Table of Contents

- Character

- Choosing Wise Words

- Relationships

- Temptation and Sex

- Money and Business

- Spiritual Health

- Misc. Proverbs

The Book of Proverbs

Arranged by Topic

Edited by

James David Rae

TheBiblePeople.com

The Book of Proverbs Arranged by Topic edited by James David Rae

© 2011 TheBiblePeople

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked “NASB” are taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked GWT are taken from the God’s Word® Translation. Copyright © 1995 by God’s Word to the Nations. Published by Green Key Books. Used by permission.

“Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.”

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible: New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois. All rights reserved.

Introduction

The book of Proverbs is one of the most wonderful books of the Bible. While its wisdom provides great insight an instruction for living, finding the right proverb at the right time can be as challenging because of the book’s jumbled arrangement.

This book arranges every verse found in the book of

Proverbs by its seven major topics:

· Character

· Choosing Wise Words

· Relationships

· Temptation and Sex

· Money and Business

· Spiritual Health

· Misc. Proverbs

We avoided breaking the Proverbs into further categories because we wanted to file each proverb in only one category and keep the approach simple. If you’re looking for Proverbs on marriage or parenting, look in the chapter titled “Relationships.” If you want wise words on developing patience, check out the chapter titled “Character”. These verses are reprinted without editorial change or commentary and it’s our hope that they will be helpful you as you strive to apply your faith to life.

Table of Contents

Character

Choosing Wise Words

Relationships

Temptation and Sex

Money and Business

Spiritual Health

Misc.

Proverbs

Character

for attaining wisdom and discipline;

for understanding words of insight;

for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,

doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the young--

let the wise listen and add to their learning,

and let the discerning get guidance--

for understanding proverbs and parables,

the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:2-7 (NIV)

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom,

and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 2:5-6 (NIV)

Then you will understand what is right and just

and fair--every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Proverbs 2:9-10 (NIV)

who leave the straight paths

to walk in dark ways,

who delight in doing wrong

and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

whose paths are crooked

and who are devious in their ways.

Proverbs 2:13-15 (NIV)

Thus you will walk in the ways of good men

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Proverbs 2:20 (NIV)

Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

bind them around your neck,

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Then you will win favor and a good name

in the sight of God and man.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

Proverbs 3:3-5 (NIV)

Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear the Lord and shun evil.

Proverbs 3:7 (NIV)

My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline

and do not resent his rebuke,

Proverbs 3:11 (NIV)

My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment,

do not let them out of your sight;

Proverbs 3:21 (NIV)

He mocks proud mockers

but gives grace to the humble.

The wise inherit honor,

but fools he holds up to shame.

Proverbs 3:34-35 (NIV)

Get wisdom, get understanding;

do not forget my words or swerve from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;

love her, and she will watch over you.

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.

Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Esteem her, and she will exalt you;

embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will set a garland of grace on your head

and present you with a crown of splendor."

Proverbs 4:5-9 (NIV)

For they cannot sleep till they do evil;

they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,

shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;

they do not know what makes them stumble.

Proverbs 4:16-19 (NIV)

Do not let them out of your sight,

keep them within your heart;

Proverbs 4:21 (NIV)

Let your eyes look straight ahead,

fix your gaze directly before you.

Make level paths for your feet

and take only ways that are firm.

Proverbs 4:25-26 (NIV)

that you may maintain discretion

and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Proverbs 5:2 (NIV)

For a man's ways are in full view of the Lord,

and he examines all his paths.

Proverbs 5:21 (NIV)

haughty eyes,

a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked schemes,

feet that are quick to rush into evil,

Proverbs 6:17-18 (NIV)

Bind them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

and call understanding your kinsman;

Proverbs 7:3-4 (NIV)

You who are simple, gain prudence;

you who are foolish, gain understanding.

Proverbs 8:5 (NIV)

All the words of my mouth are just;

none of them is crooked or perverse.

To the discerning all of them are right;

they are faultless to those who have knowledge.

Proverbs 8:8-9 (NIV)

"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;

I possess knowledge and discretion.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance,

evil behavior and perverse speech.

Counsel and sound judgment are mine;

I have understanding and power.

By me kings reign

and rulers make laws that are just;

by me princes govern,

and all nobles who rule on earth.

Proverbs 8:12-16 (NIV)

I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

Proverbs 8:20 (NIV)

Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not ignore it.

Proverbs 8:33 (NIV)

"Let all who are simple come in here!"

she says to those who lack judgment.

Proverbs 9:4 (NIV)

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,

and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Proverbs 9:10 (NIV)

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;

if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

Proverbs 9:12 (NIV)

"Let all who are simple come in here!"

she says to those who lack judgment.

Proverbs 9:16 (NIV)

The memory of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot.

Proverbs 10:7 (NRSV)

Hatred stirs up strife,

but love covers all offenses.

Proverbs 10:12 (NRSV)

The wise lay up knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool brings ruin near.

Proverbs 10:14 (NRSV)

When pride comes, then comes disgrace;

but wisdom is with the humble.

The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

Proverbs 11:2-3 (NRSV)

When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;

and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.

Proverbs 11:10 (NRSV)

A gracious woman gets honor,

but she who hates virtue is covered with shame.

The timid become destitute,

but the aggressive gain riches.

Those who are kind reward themselves,

but the cruel do themselves harm.

Proverbs 11:16-17 (NRSV)

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout

is a beautiful woman without good sense.

Proverbs 11:22 (NRSV)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but those who hate to be rebuked are stupid.

Proverbs 12:1 (NRSV)

The thoughts of the righteous are just;

the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

Proverbs 12:5 (NRSV)

One is commended for good sense,

but a perverse mind is despised.

Proverbs 12:8 (NRSV)

The righteous know the needs of their animals,

but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.

Proverbs 12:10 (NRSV)

Fools show their anger at once,

but the prudent ignore an insult.

Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,

but a false witness speaks deceitfully.

Proverbs 12:16-17 (NRSV)

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are his delight.

One who is clever conceals knowledge,

but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly.

Proverbs 12:22-23 (NRSV)

The righteous hate falsehood,

but the wicked act shamefully and disgracefully.

Proverbs 13:5 (NRSV)

The light of the righteous rejoices,

but the lamp of the wicked goes out.

By insolence the heedless make strife,

but wisdom is with those who take advice.

Proverbs 13:9-10 (NRSV)

Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves,

but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

Proverbs 13:13 (NRSV)

Good sense wins favor,

but the way of the faithless is their ruin.

The clever do all things intelligently,

but the fool displays folly.

A bad messenger brings trouble,

but a faithful envoy, healing.

Proverbs 13:15-17 (NRSV)

The wise woman builds her house,

but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

Those who walk uprightly fear the Lord,

but one who is devious in conduct despises him.

Proverbs 14:1-2 (NRSV)

A faithful witness does not lie,

but a false witness breathes out lies.

Proverbs 14:5 (NRSV)

It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go,

but the folly of fools misleads.

Fools mock at the guilt offering,

but the upright enjoy God's favor.

Proverbs 14:8-9 (NRSV)

The simple believe everything,

but the clever consider their steps.

The wise are cautious and turn away from evil,

but the fool throws off restraint and is careless.

One who is quick-tempered acts foolishly,

and the schemer is hated.

Proverbs 14:15-17 (NRSV)

A truthful witness saves lives,

but one who utters lies is a betrayer.

Proverbs 14:25 (NRSV)

The glory of a king is a multitude of people;

without people a prince is ruined.

Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding,

but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 14:28-29 (NRSV)

Wisdom is at home in the mind of one who has understanding,

but it is not known in the heart of fools.

Proverbs 14:33 (NRSV)

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,

keeping watch on the evil and the good.

Proverbs 15:3 (NRSV)

The mind of one who has understanding seeks knowledge,

but the mouths of fools feed on folly.

Proverbs 15:14 (NRSV)

Those who are hot-tempered stir up strife,

but those who are slow to anger calm contention.

Proverbs 15:18 (NRSV)

Those who ignore instruction despise themselves,

but those who heed admonition gain understanding.

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,

and humility goes before honor.

Proverbs 15:32-33 (NRSV)

All one's ways may be pure in one's own eyes,

but the Lord weighs the spirit.

Proverbs 16:2 (NRSV)

It is an abomination to kings to do evil,

for the throne is established by righteousness.

Proverbs 16:12 (NRSV)

A king's wrath is a messenger of death,

and whoever is wise will appease it.

Proverbs 16:14 (NRSV)

Scoundrels concoct evil,

and their speech is like a scorching fire.

Proverbs 16:27 (NRSV)

Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained in a righteous life.

One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.

Proverbs 16:31-32 (NRSV)

A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person

than a hundred blows into a fool.

Evil people seek only rebellion,

but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.

Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs

than to confront a fool immersed in folly.

Proverbs 17:10-12 (NRSV)

One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 17:15 (NRSV)

The discerning person looks to wisdom,

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

Proverbs 17:24 (NRSV)

To impose a fine on the innocent is not right,

or to flog the noble for their integrity.

Proverbs 17:26 (NRSV)

It is not right to be partial to the guilty,

or to subvert the innocent in judgment.

Proverbs 18:5 (NRSV)

Before destruction one's heart is haughty,

but humility goes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 (NRSV)

An intelligent mind acquires knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

Proverbs 18:15 (NRSV)

Zeal without knowledge is not good; a person who moves too quickly may go the wrong way.

Proverbs 19:2 (NLT)

A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

Proverbs 19:5 (NLT)

People with good sense restrain their anger; they earn esteem by overlooking wrongs.

Proverbs 19:11 (NLT)

Short-tempered people must pay their own penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life.

Proverbs 19:19-20 (NLT)

Loyalty makes a person attractive. And it is better to be poor than dishonest.

Proverbs 19:22 (NLT)

If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you reprove the wise, they will be all the wiser.

Proverbs 19:25 (NLT)

A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

Mockers will be punished, and the backs of fools will be beaten.

Proverbs 19:28-29 (NLT)

Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?

Proverbs 20:6 (NLT)

Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart; I am pure and free from sin"?

Proverbs 20:9 (NLT)

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and right.

Proverbs 20:11 (NLT)

The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.

Proverbs 20:29 (NLT)

Haughty eyes, a proud heart, and evil actions are all sin.

Proverbs 21:4 (NLT)

The guilty walk a crooked path; the innocent travel a straight road.

Proverbs 21:8 (NLT)

Evil people love to harm others; their neighbors get no mercy from them.

A simpleton can learn only by seeing mockers punished; a wise person learns from instruction.

Proverbs 21:10-11 (NLT)

The wise conquer the city of the strong and level the fortress in which they trust.

Proverbs 21:22 (NLT)

Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.

Proverbs 21:24 (NLT)

The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright proceed with care.

Proverbs 21:29 (NLT)

Choose a good reputation over great riches, for being held in high esteem is better than having silver or gold.

The rich and the poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.

A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

Proverbs 22:1-3 (NLT)

The Lord preserves knowledge, but he ruins the plans of the deceitful.

Proverbs 22:12 (NLT)

Listen to the words of the wise; apply your heart to my instruction.

Proverbs 22:17 (NLT)

I am teaching you today—yes, you—so you will trust in the Lord.

Proverbs 22:19 (NLT)

Don't waste your breath on fools, for they will despise the wisest advice.

Proverbs 23:9 (NLT)

My child, how I will rejoice if you become wise.

Proverbs 23:15 (NLT)

Don't envy sinners, but always continue to fear the Lord.

Proverbs 23:17 (NLT)

My child, listen and be wise. Keep your heart on the right course.

Proverbs 23:19 (NLT)

Get the truth and don't ever sell it; also get wisdom, discipline, and discernment.

Proverbs 23:23 (NLT)

A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.

A wise man is mightier than a strong man, and a man of knowledge is more powerful than a strong man.

Proverbs 24:3-5 (NLT)

Wisdom is too much for a fool. When the leaders gather, the fool has nothing to say.

A person who plans evil will get a reputation as a troublemaker. The schemes of a fool are sinful; everyone despises a mocker.

Proverbs 24:7-9 (NLT)

Do not fret because of evildoers; don't envy the wicked.

Proverbs 24:19 (NLT)

Here are some further sayings of the wise:

It is wrong to show favoritism when passing judgment. A judge who says to the wicked, "You are innocent," will be cursed by many people and denounced by the nations.

Proverbs 24:23-24 (NLT)

It is God's privilege to conceal things and the king's privilege to discover them.

No one can discover the height of heaven, the depth of the earth, or all that goes on in the king's mind!

Proverbs 25:2-3 (NLT)

If the godly compromise with the wicked, it is like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.

Just as it is not good to eat too much honey, it is not good for people to think about all the honors they deserve.

A person without self-control is as defenseless as a city with broken-down walls.

Honor doesn't go with fools any more than snow with summer or rain with harvest.

Proverbs 25:26-26:1 (NLT)

Honoring a fool is as foolish as tying a stone to a slingshot.

Proverbs 26:8 (NLT)

As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.

There is more hope for fools than for people who think they are wise.

Proverbs 26:11-12 (NLT)

While their hatred may be concealed by trickery, it will finally come to light for all to see.

Proverbs 26:26 (NLT)

Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but who can survive the destructiveness of jealousy?

Proverbs 27:4 (NLT)

My child, how happy I will be if you turn out to be wise! Then I will be able to answer my critics.

A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.

Proverbs 27:11-12 (NLT)

As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person.

Proverbs 27:19 (NLT)

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised.

Proverbs 27:21 (NLT)

The wicked run away when no one is chasing them, but the godly are as bold as lions.

When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with wise and knowledgeable leaders, there is stability.

Proverbs 28:1-2 (NLT)

To reject the law is to praise the wicked; to obey the law is to fight them.

Proverbs 28:4 (NLT)

When the godly succeed, everyone is glad. When the wicked take charge, people go into hiding.

Proverbs 28:12 (NLT)

Evil people are trapped by sin, but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.

Proverbs 29:6 (NLT)

Mockers can get a whole town agitated, but those who are wise will calm anger.

Proverbs 29:8 (NLT)

The bloodthirsty hate the honest, but the upright seek out the honest.

A fool gives full vent to anger, but a wise person quietly holds it back.

If a ruler honors liars, all his advisers will be wicked.

Proverbs 29:10-12 (NLT)

A hot-tempered person starts fights and gets into all kinds of sin.

Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Proverbs 29:22-23 (NLT)

The godly despise the wicked; the wicked despise the godly.

Proverbs 29:27 (NLT)

They feel pure, but they are filthy and unwashed. They are proud beyond description and disdainful.

Proverbs 30:12-13 (NLT)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those who are perishing. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is worth more than precious rubies.

Proverbs 31:8-10 (NLT)

She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy.

Proverbs 31:20 (NLT)

Her husband is well known, for he sits in the council meeting with the other civic leaders.

Proverbs 31:23 (NLT)

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.

Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)

"There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but you surpass them all!"

Proverbs 31:29 (NLT)

Choosing Wise Words

Put away from you crooked speech,

and put devious talk far from you.

Proverbs 4:24 (ESV)

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,

and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;

teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

Proverbs 9:7-9 (ESV)

The wise of heart will receive commandments,

but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

Proverbs 10:8 (ESV)

Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,

but a babbling fool will come to ruin.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 10:10-11 (ESV)

On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found,

but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense.

Proverbs 10:13 (ESV)

The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever utters slander is a fool.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking,

but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little worth.

The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

Proverbs 10:18-21 (ESV)

The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

Proverbs 10:31-32 (ESV)

With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

Proverbs 11:9 (ESV)

Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense,

but a man of understanding remains silent.

Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,

but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Proverbs 11:12-13 (ESV)

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

but the mouth of the upright delivers them.

Proverbs 12:6 (ESV)

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

but the righteous escapes from trouble.

From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,

and the work of a man's hand comes back to him.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

Proverbs 12:13-15 (ESV)

There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Truthful lips endure forever,

but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 12:18-19 (ESV)

Anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

Proverbs 12:25 (ESV)

From the fruit of his mouth a man eats what is good,

but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;

he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 13:2-3 (ESV)

A fool's talk brings a rod to his back,

but the lips of the wise protect them.

Proverbs 14:3 (NIV)

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,

but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

Stay away from a foolish man,

for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

Proverbs 14:6-7 (NIV)

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Proverbs 15:1-2 (NIV)

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,

but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4 (NIV)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools.

Proverbs 15:7 (NIV)

A mocker resents correction;

he will not consult the wise.

Proverbs 15:12 (NIV)

Plans fail for lack of counsel,

but with many advisers they succeed.

A man finds joy in giving an apt reply--

and how good is a timely word!

Proverbs 15:22-23 (NIV)

The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

Proverbs 15:28 (NIV)

A cheerful look brings joy to the heart,

and good news gives health to the bones.

Proverbs 15:30 (NIV)

The lips of a king speak as an oracle,

and his mouth should not betray justice.

Proverbs 16:10 (NIV)

Kings take pleasure in honest lips;

they value a man who speaks the truth.

Proverbs 16:13 (NIV)

The wise in heart are called discerning,

and pleasant words promote instruction.

Proverbs 16:21 (NIV)

A wise man's heart guides his mouth,

and his lips promote instruction.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:23-24 (NIV)

A wicked man listens to evil lips;

a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.

Proverbs 17:4 (NIV)

Arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool--

how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

Proverbs 17:7 (NIV)

A man of knowledge uses words with restraint,

and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,

and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 17:27-28 (NIV)

A fool finds no pleasure in understanding

but delights in airing his own opinions.

Proverbs 18:2 (NIV)

The words of a man's mouth are deep waters,

but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

Proverbs 18:4 (NIV)

A fool's lips bring him strife,

and his mouth invites a beating.

A fool's mouth is his undoing,

and his lips are a snare to his soul.

The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to a man's inmost parts.

Proverbs 18:6-8 (NIV)

He who answers before listening--

that is his folly and his shame.

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV)

From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled;

with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.

The tongue has the power of life and death,

and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:20-21 (NIV)

Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,

but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Proverbs 20:15 (NIV)

A gossip betrays a confidence;

so avoid a man who talks too much.

Proverbs 20:19 (NIV)

It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly

and only later to consider his vows.

Proverbs 20:25 (NIV)

He who guards his mouth and his tongue

keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 21:23 (NIV)

Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;

quarrels and insults are ended.

Proverbs 22:10 (NIV)

for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart

and have all of them ready on your lips.

Proverbs 22:18 (NIV)

teaching you true and reliable words,

so that you can give sound answers

to him who sent you?

Proverbs 22:21 (NIV)

Apply your mind to instruction

and your ear to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 23:12 (NRSV)

My soul will rejoice

when your lips speak what is right.

Proverbs 23:16 (NRSV)

One who gives an honest answer

gives a kiss on the lips.

Proverbs 24:26 (NRSV)

A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold

is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.

Proverbs 25:11-12 (NRSV)

Like clouds and wind without rain

is one who boasts of a gift never given.

With patience a ruler may be persuaded,

and a soft tongue can break bones.

Proverbs 25:14-15 (NRSV)

The north wind produces rain,

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Proverbs 25:23 (NRSV)

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,

so is good news from a far country.

Proverbs 25:25 (NRSV)

Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,

an undeserved curse goes nowhere.

Proverbs 26:2 (NRSV)

Do not answer fools according to their folly,

or you will be a fool yourself.

Answer fools according to their folly,

or they will be wise in their own eyes.

Proverbs 26:4-5 (NRSV)

The legs of a disabled person hang limp;

so does a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Proverbs 26:7 (NRSV)

Like a thornbush brandished by the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Proverbs 26:9 (NRSV)

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel

are smooth lips with an evil heart.

An enemy dissembles in speaking

while harboring deceit within;

when an enemy speaks graciously, do not believe it,

for there are seven abominations concealed within;

Proverbs 26:23-25 (NRSV)

A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Proverbs 26:28 (NRSV)

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth--

a stranger, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 27:2 (NRSV)

Whoever rebukes a person will afterward find more favor

than one who flatters with the tongue.

Proverbs 28:23 (NRSV)

Do you see someone who is hasty in speech?

There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.

Proverbs 29:20 (NRSV)

She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:26 (NRSV)

Relationships

The

Proverbs of Solomon, David's son who was king of Israel, {given}

to grasp wisdom and discipline,

to understand deep thoughts,

to acquire the discipline of wise behavior—

righteousness and justice and fairness—

to give insight to gullible people,

to give knowledge and foresight to the young—

a wise person will listen and continue to learn,

and an understanding person will gain direction—

to understand a proverb and a clever saying,

the words of wise people and their riddles.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Stubborn fools despise wisdom and discipline.

My son,

listen to your father's discipline,

and do not neglect your mother's teachings,

because discipline and teachings

are a graceful garland on your head

and a {golden} chain around your neck.

My son,

if sinners lure you, do not go along.

If they say,

"Come with us.

Let's set an ambush to kill someone.

Let's hide to ambush innocent people for fun.

We'll swallow them alive like the grave,

like those in good health who go into the pit.

We'll find all kinds of valuable possessions.

We'll fill our homes with stolen goods.

Join us.

We'll split the loot equally."

My son,

do not follow them in their way.

Do not even set foot on their path,

because they rush to do evil

and hurry to shed blood.

It does no good to spread a net

within the sight of any bird.

But these people set an ambush for their own murder.

They go into hiding only to lose their lives.

This is what happens to everyone

who is greedy for unjust gain.

Greed takes away his life.

Wisdom sings her song in the streets.

In the public squares she raises her voice.

At the corners of noisy streets she calls out.

At the entrances to the city she speaks her words,

"How long will you gullible people love being so gullible?

How long will you mockers find joy in your mocking?

How long will you fools hate knowledge?

"Turn to me when I warn you.

I will generously pour out my spirit for you.

I will make my words known to you.

"I called, and you refused to listen.

I stretched out my hands to you, and no one paid attention.

You ignored all my advice.

You did not want me to warn you.

I will laugh at your calamity.

I will make fun of you

when panic strikes you,

when panic strikes you like a violent storm,

when calamity strikes you like a wind storm,

when trouble and anguish come to you.

"They will call to me at that time, but I will not answer.

They will look for me, but they will not find me,

because they hated knowledge

and did not choose the fear of the Lord.

They refused my advice.

They despised my every warning.

They will eat the fruit of their lifestyle.

They will be stuffed with their own schemes.

"Gullible people kill themselves because of their turning away.

Fools destroy themselves because of their indifference.

But whoever listens to me will live without worry

and will be free from the dread of disaster."

Proverbs 1:1-33 (GWT)

because the Lord warns the one he loves,

even as a father warns a son with whom he is pleased.

Proverbs 3:12 (GWT)

Do not hold back anything good

from those who are entitled to it

when you have the power to do so.

When you have the good thing with you, do not tell your neighbor,

"Go away!

Come back tomorrow.

I'll give you something then."

Do not plan to do something wrong to your neighbor

while he is sitting there with you and suspecting nothing.

Do not quarrel with a person for no reason

if he has not harmed you.

Do not envy a violent person.

Do not choose any of his ways.

Proverbs 3:27-31 (GWT)

When I was a boy {learning} from my father,

when I was a tender and only child of my mother,

they used to teach me and say to me,

"Cling to my words wholeheartedly.

Obey my commands so that you may live.

Proverbs 4:3-4 (GWT)

Do not stray onto the path of wicked people.

Do not walk in the way of evil people.

Proverbs 4:14 (GWT)

a dishonest witness spitting out lies,

and a person who spreads conflict among relatives.

My son,

obey the command of your father,

and do not disregard the teachings of your mother.

Fasten them on your heart forever.

Hang them around your neck.

When you walk around, they will lead you.

When you lie down, they will watch over you.

When you wake up, they will talk to you

Proverbs 6:19-22 (GWT)

Whoever brings trouble upon his family inherits {only} wind,

and that stubborn fool becomes a slave to the wise in heart.

Proverbs 11:29 (GWT)

A wife with strength of character is the crown of her husband,

but the wife who disgraces him is like bone cancer.

Proverbs 12:4 (GWT)

A righteous person looks out for his neighbor,

but the path of wicked people leads others astray.

Proverbs 12:26 (GWT)

A wise son listens to his father's discipline,

but a mocker does not listen to reprimands.

Proverbs 13:1 (GWT)

Whoever walks with wise people will be wise,

but whoever associates with fools will suffer.

Proverbs 13:20 (GWT)

Whoever refuses to spank his son hates him,

but whoever loves his son disciplines him from early on.

Proverbs 13:24 (GWT)

A poor person is hated even by his neighbor,

but a rich person is loved by many.

Whoever despises his neighbor sins,

but blessed is the one who is kind to humble people.

Proverbs 14:20-21 (GWT)

In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence,

and his children will have a place of refuge.

Proverbs 14:26 (GWT)

A king is delighted with a servant who acts wisely,

but he is furious with one who acts shamefully.

Proverbs 14:35 (GWT)

A stubborn fool despises his father's discipline,

but whoever appreciates a warning shows good sense.

Proverbs 15:5 (GWT)

A wise son makes his father happy,

but a foolish child despises its mother.

Proverbs 15:20 (GWT)

When a person's ways are pleasing to the Lord,

he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Proverbs 16:7 (GWT)

A devious person spreads quarrels.

A gossip separates the closest of friends.

A violent person misleads his neighbor

and leads him on a path that is not good.

Whoever winks his eye is plotting something devious.

Whoever bites his lips has finished his evil work.

Proverbs 16:28-30 (GWT)

A wise slave will become master over a son who acts shamefully,

and he will share the inheritance with the brothers.

Proverbs 17:2 (GWT)

Grandchildren are the crown of grandparents,

and parents are the glory of their children.

Proverbs 17:6 (GWT)

Whoever forgives an offense seeks love,

but whoever keeps bringing up the issue separates the closest of friends.

Proverbs 17:9 (GWT)

Whoever pays back evil for good—

evil will never leave his home.

Starting a quarrel is {like} opening a floodgate,

so stop before the argument gets out of control.

Proverbs 17:13-14 (GWT)

A friend always loves,

and a brother is born to share trouble.

Proverbs 17:17 (GWT)

Whoever loves sin loves a quarrel.

Whoever builds his city gate high invites destruction.

Proverbs 17:19 (GWT)

The parent of a fool has grief,

and the father of a godless fool has no joy.

Proverbs 17:21 (GWT)

A foolish son is a heartache to his father

and bitter grief to his mother.

Proverbs 17:25 (GWT)

A loner is out to get what he wants for himself.

He opposes all sound reasoning.

Proverbs 18:1 (GWT)

The first to state his case seems right

{until} his neighbor comes to cross-examine him.

Flipping a coin ends quarrels

and settles {issues} between powerful people.

An offended brother is more {resistant} than a strong city,

and disputes are like the locked gate of a castle tower.

Proverbs 18:17-19 (GWT)

Whoever finds a wife finds something good

and has obtained favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 18:22 (GWT)

Friends can destroy one another,

but a loving friend can stick closer than family.

Proverbs 18:24 (GWT)

Wealth adds many friends,

but a poor person is separated from his friend.

Proverbs 19:4 (GWT)

Many try to win the kindness of a generous person,

and everyone is a friend to a person who gives gifts.

The entire family of a poor person hates him.

How much more do his friends keep their distance from him!

When he chases them with words, they are gone.

Proverbs 19:6-7 (GWT)

A foolish son ruins his father,

and a quarreling woman is like constantly dripping water.

Home and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a sensible wife comes from the Lord.

Proverbs 19:13-14 (GWT)

Discipline your son while there is still hope.

Do not be the one responsible for his death.

Proverbs 19:18 (GWT)

A son who assaults his father {and} who drives away his mother

brings shame and disgrace.

If you stop listening to instruction, my son,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Proverbs 19:26-27 (GWT)

Avoiding a quarrel is honorable.

After all, any stubborn fool can start a fight.

Proverbs 20:3 (GWT)

A righteous person lives on the basis of his integrity.

Blessed are his children after he is gone.

Proverbs 20:7 (GWT)

The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother

will be snuffed out in total darkness.

Proverbs 20:20 (GWT)

Do not say, "I'll get even with you!"

Wait for the Lord, and he will save you.

Proverbs 20:22 (GWT)

Better to live on a corner of a roof

than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

Proverbs 21:9 (GWT)

Better to live in a desert

than with a quarreling and angry woman.

Proverbs 21:19 (GWT)

Train a child in the way he should go,

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

Proverbs 22:6 (GWT)

Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously

has a king as his friend.

Proverbs 22:11 (GWT)

Foolishness is firmly attached to a child's heart.

Spanking will remove it far from him.

Proverbs 22:15 (GWT)

Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper,

and never keep company with a hothead,

or you will learn his ways

and set a trap for yourself.

Proverbs 22:24-25 (GWT)

Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

If you strike him with the rod,

you will save his soul from Sheol.

Proverbs 23:13-14 (ESV)

Be not among drunkards

or among gluttonous eaters of meat,

for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,

and slumber will clothe them with rags.

Listen to your father who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

Proverbs 23:20-22 (ESV)

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;

he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.

Let your father and mother be glad;

let her who bore you rejoice.

My son, give me your heart,

and let your eyes observe my ways.

Proverbs 23:24-26 (ESV)

Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them,

for their hearts devise violence,

and their lips talk of trouble.

Proverbs 24:1-2 (ESV)

Rescue those who are being taken away to death;

hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.

If you say, "Behold, we did not know this,"

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,

and will he not repay man according to his work?

Proverbs 24:11-12 (ESV)

My son, fear the Lord and the king,

and do not join with those who do otherwise,

Proverbs 24:21 (ESV)

Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,

and do not deceive with your lips.

Do not say, "I will do to him as he has done to me;

I will pay the man back for what he has done."

Proverbs 24:28-29 (ESV)

Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence

or stand in the place of the great,

for it is better to be told, "Come up here,"

than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

and do not reveal another's secret,

lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

and your ill repute have no end.

Proverbs 25:6-10 (ESV)

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest

is a faithful messenger to those who send him;

he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Proverbs 25:13 (ESV)

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor's house,

lest he have his fill of you and hate you.

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

Trusting in a treacherous man in time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart

is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day,

and like vinegar on soda.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

for you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

Proverbs 25:17-22 (ESV)

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

Proverbs 25:24 (ESV)

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own

is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears.

Like a madman who throws

firebrands, arrows, and death

is the man who deceives his neighbor

and says, "I am only joking!"

For lack of wood the fire goes out,

and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.

As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.

The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Proverbs 26:17-22 (ESV)

Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:5-6 (ESV)

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

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

Do 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.

Proverbs 27:9-10 (ESV)

Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice,

rising early in the morning,

will be counted as cursing.

A continual dripping on a rainy day

and a quarrelsome wife are alike;

Proverbs 27:14-15 (ESV)

Iron sharpens iron,

and one man sharpens another.

Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who guards his master will be honored.

Proverbs 27:17-18 (ESV)

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

but a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Proverbs 28:7 (ESV)

Whoever robs his father or his mother

and says, "That is no transgression,"

is a companion to a man who destroys.

Proverbs 28:24 (ESV)

A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

Proverbs 29:5 (ESV)

A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

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

Proverbs 29:7-9 (ESV)

The rod and reproof give wisdom,

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

Proverbs 29:15 (ESV)

Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

he will give delight to your heart.

Proverbs 29:17 (ESV)

By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

for though he understands, he will not respond.

Proverbs 29:19 (ESV)

Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

will in the end find him his heir.

Proverbs 29:21 (ESV)

The partner of a thief hates his own life;

he hears the curse, but discloses nothing.

Proverbs 29:24 (ESV)

Do not slander a servant to his master,

lest he curse you and you be held guilty.

There are those who curse their fathers

and do not bless their mothers.

Proverbs 30:10-11 (ESV)

There are those whose teeth are swords,

whose fangs are knives,

to devour the poor from off the earth,

the needy from among mankind.

Proverbs 30:14 (ESV)

The eye that mocks a father

and scorns to obey a mother

will be picked out by the ravens of the valley

and eaten by the vultures.

Proverbs 30:17 (ESV)

a slave when he becomes king,

and a fool when he is filled with food;

Proverbs 30:22 (ESV)

The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

Proverbs 31:11-12 (ESV)

She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

Proverbs 31:15 (ESV)

She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

Proverbs 31:21 (ESV)

Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

Proverbs 31:28 (ESV)

Temptation and Sex

My son, if sinners entice you,

do not give in to them.

Proverbs 1:10 (NIV)

It will save you also from the adulteress,

from the wayward wife with her seductive words,

who has left the partner of her youth

and ignored the covenant she made before God.

For her house leads down to death

and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

None who go to her return

or attain the paths of life.

Proverbs 2:16-19 (NIV)

Avoid it, do not travel on it;

turn from it and go on your way.

Proverbs 4:15 (NIV)

Do not swerve to the right or the left;

keep your foot from evil.

Proverbs 4:27 (NIV)

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,

and her speech is smoother than oil;

but in the end she is bitter as gall,

sharp as a double-edged sword.

Her feet go down to death;

her steps lead straight to the grave.

She gives no thought to the way of life;

her paths are crooked, but she knows it not.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;

do not turn aside from what I say.

Keep to a path far from her,

do not go near the door of her house,

lest you give your best strength to others

and your years to one who is cruel,

lest strangers feast on your wealth

and your toil enrich another man's house.

At the end of your life you will groan,

when your flesh and body are spent.

You will say, "How I hated discipline!

How my heart spurned correction!

I would not obey my teachers

or listen to my instructors.

I have come to the brink of utter ruin

in the midst of the whole assembly."

Drink water from your own cistern,

running water from your own well.

Should your springs overflow in the streets,

your streams of water in the public squares?

Let them be yours alone,

never to be shared with strangers.

May your fountain be blessed,

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.

A loving doe, a graceful deer--

may her breasts satisfy you always,

may you ever be captivated by her love.

Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress?

Why embrace the bosom of another man's wife?

Proverbs 5:3-20 (NIV)

keeping you from the immoral woman,

from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

Do not lust in your heart after her beauty

or let her captivate you with her eyes,

for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,

and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

Can a man scoop fire into his lap

without his clothes being burned?

Can a man walk on hot coals

without his feet being scorched?

So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;

no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Men do not despise a thief if he steals

to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,

though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;

whoever does so destroys himself.

Blows and disgrace are his lot,

and his shame will never be wiped away;

for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not accept any compensation;

he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Proverbs 6:24-35 (NIV)

they will keep you from the adulteress,

from the wayward wife with her seductive words.

At the window of my house

I looked out through the lattice.

I saw among the simple,

I noticed among the young men,

a youth who lacked judgment.

He was going down the street near her corner,

walking along in the direction of her house

at twilight, as the day was fading,

as the dark of night set in.

Then out came a woman to meet him,

dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.

(She is loud and defiant,

her feet never stay at home;

now in the street, now in the squares,

at every corner she lurks.)

She took hold of him and kissed him

and with a brazen face she said:

"I have fellowship offerings at home;

today I fulfilled my vows.

So I came out to meet you;

I looked for you and have found you!

I have covered my bed

with colored linens from Egypt.

I have perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.

Come, let's drink deep of love till morning;

let's enjoy ourselves with love!

My husband is not at home;

he has gone on a long journey.

He took his purse filled with money

and will not be home till full moon."

With persuasive words she led him astray;

she seduced him with her smooth talk.

All at once he followed her

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer stepping into a noose

till an arrow pierces his liver,

like a bird darting into a snare,

little knowing it will cost him his life.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;

pay attention to what I say.

Do not let your heart turn to her ways

or stray into her paths.

Many are the victims she has brought down;

her slain are a mighty throng.

Her house is a highway to the grave,

leading down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 7:5-27 (NIV)

"Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!" But the men don't realize that her former guests are now in the grave.

Proverbs 9:17-18 (NLT)

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; those living under the Lord's displeasure will fall into it.

Proverbs 22:14 (NLT)

When dining with a ruler, pay attention to what is put before you. If you are a big eater, put a knife to your throat, and don't desire all the delicacies—deception may be involved.

Proverbs 23:1-3 (NLT)

A prostitute is a deep pit; an adulterous woman is treacherous. She hides and waits like a robber, looking for another victim who will be unfaithful to his wife.

Who has anguish? Who has sorrow? Who is always fighting? Who is always complaining? Who has unnecessary bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? It is the one who spends long hours in the taverns, trying out new drinks. Don't let the sparkle and smooth taste of wine deceive you.

Proverbs 23:27-31 (NLT)

Do you like honey? Don't eat too much of it, or it will make you sick!

Proverbs 25:16 (NLT)

A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest.

Proverbs 27:8 (NLT)

Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied.

Proverbs 27:20 (NLT)

The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but if he hangs around with prostitutes, his wealth is wasted.

Proverbs 29:3 (NLT)

how an eagle glides through the sky,

how a snake slithers on a rock,

how a ship navigates the ocean,

how a man loves a woman.

Equally amazing is how an adulterous woman can satisfy her sexual appetite, shrug her shoulders, and then say, "What's wrong with that?"

Proverbs 30:19-20 (NLT)

a bitter woman who finally gets a husband,

a servant girl who supplants her mistress.

Proverbs 30:23 (NLT)

do not spend your strength on women, on those who ruin kings.

And it is not for kings, O Lemuel, to guzzle wine. Rulers should not crave liquor.

Proverbs 31:3-4 (NLT)

Money and Business

This is what happens to everyone

who is greedy for unjust gain.

Greed takes away his life.

Proverbs 1:19 (GWT)

Honor the Lord with your wealth

and with the first and best part of all your income.

Then your barns will be full,

and your vats will overflow with fresh wine.

Proverbs 3:9-10 (GWT)

The profit {gained} from {wisdom} is greater than

the profit {gained} from silver.

Its yield is better than fine gold.

{Wisdom} is more precious than jewels,

and all your desires cannot equal it.

Proverbs 3:14-15 (GWT)

My son,

if you guarantee a loan for your neighbor

or pledge yourself for a stranger with a handshake,

you are trapped by the words of your own mouth,

caught by your own promise.

Do the following things, my son, so that you may free yourself,

because you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:

Humble yourself,

and pester your neighbor.

Don't let your eyes rest

or your eyelids close.

Free yourself like a gazelle from the hand of a hunter

and like a bird from the hand of a hunter.

Consider the ant, you lazy bum.

Watch its ways, and become wise.

Although it has no overseer, officer, or ruler,

in summertime it stores its food supply.

At harvest time it gathers its food.

How long will you lie there, you lazy bum?

When will you get up from your sleep?

"Just a little sleep,

just a little slumber,

just a little nap."

Then your poverty will come {to you} like a drifter,

and your need will come {to you} like a bandit.

Proverbs 6:1-11 (GWT)

Take my discipline, not silver,

and my knowledge rather than fine gold,

because wisdom is better than jewels.

Nothing you desire can equal it.

Proverbs 8:10-11 (GWT)

I have riches and honor,

lasting wealth and righteousness.

What I produce is better than gold, pure gold.

What I yield is better than fine silver.

Proverbs 8:18-19 (GWT)

to give an inheritance to those who love me

and to fill their treasuries.

Proverbs 8:21 (GWT)

Treasures gained dishonestly profit no one,

but righteousness rescues from death.

Proverbs 10:2 (GWT)

Lazy hands bring poverty,

but hard-working hands bring riches.

Whoever gathers in the summer is a wise son.

Whoever sleeps at harvest time brings shame.

Proverbs 10:4-5 (GWT)

The rich person's wealth is {his} strong city.

Poverty ruins the poor.

Proverbs 10:15 (GWT)

It is the Lord's blessing that makes a person rich,

and hard work adds nothing to it.

Proverbs 10:22 (GWT)

Like vinegar to the teeth,

like smoke to the eyes,

so is the lazy person to those who send him {on a mission}.

Proverbs 10:26 (GWT)

Dishonest scales are disgusting to the Lord,

but accurate weights are pleasing to him.

Proverbs 11:1 (GWT)

Riches are of no help on the day of fury,

but righteousness saves from death.

Proverbs 11:4 (GWT)

Whoever guarantees a stranger's loan will get into trouble,

but whoever hates the closing of a deal remains secure.

Proverbs 11:15 (GWT)

A wicked person earns dishonest wages,

but whoever spreads righteousness earns honest pay.

Proverbs 11:18 (GWT)

One person spends freely and yet grows richer,

while another holds back what he owes and yet grows poorer.

A generous person will be made rich,

and whoever satisfies others will himself be satisfied.

People will curse the one who hoards grain,

but a blessing will be upon the head of the one who sells it.

Proverbs 11:24-26 (GWT)

Whoever trusts his riches will fall,

but righteous people will flourish like a green leaf.

Proverbs 11:28 (GWT)

Better to be unimportant and have a slave

than to act important and have nothing to eat.

Proverbs 12:9 (GWT)

Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat,

but the one who chases unrealistic dreams has no sense.

A wicked person delights in setting a trap for {other} evil people,

but the roots of righteous people produce {fruit}.

Proverbs 12:11-12 (GWT)

Hard-working hands gain control,

but lazy hands do slave labor.

Proverbs 12:24 (GWT)

A lazy hunter does not catch his prey,

but a hard-working person becomes wealthy.

Proverbs 12:27 (GWT)

The appetite of the lazy craves, and gets nothing,

while the appetite of the diligent is richly supplied.

Proverbs 13:4 (NRSV)

Some pretend to be rich, yet have nothing;

others pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

Wealth is a ransom for a person's life,

but the poor get no threats.

Proverbs 13:7-8 (NRSV)

Dishonest money dwindles away,

but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.

Proverbs 13:11 (NIV)

He who ignores discipline comes to poverty and shame,

but whoever heeds correction is honored.

Proverbs 13:18 (NIV)

Misfortune pursues the sinner,

but prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children,

but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.

A poor man's field may produce abundant food,

but injustice sweeps it away.

Proverbs 13:21-23 (NIV)

Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,

but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.

Proverbs 14:4 (NIV)

All hard work brings a profit,

but mere talk leads only to poverty.

The wealth of the wise is their crown,

but the folly of fools yields folly.

Proverbs 14:23-24 (NIV)

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,

but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.

Proverbs 14:31 (NIV)

The house of the righteous contains great treasure,

but the income of the wicked brings them trouble.

Proverbs 15:6 (NIV)

Better a little with the fear of the Lord

than great wealth with turmoil.

Better a meal of vegetables where there is love

than a fattened calf with hatred.

Proverbs 15:16-17 (NIV)

The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,

but the path of the upright is a highway.

Proverbs 15:19 (NIV)

A greedy man brings trouble to his family,

but he who hates bribes will live.

Proverbs 15:27 (NIV)

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,

and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)

Better a little with righteousness

than much gain with injustice.

Proverbs 16:8 (NIV)

Honest scales and balances are from the Lord;

all the weights in the bag are of his making.

Proverbs 16:11 (NIV)

How much better to get wisdom than gold,

to choose understanding rather than silver!

Proverbs 16:16 (NIV)

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed

than to share plunder with the proud.

Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,

and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.

Proverbs 16:19-20 (NIV)

The laborer's appetite works for him;

his hunger drives him on.

Proverbs 16:26 (NIV)

Better a dry crust with peace and quiet

than a house full of feasting, with strife.

Proverbs 17:1 (NIV)

The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but the Lord tests the heart.

Proverbs 17:3 (NIV)

He who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;

whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 17:5 (NIV)

A bribe is a charm to the one who gives it;

wherever he turns, he succeeds.

Proverbs 17:8 (NIV)

Why should fools have a price in hand

to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?

Proverbs 17:16 (NRSV)

It is senseless to give a pledge,

to become surety for a neighbor.

Proverbs 17:18 (NRSV)

The crooked of mind do not prosper,

and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

Proverbs 17:20 (NRSV)

The wicked accept a concealed bribe

to pervert the ways of justice.

Proverbs 17:23 (NRSV)

One who is slack in work

is close kin to a vandal.

Proverbs 18:9 (NRSV)

The wealth of the rich is their strong city;

in their imagination it is like a high wall.

Proverbs 18:11 (NRSV)

A gift opens doors;

it gives access to the great.

Proverbs 18:16 (NRSV)

The poor use entreaties,

but the rich answer roughly.

Proverbs 18:23 (NRSV)

Wealth brings many friends,

but the poor are left friendless.

Proverbs 19:4 (NRSV)

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,

much less for a slave to rule over princes.

Proverbs 19:10 (NRSV)

Laziness brings on deep sleep;

an idle person will suffer hunger.

Proverbs 19:15 (NRSV)

Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,

and will be repaid in full.

Proverbs 19:17 (NRSV)

A violent tempered person will pay the penalty;

if you effect a rescue, you will only have to do it again.

Proverbs 19:19 (NRSV)

The lazy person buries a hand in the dish,

and will not even bring it back to the mouth.

Proverbs 19:24 (NRSV)

The lazy person does not plow in season;

harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.

Proverbs 20:4 (NRSV)

Diverse weights and diverse measures

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

Proverbs 20:10 (NRSV)

Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;

open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

"Bad, bad," says the buyer,

then goes away and boasts.

Proverbs 20:13-14 (NRSV)

Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;

seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.

Bread gained by deceit is sweet,

but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.

Proverbs 20:16-17 (NRSV)

An estate quickly acquired in the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.

Proverbs 20:21 (NRSV)

Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,

and false scales are not good.

Proverbs 20:23 (NRSV)

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,

but everyone who is hasty comes only to want.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.

Proverbs 21:5-6 (NRSV)

If you close your ear to the cry of the poor,

you will cry out and not be heard.

A gift in secret averts anger;

and a concealed bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

Proverbs 21:13-14 (NRSV)

Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want;

whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.

Proverbs 21:17 (NRSV)

Precious treasure remains in the house of the wise,

but the fool devours it.

Proverbs 21:20 (NRSV)

The craving of the lazy person is fatal,

for lazy hands refuse to labor.

All day long the wicked covet,

but the righteous give and do not hold back.

Proverbs 21:25-26 (NRSV)

The rich and the poor meet together;

the Lord is the maker of them all.

Proverbs 22:2 (ESV)

The rich rules over the poor,

and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,

and the rod of his fury will fail.

Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed,

for he shares his bread with the poor.

Proverbs 22:7-9 (ESV)

The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside!

I shall be killed in the streets!"

Proverbs 22:13 (ESV)

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,

or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Proverbs 22:16 (ESV)

Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,

or crush the afflicted at the gate,

for the Lord will plead their cause

and rob of life those who rob them.

Proverbs 22:22-23 (ESV)

Be not one of those who give pledges,

who put up security for debts.

If you have nothing with which to pay,

why should your bed be taken from under you?

Do not move the ancient landmark

that your fathers have set.

Do you see a man skillful in his work?

He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before obscure men.

Proverbs 22:26-29 (ESV)

Do not toil to acquire wealth;

be discerning enough to desist.

When your eyes light on it, it is gone,

for suddenly it sprouts wings,

flying like an eagle toward heaven.

Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy;

do not desire his delicacies,

for he is like one who is inwardly calculating.

"Eat and drink!" he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

Proverbs 23:4-7 (ESV)

Do not move an ancient landmark

or enter the fields of the fatherless,

for their Redeemer is strong;

he will plead their cause against you.

Proverbs 23:10-11 (ESV)

Prepare your work outside;

get everything ready for yourself in the field,

and after that build your house.

Proverbs 24:27 (ESV)

I passed by the field of a sluggard,

by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,

and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

Then I saw and considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest,

and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.

Proverbs 24:30-34 (ESV)

Like an archer who wounds everyone

is one who hires a passing fool or drunkard.

Proverbs 26:10 (ESV)

The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road!

There is a lion in the streets!"

As a door turns on its hinges,

so does a sluggard on his bed.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

it wears him out to bring it back to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who can answer sensibly.

Proverbs 26:13-16 (ESV)

Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,

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

Proverbs 27:13 (ESV)

Know well the condition of your flocks,

and give attention to your herds,

for riches do not last forever;

and does a crown endure to all generations?

When the grass is gone and the new growth appears

and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered,

the lambs will provide your clothing,

and the goats the price of a field.

There will be enough goats' milk for your food,

for the food of your household

and maintenance for your girls.

Proverbs 27:23-27 (ESV)

A poor man who oppresses the poor

is a beating rain that leaves no food.

Proverbs 28:3 (ESV)

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity

than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.

Proverbs 28:6 (ESV)

Whoever multiplies his wealth by interest and profit

gathers it for him who is generous to the poor.

Proverbs 28:8 (ESV)

A rich man is wise in his own eyes,

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

Proverbs 28:11 (ESV)

Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

Proverbs 28:15-16 (ESV)

Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

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

A faithful man will abound with blessings,

but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

To show partiality is not good,

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

A stingy man hastens after wealth

and does not know that poverty will come upon him.

Proverbs 28:19-22 (ESV)

A greedy man stirs up strife,

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

Proverbs 28:25 (ESV)

Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

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

Proverbs 28:27 (ESV)

By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

Proverbs 29:4 (ESV)

The poor man and the oppressor meet together;

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

Proverbs 29:13 (ESV)

Remove far from me falsehood and lying;

give me neither poverty nor riches;

feed me with the food that is needful for me,

lest I be full and deny you

and say, "Who is the Lord?"

or lest I be poor and steal

and profane the name of my God.

Proverbs 30:8-9 (ESV)

the ants are a people not strong,

yet they provide their food in the summer;

Proverbs 30:25 (ESV)

She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

Proverbs 31:13-14 (ESV)

She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

Proverbs 31:16-19 (ESV)

She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

Proverbs 31:22 (ESV)

She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

Proverbs 31:24 (ESV)

She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Proverbs 31:27 (ESV)

Spiritual Health

Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the Lord.

"They would not accept my counsel,

They spurned all my reproof.

"So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way

And be satiated with their own devices.

"For the waywardness of the naive will kill them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them.

"But he who listens to me shall live securely

And will be at ease from the dread of evil."

Proverbs 1:29-33 (NASB)

He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

Guarding the paths of justice,

And He preserves the way of His godly ones.

Proverbs 2:7-8 (NASB)

Discretion will guard you,

Understanding will watch over you,

To deliver you from the way of evil,

From the man who speaks perverse things;

Proverbs 2:11-12 (NASB)

For the upright will live in the land

And the blameless will remain in it;

But the wicked will be cut off from the land

And the treacherous will be uprooted from it.

My son, do not forget my teaching,

But let your heart keep my commandments;

For length of days and years of life

And peace they will add to you.

Proverbs 2:21-3:2 (NASB)

In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:6 (NASB)

It will be healing to your body

And refreshment to your bones.

Proverbs 3:8 (NASB)

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom

And the man who gains understanding.

Proverbs 3:13 (NASB)

Long life is in her right hand;

In her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways

And all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her,

And happy are all who hold her fast.

Proverbs 3:16-18 (NASB)

So they will be life to your soul

And adornment to your neck.

Then you will walk in your way securely

And your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;

When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden fear

Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes;

For the Lord will be your confidence

And will keep your foot from being caught.

Proverbs 3:22-26 (NASB)

The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked,

But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.

Proverbs 3:33 (NASB)

Hear, my son, and accept my sayings

And the years of your life will be many.

I have directed you in the way of wisdom;

I have led you in upright paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded;

And if you run, you will not stumble.

Take hold of instruction; do not let go.

Guard her, for she is your life.

Proverbs 4:10-13 (NASB)

For they are life to those who find them

And health to all their body.

Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

Proverbs 4:22-23 (NASB)

His own iniquities will capture the wicked,

And he will be held with the cords of his sin.

He will die for lack of instruction,

And in the greatness of his folly he will go astray.

Proverbs 5:22-23 (NASB)

For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching is light;

And reproofs for discipline are the way of life

Proverbs 6:23 (NASB)

Keep my commandments and live,

And my teaching as the apple of your eye.

Proverbs 7:2 (NASB)

"I love those who love me;

And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Proverbs 8:17 (NASB)

"Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,

For blessed are they who keep my ways.

Proverbs 8:32 (NASB)

"Blessed is the man who listens to me,

Watching daily at my gates,

Waiting at my doorposts.

"For he who finds me finds life

And obtains favor from the Lord.

"But he who sins against me injures himself;

All those who hate me love death."

Proverbs 8:34-36 (NASB)

"Forsake your folly and live,

And proceed in the way of understanding."

Proverbs 9:6 (NASB)

For by me your days will be multiplied,

And years of life will be added to you.

Proverbs 9:11 (NASB)

The Lord will not allow the righteous to hunger,

But He will reject the craving of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:3 (NASB)

Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Proverbs 10:6 (NASB)

He who walks in integrity walks securely,

But he who perverts his ways will be found out.

Proverbs 10:9 (NASB)

The wages of the righteous is life,

The income of the wicked, punishment.

He is on the path of life who heeds instruction,

But he who ignores reproof goes astray.

Proverbs 10:16-17 (NASB)

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool,

And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

What the wicked fears will come upon him,

But the desire of the righteous will be granted.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,

But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Proverbs 10:23-25 (NASB)

The fear of the Lord prolongs life,

But the years of the wicked will be shortened.

The hope of the righteous is gladness,

But the expectation of the wicked perishes.

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright,

But ruin to the workers of iniquity.

The righteous will never be shaken,

But the wicked will not dwell in the land.

Proverbs 10:27-30 (NASB)

The righteousness of the blameless keeps their ways straight,

but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright saves them,

but the treacherous are taken captive by their schemes.

When the wicked die, their hope perishes,

and the expectation of the godless comes to nothing.

The righteous are delivered from trouble,

and the wicked get into it instead.

Proverbs 11:5-8 (NRSV)

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,

but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

Proverbs 11:11 (NRSV)

Where there is no guidance, a nation falls,

but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.

Proverbs 11:14 (NRSV)

Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live,

but whoever pursues evil will die.

Crooked minds are an abomination to the Lord,

but those of blameless ways are his delight.

Be assured, the wicked will not go unpunished,

but those who are righteous will escape.

Proverbs 11:19-21 (NRSV)

The desire of the righteous ends only in good;

the expectation of the wicked in wrath.

Proverbs 11:23 (NRSV)

Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,

but evil comes to the one who searches for it.

Proverbs 11:27 (NRSV)

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

but violence takes lives away.

If the righteous are repaid on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Proverbs 11:30-31 (NRSV)

The good obtain favor from the Lord,

but those who devise evil he condemns.

No one finds security by wickedness,

but the root of the righteous will never be moved.

Proverbs 12:2-3 (NRSV)

The wicked are overthrown and are no more,

but the house of the righteous will stand.

Proverbs 12:7 (NRSV)

Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,

but those who counsel peace have joy.

No harm happens to the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with trouble.

Proverbs 12:20-21 (NRSV)

In the path of righteousness there is life,

in walking its path there is no death.

Proverbs 12:28 (NRSV)

Righteousness guards one whose way is upright,

but sin overthrows the wicked.

Proverbs 13:6 (NRSV)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12 (NRSV)

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,

so that one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 13:14 (NRSV)

A desire realized is sweet to the soul,

but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools.

Proverbs 13:19 (NRSV)

The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite,

but the belly of the wicked is empty.

Proverbs 13:25 (NRSV)

The house of the wicked is destroyed,

but the tent of the upright flourishes.

There is a way that seems right to a person,

but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:11-12 (NRSV)

The perverse get what their ways deserve,

and the good, what their deeds deserve.

Proverbs 14:14 (NRSV)

The simple are adorned with folly,

but the clever are crowned with knowledge.

The evil bow down before the good,

the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

Proverbs 14:18-19 (NRSV)

Do they not err that plan evil?

Those who plan good find loyalty and faithfulness.

Proverbs 14:22 (NRSV)

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,

so that one may avoid the snares of death.

Proverbs 14:27 (NRSV)

A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh,

but passion makes the bones rot.

Proverbs 14:30 (NRSV)

The wicked are overthrown by their evildoing,

but the righteous find a refuge in their integrity.

Proverbs 14:32 (NRSV)

Righteousness exalts a nation,

but sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 14:34 (NRSV)

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

The way of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord,

but he loves the one who pursues righteousness.

There is severe discipline for one who forsakes the way,

but one who hates a rebuke will die.

Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord,

how much more human hearts!

Proverbs 15:8-11 (NRSV)

A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance,

but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 15:13 (NRSV)

All the days of the poor are hard,

but a cheerful heart has a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 (NRSV)

Folly is a joy to one who has no sense,

but a person of understanding walks straight ahead.

Proverbs 15:21 (NRSV)

For the wise the path of life leads upward,

in order to avoid Sheol below.

The Lord tears down the house of the proud,

but maintains the widow's boundaries.

Evil plans are an abomination to the Lord,

but gracious words are pure.

Proverbs 15:24-26 (NRSV)

The Lord is far from the wicked,

but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:29 (NRSV)

All those who are arrogant are an abomination to the Lord;

be assured, they will not go unpunished.

By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,

and by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.

Proverbs 16:5-6 (NRSV)

In the light of a king's face there is life,

and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

Proverbs 16:15 (NRSV)

The highway of the upright avoids evil;

those who guard their way preserve their lives.

Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:17-18 (NRSV)

Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,

but folly is the punishment of fools.

Proverbs 16:22 (NRSV)

A cheerful heart is a good medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

Proverbs 17:22 (NRSV)

When wickedness comes, contempt comes also;

and with dishonor comes disgrace.

Proverbs 18:3 (NRSV)

The name of the Lord is a strong tower;

the righteous run into it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10 (NRSV)

The human spirit will endure sickness;

but a broken spirit--who can bear?

Proverbs 18:14 (NRSV)

People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

Proverbs 19:3 (NLT)

To acquire wisdom is to love oneself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

Proverbs 19:8-9 (NLT)

Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.

Proverbs 19:16 (NLT)

Fear of the Lord gives life, security, and protection from harm.

Proverbs 19:23 (NLT)

Though good advice lies deep within a person's heart, the wise will draw it out.

Proverbs 20:5 (NLT)

Unfailing love and faithfulness protect the king; his throne is made secure through love.

Proverbs 20:28 (NLT)

The Lord is more pleased when we do what is just and right than when we give him sacrifices.

Proverbs 21:3 (NLT)

Because the wicked refuse to do what is just, their violence boomerangs and destroys them.

Proverbs 21:7 (NLT)

The Righteous One knows what is going on in the homes of the wicked; he will bring the wicked to disaster.

Proverbs 21:12 (NLT)

Justice is a joy to the godly, but it causes dismay among evildoers.

The person who strays from common sense will end up in the company of the dead.

Proverbs 21:15-16 (NLT)

Sometimes the wicked are punished to save the godly, and the treacherous for the upright.

Proverbs 21:18 (NLT)

Whoever pursues godliness and unfailing love will find life, godliness, and honor.

Proverbs 21:21 (NLT)

God loathes the sacrifice of an evil person, especially when it is brought with ulterior motives.

A false witness will be cut off, but an attentive witness will be allowed to speak.

Proverbs 21:27-28 (NLT)

True humility and fear of the Lord lead to riches, honor, and long life.

The deceitful walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will stay away.

Proverbs 22:4-5 (NLT)

For surely you have a future ahead of you; your hope will not be disappointed.

Proverbs 23:18 (NLT)

In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, you will have a bright future, and your hopes will not be cut short.

Proverbs 24:14 (NLT)

They may trip seven times, but each time they will rise again. But one calamity is enough to lay the wicked low.

Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)

For the evil have no future; their light will be snuffed out.

Proverbs 24:20 (NLT)

But blessings are showered on those who convict the guilty.

Proverbs 24:25 (NLT)

Evil people don't understand justice, but those who follow the Lord understand completely.

Proverbs 28:5 (NLT)

The prayers of a person who ignores the law are despised.

Those who lead the upright into sin will fall into their own trap, but the honest will inherit good things.

Proverbs 28:9-10 (NLT)

People who cover over their sins will not prosper. But if they confess and forsake them, they will receive mercy.

Blessed are those who have a tender conscience, but the stubborn are headed for serious trouble.

Proverbs 28:13-14 (NLT)

A murderer's tormented conscience will drive him into the grave. Don't protect him!

The honest will be rescued from harm, but those who are crooked will be destroyed.

Proverbs 28:17-18 (NLT)

Trusting oneself is foolish, but those who walk in wisdom are safe.

Proverbs 28:26 (NLT)

Whoever stubbornly refuses to accept criticism will suddenly be broken beyond repair.

Proverbs 29:1 (NLT)

A king who is fair to the poor will have a long reign.

Proverbs 29:14 (NLT)

When the wicked are in authority, sin increases. But the godly will live to see the tyrant's downfall.

Proverbs 29:16 (NLT)

When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is happy.

Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)

Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but to trust the Lord means safety.

Proverbs 29:25 (NLT)

Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection.

Proverbs 30:5 (NLT)

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised. Reward her for all she has done. Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.

Proverbs 31:30-31 (NLT)

Misc. Proverbs

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

Proverbs 1:1 (ESV)

Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

in the markets she raises her voice;

at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:

How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?

How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing

and fools hate knowledge?

If you turn at my reproof,

behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

Because I have called and you refused to listen,

have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,

because you have ignored all my counsel

and would have none of my reproof,

I also will laugh at your calamity;

I will mock when terror strikes you,

when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;

they will seek me diligently but will not find me.

Proverbs 1:20-28 (ESV)

My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

making your ear attentive to wisdom

and inclining your heart to understanding;

yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasures,

Proverbs 2:1-4 (ESV)

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;

by understanding he established the heavens;

by his knowledge the deeps broke open,

and the clouds drop down the dew.

Proverbs 3:19-20 (ESV)

and they will be life for your soul

and adornment for your neck.

Proverbs 3:22 (ESV)

Hear, O sons, a father's instruction,

and be attentive, that you may gain insight,

for I give you good precepts;

do not forsake my teaching.

Proverbs 4:1-2 (ESV)

My son, be attentive to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

Proverbs 4:20 (ESV)

My son, be attentive to my wisdom;

incline your ear to my understanding,

Proverbs 5:1 (ESV)

A worthless person, a wicked man,

goes about with crooked speech,

winks with his eyes, signals with his feet,

points with his finger,

with perverted heart devises evil,

continually sowing discord;

therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly;

in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

There are six things that the Lord hates,

seven that are an abomination to him:

Proverbs 6:12-16 (ESV)

My son, keep my words

and treasure up my commandments with you;

Proverbs 7:1 (ESV)

Does not wisdom call?Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

Proverbs 8:1-4 (ESV)

Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 8:6-7 (ESV)

" The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,

the first of his acts of old.

Ages ago I was set up,

at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

When there were no depths I was brought forth,

when there were no springs abounding with water.

Before the mountains had been shaped,

before the hills, I was brought forth,

before he had made the earth with its fields,

or the first of the dust of the world.

When he established the heavens, I was there;

when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

when he made firm the skies above,

when he established the fountains of the deep,

when he assigned to the sea its limit,

so that the waters might not transgress his command,

when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

then I was beside him, like a master workman,

and I was daily his delight,

rejoicing before him always,

rejoicing in his inhabited world

and delighting in the children of man.

Proverbs 8:22-31 (ESV)

Wisdom has built her house,

she has hewn her seven pillars.

She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,

she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls

from the highest places in the town,

Proverbs 9:1-3 (NRSV)

"Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed.

Proverbs 9:5 (NRSV)

The foolish woman is loud;

she is ignorant and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat at the high places of the town,

calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,

Proverbs 9:13-15 (NRSV)

The

Proverbs of Solomon.

A wise child makes a glad father,

but a foolish child is a mother's grief.

Proverbs 10:1 (NRSV)

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

Proverbs 10:3 (NRSV)

The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger shares its joy.

Proverbs 14:10 (NRSV)

Even in laughter the heart is sad,

and the end of joy is grief.

Proverbs 14:13 (NRSV)

The ear that heeds wholesome admonition

will lodge among the wise.

Proverbs 15:31 (NRSV)

The plans of the mind belong to mortals,

but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

Proverbs 16:1 (NRSV)

The Lord has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

Proverbs 16:4 (NRSV)

The human mind plans the way,

but the Lord directs the steps.

Proverbs 16:9 (NRSV)

Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,

but in the end it is the way to death.

Proverbs 16:25 (NRSV)

The lot is cast into the lap,

but the decision is the Lord's alone.

Proverbs 16:33 (NRSV)

A gift opens doors;

it gives access to the great.

Proverbs 18:16 (NRSV)

Better the poor walking in integrity

than one perverse of speech who is a fool.

Proverbs 19:1 (NRSV)

A king's anger is like the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

Proverbs 19:12 (NRSV)

The human mind may devise many plans,

but it is the purpose of the Lord that will be established.

Proverbs 19:21 (NRSV)

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;

anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.

Proverbs 20:1-2 (NRSV)

A king who sits on the throne of judgment

winnows all evil with his eyes.

Proverbs 20:8 (NRSV)

The hearing ear and the seeing eye--

the Lord has made them both.

Proverbs 20:12 (NRSV)

Plans are established by taking advice;

wage war by following wise guidance.

Proverbs 20:18 (NRSV)

All our steps are ordered by the Lord;

how then can we understand our own ways?

Proverbs 20:24 (NRSV)

A wise king winnows the wicked,

and drives the wheel over them.

The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,

searching every inmost part.

Proverbs 20:26-27 (NRSV)

Blows that wound cleanse away evil;

beatings make clean the innermost parts.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;

he turns it wherever he will.

All deeds are right in the sight of the doer,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

Proverbs 20:30-21:2 (NRSV)

No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel,

can avail against the Lord.

The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to the Lord.

Proverbs 21:30-31 (NRSV)

Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of admonition and knowledge,

Proverbs 22:20 (NRSV)

You will vomit up the little you have eaten,

and you will waste your pleasant words.

Proverbs 23:8 (NRSV)

For a prostitute is a deep pit;

an adulteress is a narrow well.

Proverbs 23:27 (NRSV)

At the last it bites like a serpent,

and stings like an adder.

Your eyes will see strange things,

and your mind utter perverse things.

You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,

like one who lies on the top of a mast.

"They struck me," you will say, "but I was not hurt;

they beat me, but I did not feel it.

When shall I awake?

I will seek another drink."

Proverbs 23:32-35 (NRSV)

for by wise guidance you can wage your war,

and in abundance of counselors there is victory.

Proverbs 24:6 (NRSV)

If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength being small;

Proverbs 24:10 (NRSV)

My child, eat honey, for it is good,

and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

Proverbs 24:13 (NRSV)

Do not lie in wait like an outlaw against the home of the righteous;

do no violence to the place where the righteous live;

Proverbs 24:15 (NRSV)

Do not rejoice when your enemies fall,

and do not let your heart be glad when they stumble,

or else the Lord will see it and be displeased,

and turn away his anger from them.

Proverbs 24:17-18 (NRSV)

for disaster comes from them suddenly,

and who knows the ruin that both can bring?

Proverbs 24:22 (NRSV)

These are other

Proverbs of Solomon that the officials of King Hezekiah of Judah copied.

Proverbs 25:1 (NRSV)

Take away the dross from the silver,

and the smith has material for a vessel;

take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Proverbs 25:4-5 (NRSV)

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain

are the righteous who give way before the wicked.

It is not good to eat much honey,

or to seek honor on top of honor.

Proverbs 25:26-27 (NRSV)

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools.

Proverbs 26:3 (NRSV)

It is like cutting off one's foot and drinking down violence,

to send a message by a fool.

Proverbs 26:6 (NRSV)

Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.

Proverbs 26:27 (NRSV)

Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

Proverbs 27:1 (NRSV)

A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,

but a fool's provocation is heavier than both.

Proverbs 27:3 (NRSV)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;

but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

Proverbs 29:2 (NRSV)

Many seek the favor of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.

Proverbs 29:26 (NRSV)

The words of Agur son of Jakeh. An oracle.

Thus says the man: I am weary, O God,

I am weary, O God. How can I prevail?

Surely I am too stupid to be human;

I do not have human understanding.

I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I knowledge of the holy ones.

Who has ascended to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered the wind in the hollow of the hand?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is the person's name?

And what is the name of the person's child?

Surely you know!

Proverbs 30:1-4 (NRSV)

Do not add to his words,

or else he will rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.

Two things I ask of you;

do not deny them to me before I die:

Proverbs 30:6-7 (NRSV)

The leech has two daughters;

"Give, give," they cry.

Three things are never satisfied;

four never say, "Enough":

Sheol, the barren womb,

the earth ever thirsty for water,

and the fire that never says, "Enough."

Proverbs 30:15-16 (NRSV)

Three things are too wonderful for me;

four I do not understand:

Proverbs 30:18 (NRSV)

Under three things the earth trembles;

under four it cannot bear up:

Proverbs 30:21 (NRSV)

Four things on earth are small,

yet they are exceedingly wise:

the ants are a people without strength,

yet they provide their food in the summer;

the badgers are a people without power,

yet they make their homes in the rocks;

the locusts have no king,

yet all of them march in rank;

the lizard can be grasped in the hand,

yet it is found in kings' palaces.

Three things are stately in their stride;

four are stately in their gait:

the lion, which is mightiest among wild animals

and does not turn back before any;

the strutting rooster, the he-goat,

and a king striding before his people.

If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,

or if you have been devising evil,

put your hand on your mouth.

For as pressing milk produces curds,

and pressing the nose produces blood,

so pressing anger produces strife.

The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

No, my son! No, son of my womb!

No, son of my vows!

Proverbs 30:24-31:2 (NRSV)

or else they will drink and forget what has been decreed,

and will pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

Give strong drink to one who is perishing,

and wine to those in bitter distress;

let them drink and forget their poverty,

and remember their misery no more.

Proverbs 31:5-7 (NRSV)

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Table of Contents

Character

Choosing Wise Words

Relationships

Temptation and Sex

Money and Business

Spiritual Health

Misc. Proverbs