13 A foolish child is the ruin of his father,

and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.

19:14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

19:15 Laziness brings on a deep sleep,

and the idle person will go hungry.

19:16 The one who obeys commandments guards his life;

the one who despises his ways will die.

19:17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord,

and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

19:18 Discipline your child, for there is hope,

but do not set your heart on causing his death.

19:19 A person with great anger bears the penalty,

but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again.

19:20 Listen to advice and receive discipline,

that you may become wise by the end of your life.

19:21 There are many plans in a person’s mind,

but it is the counsel of the Lord which will stand.

19:22 What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love,

and a poor person is better than a liar.

19:23 Fearing the Lord leads to life,

and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.

19:24 The sluggard plunges his hand in the dish,

and he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

19:25 Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence;

correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.

19:26 The one who robs his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

19:27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

19:28 A crooked witness scorns justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

19:29 Judgments are prepared for scorners,

and floggings for the backs of fools.

20:1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler;

whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

20:2 The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion;

whoever provokes him sins against himself.

20:3 It is an honor for a person to cease from strife,

but every fool quarrels.

20:4 The sluggard will not plow during the planting season,

so at harvest time he looks for the crop but has nothing.

20:5 Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water,

but an understanding person draws it out.

20:6 Many people profess their loyalty,

but a faithful person – who can find?

20:7 The righteous person behaves in integrity;

blessed are his children after him.

20:8 A king sitting on the throne to judge

separates out all evil with his eyes.

20:9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean;

I am pure from my sin”?

20:10 Diverse weights and diverse measures –

the Lord abhors both of them.

20:11 Even a young man is known by his actions,

whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.

20:12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees –

the Lord has made them both.

20:13 Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished;

open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.

20:14 “It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer,

but when he goes on his way, he boasts.

20:15 There is gold, and an abundance of rubies,

but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.

20:16 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger,

and when he gives surety for strangers, hold him in pledge.

20:17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person,

but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

20:18 Plans are established by counsel,

so make war with guidance.

20:19 The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth.

20:20 The one who curses his father and his mother,

his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness.

20:21 An inheritance gained easily in the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.

20:22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil!”

Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.

20:23 The Lord abhors differing weights,

and dishonest scales are wicked.

20:24 The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord –

so how can anyone understand his own way?

20:25 It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!”

and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.

20:26 A wise king separates out the wicked;

he turns the threshing wheel over them.

20:27 The human spirit is like the lamp of the Lord,

searching all his innermost parts.

20:28 Loyal love and truth preserve a king,

and his throne is upheld by loyal love.

20:29 The glory of young men is their strength,

and the splendor of old men is gray hair.

20:30 Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil,

and floggings cleanse the innermost being.

21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water;

he turns it wherever he wants.

21:2 All of a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,

but the Lord evaluates the motives.

21:3 To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

21:4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart –

the agricultural product of the wicked is sin.

21:5 The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty,

but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

21:6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth;

they seek death.

21:7 The violence done by the wicked will drag them away

because they refuse to do what is right.

21:8 The way of the guilty person is devious,

but as for the pure, his way is upright.

21:9 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than in a house in company with a quarrelsome wife.

21:10 The appetite of the wicked desires evil;

his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes.

21:11 When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise;

when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

21:12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;

he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.

21:13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,

he too will cry out and will not be answered.

21:14 A gift given in secret subdues anger,

and a bribe given secretly subdues strong wrath.

21:15 Doing justice brings joy to the righteous

and terror to those who do evil.

21:16 The one who wanders from the way of wisdom

will end up in the company of the departed.

21:17 The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person;

whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich.

21:18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,

and the faithless are taken in the place of the upright.

21:19 It is better to live in a desert land

than with a quarrelsome and easily-provoked woman.

21:20 There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise,

but a foolish person devours all he has.

21:21 The one who pursues righteousness and love

finds life, bounty, and honor.

21:22 The wise person can scale the city of the mighty

and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.

21:23 The one who guards his mouth and his tongue

keeps his life from troubles.

21:24 A proud and arrogant person, whose name is “Scoffer,”

acts with overbearing pride.

21:25 What the sluggard desires will kill him,

for his hands refuse to work.

21:26 All day long he craves greedily,

but the righteous gives and does not hold back.

21:27 The wicked person’s sacrifice is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it with evil intent!

21:28 A lying witness will perish,

but the one who reports accurately speaks forever.

21:29 A wicked person shows boldness with his face,

but as for the upright, he discerns his ways.

21:30 There is no wisdom and there is no understanding,

and there is no counsel against the Lord.

21:31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but the victory is from the Lord.

22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth,

good favor more than silver or gold.

22:2 The rich and the poor meet together;

the Lord is the creator of them both.

22:3 A shrewd person sees danger and hides himself,

but the naive keep right on going and suffer for it.

22:4 The reward for humility and fearing the Lord

is riches and honor and life.

22:5 Thorns and snares are in the path of the perverse,

but the one who guards himself keeps far from them.

22:6 Train a child in the way that he should go,

and when he is old he will not turn from it.

22:7 The rich rule over the poor,

and the borrower is servant to the lender.

22:8 The one who sows iniquity will reap trouble,

and the rod of his fury will end.

22:9 A generous person will be blessed,

for he gives some of his food to the poor.

22:10 Drive out the scorner and contention will leave;

strife and insults will cease.

22:11 The one who loves a pure heart

and whose speech is gracious – the king will be his friend.

22:12 The eyes of the Lord guard knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the faithless person.

22:13 The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!

I will be killed in the middle of the streets!”

22:14 The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit;

the one against whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

22:15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

22:16 The one who oppresses the poor to increase his own gain

and the one who gives to the rich – both end up only in poverty.

The Sayings of the Wise

22:17 Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise,

and apply your heart to my instruction.

22:18 For it is pleasing if you keep these sayings within you,

and they are ready on your lips.

22:19 So that your confidence may be in the Lord,

I am making them known to you today – even you.

22:20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,

sayings of counsel and knowledge,

22:21 to show you true and reliable words,

so that you may give accurate answers to those who sent you?

22:22 Do not exploit a poor person because he is poor

and do not crush the needy in court,

22:23 for the Lord will plead their case

and will rob those who are robbing them.

22:24 Do not make friends with an angry person,

and do not associate with a wrathful person,

22:25 lest you learn his ways

and entangle yourself in a snare.

22:26 Do not be one who strikes hands in pledge

or who puts up security for debts.

22:27 If you do not have enough to pay,

your bed will be taken right out from under you!

22:28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone

which was put in place by your ancestors.

22:29 Do you see a person skilled in his work?

He will take his position before kings;

he will not take his position before obscure people.