json/Tanakh/Writings/Proverbs/English/Tanakh The Holy Scriptures, published by JPS.json

{
    "language": "en",
    "title": "Proverbs",
    "versionSource": "https://jps.org/books/tanakh-the-holy-scriptures-blue/",
    "versionTitle": "Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, published by JPS",
    "status": "locked",
    "priority": 2.0,
    "license": "CC-BY-NC",
    "shortVersionTitle": "JPS, 1985",
    "purchaseInformationImage": "https://storage.googleapis.com/sefaria-physical-editions/JPS_1985.png",
    "purchaseInformationURL": "https://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/jps/9780827602526/",
    "actualLanguage": "en",
    "languageFamilyName": "english",
    "isBaseText": false,
    "isSource": false,
    "direction": "ltr",
    "heTitle": "משלי",
    "categories": [
        "Tanakh",
        "Writings"
    ],
    "text": [
        [
            "The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:<br>",
            "For learning wisdom and discipline;<br>For understanding words of discernment;",
            "For acquiring the discipline for success,<br>Righteousness, justice, and equity;",
            "For endowing the simple with shrewdness,<br>The young with knowledge and foresight.",
            "—The wise man, hearing them, will gain more wisdom;<br>The discerning man will learn to be adroit;",
            "For understanding proverb and epigram,<br>The words of the wise and their riddles.<br>",
            "The fear of the L<small>ORD</small> is the beginning<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “best part.”</i> of knowledge;<br>Fools despise wisdom and discipline.<br>",
            "My son, heed the discipline of your father,<br>And do not forsake the instruction of your mother;",
            "For they are a graceful wreath upon your head,<br>A necklace about your throat.<br>",
            "My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield;",
            "If they say, “Come with us,<br>Let us set an ambush to shed blood,<br>Let us lie in wait for the innocent<br>(Without cause!)",
            "Like Sheol, let us swallow them alive;<br>Whole, like those who go down into the Pit.",
            "We shall obtain every precious treasure;<br>We shall fill our homes with loot.",
            "Throw in your lot with us;<br>We shall all have a common purse.”",
            "My son, do not set out with them;<br>Keep your feet from their path.",
            "For their feet run to evil;<br>They hurry to shed blood.",
            "In the eyes of every winged creature<br>The outspread net means nothing.",
            "But they lie in ambush for their own blood;<br>They lie in wait for their own lives.",
            "Such is the fate of all who pursue unjust gain;<br>It takes the life of its possessor.<br>",
            "Wisdom<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">In Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman.</i> cries aloud in the streets,<br>Raises her voice in the squares.",
            "At the head of the busy streets she calls;<br>At the entrance of the gates, in the city, she speaks out:",
            "“How long will you simple ones love simplicity,<br>You scoffers be eager to scoff,<br>You dullards hate knowledge?",
            "You are indifferent to my rebuke;<br>I will now speak my mind to you,<br>And let you know my thoughts.",
            "Since you refused me when I called,<br>And paid no heed when I extended my hand,",
            "You spurned all my advice,<br>And would not hear my rebuke,",
            "I will laugh at your calamity,<br>And mock when terror comes upon you,",
            "When terror comes like a disaster,<br>And calamity arrives like a whirlwind,<br>When trouble and distress come upon you.",
            "Then they shall call me but I will not answer;<br>They shall seek me but not find me.",
            "Because they hated knowledge,<br>And did not choose fear of the L<small>ORD</small>;",
            "They refused my advice,<br>And disdained all my rebukes,",
            "They shall eat the fruit of their ways,<br>And have their fill of their own counsels.",
            "The tranquillity of the simple will kill them,<br>And the complacency of dullards will destroy them.",
            "But he who listens to me will dwell in safety,<br>Untroubled by the terror of misfortune.”"
        ],
        [
            "My son, if you accept my words<br>And treasure up my commandments;",
            "If you make your ear attentive to wisdom<br>And your mind open to discernment;",
            "If you call to understanding<br>And cry aloud to discernment,",
            "If you seek it as you do silver<br>And search for it as for treasures,",
            "Then you will understand the fear of the L<small>ORD</small><br>And attain knowledge of God.",
            "For the L<small>ORD</small> grants wisdom;<br>Knowledge and discernment are by His decree.",
            "He reserves ability for the upright<br>And is a shield for those who live blamelessly,",
            "Guarding the paths of justice,<br>Protecting the way of those loyal to Him.",
            "You will then understand what is right, just,<br>And equitable—every good course.",
            "For wisdom will enter your mind<br>And knowledge will delight you.",
            "Foresight will protect you,<br>And discernment will guard you.",
            "It will save you from the way of evil men,<br>From men who speak duplicity,",
            "Who leave the paths of rectitude<br>To follow the ways of darkness,",
            "Who rejoice in doing evil<br>And exult in the duplicity of evil men,",
            "Men whose paths are crooked<br>And who are devious in their course.",
            "It will save you from the forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “strange.”</i> woman,<br>From the alien woman whose talk is smooth,",
            "Who forsakes the companion of her youth<br>And disregards the covenant of her God.",
            "Her house sinks down to Death,<br>And her course leads to the shades.",
            "All who go to her cannot return<br>And find again the paths of life.<br>",
            "So follow the way of the good<br>And keep to the paths of the just.",
            "For the upright will inhabit the earth,<br>The blameless will remain in it.",
            "While the wicked will vanish from the land<br>And the treacherous will be rooted out of it."
        ],
        [
            "My son, do not forget my teaching,<br>But let your mind retain my commandments;",
            "For they will bestow on you length of days,<br>Years of life and well-being.",
            "Let fidelity and steadfastness not leave you;<br>Bind them about your throat,<br>Write them on the tablet of your mind,",
            "And you will find favor and approbation<br>In the eyes of God and man.",
            "Trust in the L<small>ORD</small> with all your heart,<br>And do not rely on your own understanding.",
            "In all your ways acknowledge Him,<br>And He will make your paths smooth.",
            "Do not be wise in your own eyes;<br>Fear the L<small>ORD</small> and shun evil.",
            "It will be a cure for your body,<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “navel.”</i><br>A tonic for your bones.",
            "Honor the L<small>ORD</small> with your wealth,<br>With the best of all your income,",
            "And your barns will be filled with grain,<br>Your vats will burst with new wine.",
            "Do not reject the discipline of the L<small>ORD</small>, my son;<br>Do not abhor His rebuke.",
            "For whom the L<small>ORD</small> loves, He rebukes,<br>As a father the son whom he favors.<br>",
            "Happy is the man who finds wisdom,<br>The man who attains understanding.",
            "Her value in trade is better than silver,<br>Her yield, greater than gold.",
            "She is more precious than rubies;<br>All of your goods cannot equal her.",
            "In her right hand is length of days,<br>In her left, riches and honor.",
            "Her ways are pleasant ways,<br>And all her paths, peaceful.",
            "She is a tree of life to those who grasp her,<br>And whoever holds on to her is happy.<br>",
            "The L<small>ORD</small> founded the earth by wisdom;<br>He established the heavens by understanding;",
            "By His knowledge the depths burst apart,<br>And the skies distilled dew.",
            "My son, do not lose sight of them;<br>Hold on to resourcefulness and foresight.",
            "They will give life to your spirit<br>And grace to your throat.",
            "Then you will go your way safely<br>And not injure your feet.",
            "When you lie down you will be unafraid;<br>You will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.",
            "You will not fear sudden terror<br>Or the disaster that comes upon the wicked,",
            "For the L<small>ORD</small> will be your trust;<br>He will keep your feet from being caught.<br>",
            "Do not withhold good from one who<br>deserves it<br>When you have the power to do it [for him].",
            "Do not say to your fellow, “Come back again;<br>I’ll give it to you tomorrow,” when you have it with you.",
            "Do not devise harm against your fellow<br>Who lives trustfully with you.",
            "Do not quarrel with a man for no cause,<br>When he has done you no harm.",
            "Do not envy a lawless man,<br>Or choose any of his ways;",
            "For the devious man is an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>But He is intimate with the straightforward.",
            "The curse of the L<small>ORD</small> is on the house of the wicked,<br>But He blesses the abode of the righteous.",
            "At scoffers He scoffs,<br>But to the lowly He shows grace.",
            "The wise shall obtain honor,<br>But dullards get disgrace as their portion."
        ],
        [
            "Sons, heed the discipline of a father;<br>Listen and learn discernment,",
            "For I give you good instruction;<br>Do not forsake my teaching.<br>",
            "Once I was a son to my father,<br>The tender darling of my mother.",
            "He instructed me and said to me,<br>“Let your mind hold on to my words;<br>Keep my commandments and you will live.",
            "Acquire wisdom, acquire discernment;<br>Do not forget and do not swerve from my words.",
            "Do not forsake her and she will guard you;<br>Love her and she will protect you.",
            "The beginning<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “best part.”</i> of wisdom is—acquire wisdom;<br>With all your acquisitions, acquire discernment.",
            "Hug her to you and she will exalt you;<br>She will bring you honor if you embrace her.",
            "She will adorn your head with a graceful wreath;<br>Crown you with a glorious diadem.”<br>",
            "My son, heed and take in my words,<br>And you will have many years of life.",
            "I instruct you in the way of wisdom;<br>I guide you in straight courses.",
            "You will walk without breaking stride;<br>When you run, you will not stumble.",
            "Hold fast to discipline; do not let go;<br>Keep it; it is your life.",
            "Do not enter on the path of the wicked;<br>Do not walk on the way of evil men.",
            "Avoid it; do not pass through it;<br>Turn away from it; pass it by.",
            "For they cannot sleep unless they have done evil;<br>Unless they make someone fall they are robbed of sleep.",
            "They eat the bread of wickedness<br>And drink the wine of lawlessness.",
            "The path of the righteous is like radiant sunlight,<br>Ever brightening until noon.",
            "The way of the wicked is all darkness;<br>They do not know what will make them stumble.<br>",
            "My son, listen to my speech;<br>Incline your ear to my words.",
            "Do not lose sight of them;<br>Keep them in your mind.",
            "They are life to him who finds them,<br>Healing for his whole body.",
            "More than all that you guard, guard your mind,<br>For it is the source of life.",
            "Put crooked speech away from you;<br>Keep devious talk far from you.",
            "Let your eyes look forward,<br>Your gaze be straight ahead.",
            "Survey the course you take,<br>And all your ways will prosper.",
            "Do not swerve to the right or the left;<br>Keep your feet from evil."
        ],
        [
            "My son, listen to my wisdom;<br>Incline your ear to my insight,",
            "That you may have foresight,<br>While your lips hold fast to knowledge.",
            "For the lips of a forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “strange.”</i> woman drip honey;<br>Her mouth is smoother than oil;",
            "But in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,<br>Sharp as a two-edged sword.",
            "Her feet go down to Death;<br>Her steps take hold of Sheol.",
            "She does not chart a path of life;<br>Her course meanders for lack of knowledge.",
            "So now, sons, pay heed to me,<br>And do not swerve from the words of my mouth.",
            "Keep yourself far away from her;<br>Do not come near the doorway of her house",
            "Lest you give up your vigor to others,<br>Your years to a ruthless one;",
            "Lest strangers eat their fill of your strength,<br>And your toil be for the house of another;",
            "And in the end you roar,<br>When your flesh and body are consumed,",
            "And say,<br>“O how I hated discipline,<br>And heartily spurned rebuke.",
            "I did not pay heed to my teachers,<br>Or incline my ear to my instructors.",
            "Soon I was in dire trouble<br>Amidst the assembled congregation.”",
            "Drink water from your own cistern,<br>Running water from your own well.",
            "Your springs will gush forth<br>In streams in the public squares.",
            "They will be yours alone,<br>Others having no part with you.",
            "Let your fountain be blessed;<br>Find joy in the wife of your youth—",
            "A loving doe, a graceful mountain goat.<br>Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;<br>Be infatuated with love of her always.",
            "Why be infatuated, my son, with a forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “strange.”</i> woman?<br>Why clasp the bosom of an alien woman?",
            "For a man’s ways are before the eyes of God;<br>He surveys his entire course.",
            "The wicked man will be trapped in his iniquities;<br>He will be caught up in the ropes of his sin.",
            "He will die for lack of discipline,<br>Infatuated by his great folly."
        ],
        [
            "My son, if you have stood surety for your fellow,<br>Given your hand for another,<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “a stranger.”</i>",
            "You have been trapped by the words of your mouth,<br>Snared by the words of your mouth.",
            "Do this, then, my son, to extricate yourself,<br>For you have come into the power of your fellow:<br>Go grovel—and badger your fellow;",
            "Give your eyes no sleep,<br>Your pupils no slumber.",
            "Save yourself like a deer out of the hand [of a hunter],<br>Like a bird out of the hand of a fowler.<br>",
            "Lazybones, go to the ant;<br>Study its ways and learn.",
            "Without leaders, officers, or rulers,",
            "It lays up its stores during the summer,<br>Gathers in its food at the harvest.",
            "How long will you lie there, lazybones;<br>When will you wake from your sleep?",
            "A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber,<br>A bit more hugging yourself in bed,",
            "And poverty will come <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>calling upon you,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup><br>And want, like a man with a shield.<br>",
            "A scoundrel, an evil man<br>Lives by crooked speech,",
            "Winking his eyes,<br>Shuffling his feet,<br>Pointing his finger.",
            "Duplicity is in his heart;<br>He plots evil all the time;<br>He incites quarrels.",
            "Therefore calamity will come upon him without warning;<br>Suddenly he will be broken beyond repair.<br>",
            "Six things the L<small>ORD</small> hates;<br>Seven are an abomination to Him:",
            "A haughty bearing,<br>A lying tongue,<br>Hands that shed innocent blood,",
            "A mind that hatches evil plots,<br>Feet quick to run to evil,",
            "A false witness testifying lies,<br>And one who incites brothers to quarrel.<br>",
            "My son, keep your father’s commandment;<br>Do not forsake your mother’s teaching.",
            "Tie them over your heart always;<br>Bind them around your throat.",
            "When you walk it will lead you;<br>When you lie down it will watch over you;<br>And when you are awake it will talk with you.",
            "For the commandment is a lamp,<br>The teaching is a light,<br>And the way to life is the rebuke that disciplines.",
            "It will keep you from an evil woman,<br>From the smooth tongue of a forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “alien.”</i> woman.",
            "Do not lust for her beauty<br>Or let her captivate you with her eyes.",
            "The last loaf of bread will go for a harlot;<br>A married woman will snare a person of honor.",
            "Can a man rake embers into his bosom<br>Without burning his clothes?",
            "Can a man walk on live coals<br>Without scorching his feet?",
            "It is the same with one who sleeps with his fellow’s wife;<br>None who touches her will go unpunished.",
            "A thief is not held in contempt<br>For stealing to appease his hunger;",
            "Yet if caught he must pay sevenfold;<br>He must give up all he owns.",
            "He who commits adultery is devoid of sense;<br>Only one who would destroy himself does such a thing.",
            "He will meet with disease and disgrace;<br>His reproach will never be expunged.",
            "The fury of the husband will be passionate;<br>He will show no pity on his day of vengeance.",
            "He will not have regard for any ransom;<br>He will refuse your bribe, however great."
        ],
        [
            "My son, heed my words;<br>And store up my commandments with you.",
            "Keep my commandments and live,<br>My teaching, as the apple of your eye.",
            "Bind them on your fingers;<br>Write them on the tablet of your mind.",
            "Say to Wisdom, “You are my sister,”<br>And call Understanding a kinswoman.",
            "She will guard you from a forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “strange.”</i> woman;<br>From an alien woman whose talk is smooth.<br>",
            "From the window of my house,<br>Through my lattice, I looked out",
            "And saw among the simple,<br>Noticed among the youths,<br>A lad devoid of sense.",
            "He was crossing the street near her corner,<br>Walking toward her house",
            "In the dusk of evening,<br>In the dark hours of night.",
            "A woman comes toward him<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Dressed like a harlot, with set purpose.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup>",
            "She is bustling and restive;<br>She is never at home.",
            "Now in the street, now in the square,<br>She lurks at every corner.",
            "She lays hold of him and kisses him;<br>Brazenly she says to him,",
            "“I had to make a sacrifice of well-being;<br>Today I fulfilled my vows.",
            "Therefore I have come out to you,<br>Seeking you, and have found you.",
            "I have decked my couch with covers<br>Of dyed Egyptian linen;",
            "I have sprinkled my bed<br>With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.",
            "Let us drink our fill of love till morning;<br>Let us delight in amorous embrace.",
            "For the man of the house is away;<br>He is off on a distant journey.",
            "He took his bag of money with him<br>And will return only at mid-month.”<br>",
            "She sways him with her eloquence,<br>Turns him aside with her smooth talk.",
            "Thoughtlessly he follows her,<br>Like an ox going to the slaughter,<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Like a fool to the stocks for punishment<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup>—",
            "Until the arrow pierces his liver.<br>He is like a bird rushing into a trap,<br>Not knowing his life is at stake.",
            "Now, sons, listen to me;<br>Pay attention to my words;",
            "Let your mind not wander down her ways;<br>Do not stray onto her paths.",
            "For many are those she has struck dead,<br>And numerous are her victims.",
            "Her house is a highway to Sheol<br>Leading down to Death’s inner chambers."
        ],
        [
            "It is Wisdom calling,<br>Understanding raising her voice.",
            "She takes her stand at the topmost heights,<br>By the wayside, at the crossroads,",
            "Near the gates at the city entrance;<br>At the entryways, she shouts,",
            "“O men, I call to you;<br>My cry is to all mankind.",
            "O simple ones, learn shrewdness;<br>O dullards, instruct your minds.",
            "Listen, for I speak noble things;<br>Uprightness comes from my lips;",
            "My mouth utters truth;<br>Wickedness is abhorrent to my lips.",
            "All my words are just,<br>None of them perverse or crooked;",
            "All are straightforward to the intelligent man,<br>And right to those who have attained knowledge.",
            "Accept my discipline rather than silver,<br>Knowledge rather than choice gold.",
            "For wisdom is better than rubies;<br>No goods can equal her.<br>",
            "“I, Wisdom, live with Prudence;<br>I attain knowledge and foresight.",
            "To fear the L<small>ORD</small> is to hate evil;<br>I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way,<br>And duplicity in speech.",
            "Mine are counsel and resourcefulness;<br>I am understanding; courage is mine.",
            "Through me kings reign<br>And rulers decree just laws;",
            "Through me princes rule,<br>Great men and all the <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">According to some Heb. mss. and printed editions, “judges of the earth.”</i>righteous judges.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "Those who love me I love,<br>And those who seek me will find me.",
            "Riches and honor belong to me,<br>Enduring wealth and success.",
            "My fruit is better than gold, fine gold,<br>And my produce better than choice silver.",
            "I walk on the way of righteousness,<br>On the paths of justice.",
            "I endow those who love me with substance;<br>I will fill their treasuries.<br>",
            "“The L<small>ORD</small> created me at the beginning of His course<br>As the first of His works of old.",
            "In the distant past I was fashioned,<br>At the beginning, at the origin of earth.",
            "There was still no deep when I was brought forth,<br>No springs rich in water;",
            "Before [the foundations of] the mountains were sunk,<br>Before the hills I was born.",
            "He had not yet made earth and fields,<br>Or the world’s first clumps of clay.",
            "I was there when He set the heavens into place;<br>When He fixed the horizon upon the deep;",
            "When He made the heavens above firm,<br>And the fountains of the deep gushed forth;",
            "When He assigned the sea its limits,<br>So that its waters never transgress His command;<br>When He fixed the foundations of the earth,",
            "I was with Him as a confidant,<br>A source of delight every day,<br>Rejoicing before Him at all times,",
            "Rejoicing in His inhabited world,<br>Finding delight with mankind.",
            "Now, sons, listen to me;<br>Happy are they who keep my ways.",
            "Heed discipline and become wise;<br>Do not spurn it.",
            "Happy is the man who listens to me,<br>Coming early to my gates each day,<br>Waiting outside my doors.",
            "For he who finds me finds life<br>And obtains favor from the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "But he who misses me destroys himself;<br>All who hate me love death.”"
        ],
        [
            "Wisdom has built her house,<br>She has hewn her seven pillars.",
            "She has prepared the feast,<br>Mixed the wine,<br>And also set the table.",
            "She has sent out her maids to announce<br>On the heights of the town,",
            "“Let the simple enter here”;<br>To those devoid of sense she says,",
            "“Come, eat my food<br>And drink the wine that I have mixed;",
            "Give up simpleness and live,<br>Walk in the way of understanding.”<br>",
            "To correct a scoffer,<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Clauses transposed for clarity.</i>Or rebuke a wicked man for his blemish,<br>Is to call down abuse on oneself.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "Do not rebuke a scoffer, for he will hate you;<br>Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.",
            "Instruct a wise man, and he will grow wiser;<br>Teach a righteous man, and he will gain in learning.",
            "The beginning of wisdom is fear of the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>And knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.",
            "For through me your days will increase,<br>And years be added to your life.",
            "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself;<br>If you are a scoffer, you bear it alone.",
            "The stupid woman bustles about;<br>She is simple and knows nothing.",
            "She sits in the doorway of her house,<br>Or on a chair at the heights of the town,",
            "Calling to all the wayfarers<br>Who go about their own affairs,",
            "“Let the simple enter here”;<br>And to those devoid of sense she says,",
            "“Stolen waters are sweet,<br>And bread eaten furtively is tasty.”",
            "He does not know that the shades are there,<br>That her guests are in the depths of Sheol."
        ],
        [
            "The proverbs of Solomon:<br><br>A wise son brings joy to his father;<br>A dull son is his mother’s sorrow.",
            "Ill-gotten wealth is of no avail,<br>But righteousness saves from death.",
            "The L<small>ORD</small> will not let the righteous go hungry,<br>But He denies the wicked what they crave.",
            "Negligent hands cause poverty,<br>But diligent hands enrich.",
            "He who lays in stores during the summer is a capable son,<br>But he who sleeps during the harvest is an incompetent.",
            "Blessings light upon the head of the righteous,<br>But lawlessness covers the mouth of the wicked.",
            "The name of the righteous is invoked in blessing,<br>But the fame of the wicked rots.",
            "He whose heart is wise accepts commands,<br>But he whose speech is foolish comes to grief.",
            "He who lives blamelessly lives safely,<br>But he who walks a crooked path will be found out.",
            "He who winks his eye causes sorrow;<br>He whose speech is foolish comes to grief.",
            "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,<br>But lawlessness covers the mouth of the wicked.",
            "Hatred stirs up strife,<br>But love covers up all faults.",
            "Wisdom is to be found on the lips of the intelligent,<br>But a rod is ready for the back of the senseless.",
            "The wise store up knowledge;<br>The mouth of the fool is an imminent ruin.",
            "The wealth of a rich man is his fortress;<br>The poverty of the poor is his ruin.",
            "The labor of the righteous man makes for life;<br>The produce of the wicked man makes for want.",
            "He who follows discipline shows the way to life,<br>But he who ignores reproof leads astray.",
            "He who conceals hatred has lying lips,<br>While he who speaks forth slander is a dullard.",
            "Where there is much talking, there is no lack of transgressing,<br>But he who curbs his tongue<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “lips.”</i> shows sense.",
            "The tongue of a righteous man is choice silver,<br>But the mind of the wicked is of little worth.",
            "The lips of the righteous sustain many,<br>But fools die for lack of sense.",
            "It is the blessing of the L<small>ORD</small> that enriches,<br>And no toil can increase it.",
            "As mischief is sport for the dullard,<br>So is wisdom for the man of understanding.",
            "What the wicked man plots overtakes him;<br>What the righteous desire is granted.",
            "When the storm passes the wicked man is gone,<br>But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.",
            "Like vinegar to the teeth,<br>Like smoke to the eyes,<br>Is a lazy man to those who send him on a mission.",
            "The fear of the L<small>ORD</small> prolongs life,<br>While the years of the wicked will be shortened.",
            "The righteous can look forward to joy,<br>But the hope of the wicked is doomed.",
            "The way of the L<small>ORD</small> is a stronghold for the blameless,<br>But a ruin for evildoers.",
            "The righteous will never be shaken;<br>The wicked will not inhabit the earth.",
            "The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,<br>But the treacherous tongue shall be cut off.",
            "The lips of the righteous know what is pleasing;<br>The mouth of the wicked [knows] duplicity."
        ],
        [
            "False scales are an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>;<br>An honest<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “whole.”</i> weight pleases Him.",
            "When arrogance appears, disgrace follows,<br>But wisdom is with those who are unassuming.",
            "The integrity of the upright guides them;<br>The deviousness of the treacherous leads them to ruin.",
            "Wealth is of no avail on the day of wrath,<br>But righteousness saves from death.",
            "The righteousness of the blameless man smooths his way,<br>But the wicked man is felled by his wickedness.",
            "The righteousness of the upright saves them,<br>But the treacherous are trapped by their malice.",
            "At death the hopes of a wicked man are doomed,<br>And the ambition of evil men comes to nothing.",
            "The righteous man is rescued from trouble<br>And the wicked man takes his place.",
            "The impious man destroys his neighbor through speech,<br>But through their knowledge the righteous are rescued.",
            "When the righteous prosper the city exults;<br>When the wicked perish there are shouts of joy.",
            "A city is built up by the blessing of the upright,<br>But it is torn down by the speech of the wicked.",
            "He who speaks contemptuously of his fellowman is devoid of sense;<br>A prudent man keeps his peace.",
            "A base fellow gives away secrets,<br>But a trustworthy soul keeps a confidence.",
            "For want of strategy an army falls,<br>But victory comes with much planning.",
            "Harm awaits him who stands surety for another;<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “a stranger.”</i><br>He who spurns pledging shall be secure.",
            "A graceful woman obtains honor;<br>Ruthless men obtain wealth.",
            "A kindly man benefits himself;<br>A cruel man makes trouble for himself.",
            "The wicked man earns illusory wages,<br>But he who sows righteousness has a true reward.",
            "Righteousness is a prop of life,<br>But to pursue evil leads to death.",
            "Men of crooked mind are an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>But those whose way is blameless please Him.",
            "Assuredly,<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “Hand to hand”; meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> the evil man will not escape,<br>But the offspring of the righteous will be safe.",
            "Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig<br>Is a beautiful woman bereft of sense.",
            "What the righteous desire can only be good;<br>What the wicked hope for [stirs] wrath.",
            "One man gives generously and ends with more;<br>Another stints on doing the right thing and incurs a loss.",
            "A generous person enjoys prosperity;<br>He who satisfies others shall himself be sated.",
            "He who withholds grain earns the curses of the people,<br>But blessings are on the head of the one who dispenses it.",
            "He who earnestly seeks what is good pursues what is pleasing;<br>He who is bent on evil, upon him it shall come.",
            "He who trusts in his wealth shall fall,<br>But the righteous shall flourish like foliage.",
            "He who makes trouble for his household shall inherit the wind;<br>A fool is a slave to the wise-hearted.",
            "The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life;<br>A wise man captivates people.",
            "If the righteous on earth get their deserts,<br>How much more the wicked man and the sinner."
        ],
        [
            "He who loves discipline loves knowledge;<br>He who spurns reproof is a brutish man.",
            "A good man earns the favor of the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>A man of intrigues, His condemnation.",
            "A man cannot be established in wickedness,<br>But the root of the righteous will not be shaken loose.",
            "A capable wife is a crown for her husband,<br>But an incompetent one is like rot in his bones.",
            "The purposes of the righteous are justice,<br>The schemes of the wicked are deceit.",
            "The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,<br>But the speech of the upright saves them.",
            "Overturn the wicked and they are gone,<br>But the house of the righteous will endure.",
            "A man is commended according to his intelligence;<br>A twisted mind is held up to contempt.",
            "Better to be lightly esteemed and have a servant<br>Than to put on airs and have no food.",
            "A righteous man knows the needs of his beast,<br>But the compassion of the wicked is cruelty.",
            "He who tills his land shall have food in plenty,<br>But he who pursues vanities is devoid of sense.",
            "<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>The wicked covet the catch of evil men;<br>The root of the righteous yields [fruit].<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "Sinful speech is a trap for the evil man,<br>But the righteous escapes from trouble.",
            "A man gets his fill of good from the fruit of his speech;<br>One is repaid in kind for one’s deeds.",
            "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes;<br>But the wise man accepts advice.",
            "A fool’s vexation is known at once,<br>But a clever man conceals his humiliation.",
            "He who testifies faithfully tells the truth,<br>But a false witness, deceit.",
            "There is blunt talk like sword-thrusts,<br>But the speech of the wise is healing.",
            "Truthful speech abides forever,<br>A lying tongue for but a moment.",
            "Deceit is in the minds of those who plot evil;<br>For those who plan good there is joy.",
            "No harm befalls the righteous,<br>But the wicked have their fill of misfortune.",
            "Lying speech is an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>But those who act faithfully please Him.",
            "A clever man conceals what he knows,<br>But the mind of a dullard cries out folly.",
            "The hand of the diligent wields authority;<br>The negligent are held in subjection.",
            "If there is anxiety in a man’s mind let him quash it,<br>And turn it into joy with a good word.",
            "A righteous man <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>gives his friend direction,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup><br>But the way of the wicked leads astray.",
            "A negligent man never has game to roast;<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>A diligent man has precious wealth.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "The road of righteousness leads to life;<br>By way of its path there is no death."
        ],
        [
            "A wise son—it is through the discipline of his father;<br>A scoffer—he never heard reproof.",
            "A man enjoys good from the fruit of his speech;<br>But out of the throat of the treacherous comes lawlessness.",
            "He who guards his tongue<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “mouth.”</i> preserves his life;<br>He who opens wide his lips, it is his ruin.",
            "A lazy man craves, but has nothing;<br>The diligent shall feast on rich fare.",
            "A righteous man hates lies;<br>The wicked man is vile and disgraceful.",
            "Righteousness protects him whose way is blameless;<br>Wickedness subverts the sinner.",
            "One man pretends to be rich and has nothing;<br>Another professes to be poor and has much wealth.",
            "Riches are ransom for a man’s life,<br>The poor never heard a reproof.",
            "The light of the righteous is radiant;<br>The lamp of the wicked is extinguished.",
            "<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Arrogance yields nothing but strife;<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup><br>Wisdom belongs to those who seek advice.",
            "Wealth may dwindle to less than nothing,<br>But he who gathers little by little increases it.",
            "Hope deferred sickens the heart,<br>But desire realized is a tree of life.",
            "He who disdains a precept will be injured thereby;<br>He who respects a command will be rewarded.",
            "The instruction of a wise man is a fountain of life,<br>Enabling one to avoid deadly snares.",
            "Good sense wins favor;<br>The way of treacherous men is unchanging.<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “harsh.”</i>",
            "Every clever man acts knowledgeably,<br>But a dullard exposes his stupidity.",
            "Harm befalls a wicked messenger;<br>A faithful courier brings healing.",
            "Poverty and humiliation are for him who spurns discipline;<br>But he who takes reproof to heart gets honor.",
            "Desire realized is sweet to the soul;<br>To turn away from evil is abhorrent to the stupid.",
            "He who keeps company with the wise becomes wise,<br>But he who consorts with dullards comes to grief.",
            "Misfortune pursues sinners,<br>But the righteous are well rewarded.",
            "A good man has what to bequeath to his grandchildren,<br>For the wealth of sinners is stored up for the righteous.",
            "The tillage of the poor yields much food;<br>But substance is swept away for lack of moderation.",
            "He who spares the rod hates his son,<br>But he who loves him disciplines him early.",
            "The righteous man eats to his heart’s content,<br>But the belly of the wicked is empty."
        ],
        [
            "The wisest of women builds her house,<br>But folly tears it down with its own hands.",
            "He who maintains his integrity fears the L<small>ORD</small>;<br>A man of devious ways scorns Him.",
            "In the mouth of a fool is a rod of haughtiness,<br>But the lips of the wise protect them.",
            "If there are no oxen the crib is clean,<br>But a rich harvest comes through the strength of the ox.",
            "An honest witness will not lie;<br>A false witness testifies lies.",
            "A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,<br>But knowledge comes easily to the intelligent man.",
            "Keep your distance from a dullard,<br>For you will not learn wise speech.",
            "It is the wisdom of a clever man to understand his course;<br>But the stupidity of the dullard is delusion.",
            "Reparations mediate between fools,<br>Between the upright, good will.",
            "The heart alone knows its bitterness,<br>And no outsider can share in its joy.",
            "The house of the wicked will be demolished,<br>But the tent of the upright will flourish.",
            "A road may seem right to a man,<br>But in the end it is a road to death.",
            "The heart may ache even in laughter,<br>And joy may end in grief.",
            "An unprincipled man reaps the fruits of his ways;<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Taking ‘al as from ‘ll; cf. Hos. 12.3.</i>A good man, of his deeds.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "A simple person believes anything;<br>A clever man ponders his course.",
            "A wise man is diffident and shuns evil,<br>But a dullard rushes in confidently.",
            "An impatient man commits folly;<br>A man of intrigues will be hated.",
            "Folly is the lot of the simple,<br>But clever men <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>glory in knowledge.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup>",
            "Evil men are brought low before the good,<br>So are the wicked at the gates of the righteous.",
            "A pauper is despised even by his peers,<br>But a rich man has many friends.",
            "He who despises his fellow is wrong;<br>He who shows pity for the lowly is happy.",
            "Surely those who plan evil go astray,<br>While those who plan good earn steadfast love.",
            "From all toil there is some gain,<br>But idle chatter is pure loss.",
            "The ornament of the wise is their wealth;<br>The stupidity of dullards is stupidity.",
            "A truthful witness saves lives;<br>He who testifies lies [spreads] deceit.",
            "Fear of the L<small>ORD</small> is a stronghold,<br>A refuge for a man’s children.",
            "Fear of the L<small>ORD</small> is a fountain of life,<br>Enabling one to avoid deadly snares.",
            "A numerous people is the glory of a king;<br>Without a nation a ruler is ruined.",
            "Patience results in much understanding;<br>Impatience gets folly as its portion.",
            "A calm disposition gives bodily health;<br>Passion is rot to the bones.",
            "He who withholds what is due to the poor affronts his Maker;<br>He who shows pity for the needy honors Him.",
            "The wicked man is felled by his own evil;<br>The righteous man finds security in his death.",
            "Wisdom rests quietly in the mind of a prudent man,<br>But among dullards it makes itself known.",
            "Righteousness exalts a nation;<br>Sin is a reproach to any people.",
            "The king favors a capable servant;<br>He rages at an incompetent one."
        ],
        [
            "A gentle response allays wrath;<br>A harsh word provokes anger.",
            "The tongue of the wise produces much knowledge,<br>But the mouth of dullards pours out folly.",
            "The eyes of the L<small>ORD</small> are everywhere,<br>Observing the bad and the good.",
            "A healing tongue is a tree of life,<br>But a devious one makes for a broken spirit.",
            "A fool spurns the discipline of his father,<br>But one who heeds reproof becomes clever.",
            "In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,<br>But in the harvest of the wicked there is trouble.",
            "The lips of the wise disseminate knowledge;<br>Not so the minds of dullards.",
            "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>But the prayer of the upright pleases Him.",
            "The way of the wicked is an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>But He loves him who pursues righteousness.",
            "Discipline seems bad to him who forsakes the way;<br>He who spurns reproof will die.",
            "Sheol and Abaddon lie exposed to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>How much more the minds of men!",
            "The scoffer dislikes being reproved;<br>He will not resort to the wise.",
            "A joyful heart makes a cheerful face;<br>A sad heart makes a despondent mood.",
            "The mind of a prudent man seeks knowledge;<br>The mouth of the dullard pursues folly.",
            "All the days of a poor man are wretched,<br>But contentment is a feast without end.",
            "Better a little with fear of the L<small>ORD</small><br>Than great wealth with confusion.",
            "Better a meal of vegetables where there is love<br>Than a fattened ox where there is hate.",
            "A hot-tempered man provokes a quarrel;<br>A patient man calms strife.",
            "The way of a lazy man is like a hedge of thorns,<br>But the path of the upright is paved.",
            "A wise son makes his father happy;<br>A fool of a man humiliates his mother.",
            "Folly is joy to one devoid of sense;<br>A prudent man walks a straight path.",
            "Plans are foiled for want of counsel,<br>But they succeed through many advisers.",
            "A ready response is a joy to a man,<br>And how good is a word rightly timed!",
            "For an intelligent man the path of life leads upward,<br>In order to avoid Sheol below.",
            "The L<small>ORD</small> will tear down the house of the proud,<br>But He will establish the homestead of the widow.",
            "Evil thoughts are an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>But pleasant words are pure.",
            "He who pursues ill-gotten gain makes trouble for his household;<br>He who spurns gifts will live long.",
            "The heart<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">For leb as a source of speech, see note to Eccl. 5.1.</i> of the righteous man rehearses his answer,<br>But the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.",
            "The L<small>ORD</small> is far from the wicked,<br>But He hears the prayer of the righteous.",
            "What brightens the eye gladdens the heart;<br>Good news puts fat on the bones.",
            "He whose ear heeds the discipline of life<br>Lodges among the wise.",
            "He who spurns discipline hates himself;<br>He who heeds reproof gains understanding.",
            "The fear of the L<small>ORD</small> is the discipline of wisdom;<br>Humility precedes honor."
        ],
        [
            "A man may arrange his thoughts,<br>But what he says depends on the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "All the ways of a man seem right to him,<br>But the L<small>ORD</small> probes motives.",
            "Entrust your affairs to the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>And your plans will succeed.",
            "The L<small>ORD</small> made everything for a purpose,<br>Even the wicked for an evil day.",
            "Every haughty person is an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>;<br>Assuredly,<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “Hand to hand”; meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> he will not go unpunished.",
            "Iniquity is expiated by loyalty and faithfulness,<br>And evil is avoided through fear of the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "When the L<small>ORD</small> is pleased with a man’s conduct,<br>He may turn even his enemies into allies.",
            "Better a little with righteousness<br>Than a large income with injustice.",
            "A man may plot out his course,<br>But it is the L<small>ORD</small> who directs his steps.<br>",
            "There is magic on the lips of the king;<br>He cannot err in judgment.",
            "Honest scales and balances are the L<small>ORD</small>’s;<br>All the weights in the bag are His work.",
            "Wicked deeds are an abomination to kings,<br>For the throne is established by righteousness.",
            "Truthful speech wins the favor of kings;<br>They love those who speak honestly.",
            "The king’s wrath is a messenger of death,<br>But a wise man can appease it.",
            "The king’s smile means life;<br>His favor is like a rain cloud in spring.<br>",
            "How much better to acquire wisdom than gold;<br>To acquire understanding is preferable to silver.",
            "The highway of the upright avoids evil;<br>He who would preserve his life watches his way.",
            "Pride goes before ruin,<br>Arrogance, before failure.",
            "Better to be humble and among the lowly<br>Than to share spoils with the proud.",
            "He who is adept in a matter will attain success;<br>Happy is he who trusts in the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "The wise-hearted is called discerning;<br>One whose speech is pleasing gains wisdom.",
            "Good sense is a fountain of life to those who have it,<br>And folly is the punishment of fools.",
            "The mind of the wise man makes his speech effective<br>And increases the wisdom on his lips.",
            "Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,<br>Sweet to the palate and a cure for the body.",
            "A road may seem right to a man,<br>But in the end it is a road to death.",
            "The appetite of a laborer labors for him,<br>Because his hunger<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “mouth.”</i> <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>forces him on.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup><br>",
            "A scoundrel plots<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> evil;<br>What is on his lips is like a scorching fire.",
            "A shifty man stirs up strife,<br>And a querulous one alienates his friend.",
            "A lawless man misleads his friend,<br>Making him take the wrong way.",
            "He closes his eyes while meditating deception;<br>He purses his lips while deciding upon evil.<br>",
            "Gray hair is a crown of glory;<br>It is attained by the way of righteousness.",
            "Better to be forbearing than mighty,<br>To have self-control than to conquer a city.",
            "Lots are cast into the lap;<br>The decision depends on the L<small>ORD</small>."
        ],
        [
            "Better a dry crust with peace<br>Than a house full of feasting with strife.",
            "A capable servant will dominate an incompetent son<br>And share the inheritance with the brothers.",
            "For silver—the crucible;<br>For gold—the furnace,<br>And the L<small>ORD</small> tests the mind.",
            "An evildoer listens to mischievous talk;<br>A liar gives ear to malicious words.",
            "He who mocks the poor affronts his Maker;<br>He who rejoices over another’s misfortune will not go unpunished.",
            "Grandchildren are the crown of their elders,<br>And the glory of children is their parents.",
            "Lofty words are not fitting for a villain;<br>Much less lying words for a great man.",
            "A bribe seems like a charm to him who uses it;<br>He succeeds at every turn.",
            "He who seeks love overlooks faults,<br>But he who harps on a matter alienates his friend.",
            "A rebuke works on an intelligent man<br>More than one hundred blows on a fool.",
            "An evil man seeks only to rebel;<br>A ruthless messenger will be sent against him.",
            "Sooner meet a bereaved she-bear<br>Than a fool with his nonsense.",
            "Evil will never depart from the house<br>Of him who repays good with evil.",
            "To start a quarrel is to open a sluice;<br>Before a dispute <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>flares up,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup> drop it.",
            "To acquit the guilty and convict the innocent—<br>Both are an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "What good is money in the hand of a fool<br>To purchase wisdom, when he has no mind?",
            "A friend is devoted at all times;<br>A brother is born to share adversity.",
            "Devoid of sense is he who gives his hand<br>To stand surety for his fellow.",
            "He who loves transgression loves strife;<br>He who builds a high threshold invites broken bones.",
            "Man of crooked mind comes to no good,<br>And he who speaks duplicity falls into trouble.",
            "One begets a dullard to one’s own grief;<br>The father of a villain has no joy.",
            "A joyful heart makes for <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “a cheerful face”; meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>good health;<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup><br>Despondency dries up the bones.",
            "The wicked man draws a bribe out of his bosom<br>To pervert the course of justice.",
            "Wisdom lies before the intelligent man;<br>The eyes of the dullard range to the ends of the earth.",
            "A stupid son is vexation for his father<br>And a heartache for the woman who bore him.",
            "To punish the innocent is surely not right,<br>Or to flog the great for their uprightness.",
            "A knowledgeable man is sparing with his words;<br>A man of understanding is reticent.",
            "Even a fool, if he keeps silent, is deemed wise;<br>Intelligent, if he seals his lips."
        ],
        [
            "<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>He who isolates himself pursues his desires;<br>He disdains all competence.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "The fool does not desire understanding,<br>But only to air his thoughts.",
            "Comes the wicked man comes derision,<br>And with the rogue, contempt.",
            "The words a man speaks are deep waters,<br>A flowing stream, a fountain of wisdom.",
            "It is not right to be partial to the guilty<br>And subvert the innocent in judgment.",
            "The words of a fool lead to strife;<br>His speech invites blows.",
            "The fool’s speech is his ruin;<br>His words are a trap for him.",
            "The words of a querulous man are bruising;<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i><br>They penetrate one’s inmost parts.",
            "One who is slack in his work<br>Is a brother to a vandal.",
            "The name of the L<small>ORD</small> is a tower of strength<br>To which the righteous man runs and is safe.",
            "The wealth of a rich man is his fortress;<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>In his fancy<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup> it is a protective wall.",
            "Before ruin a man’s heart is proud;<br>Humility goes before honor.",
            "To answer a man before hearing him out<br>Is foolish and disgraceful.",
            "A man’s spirit can sustain him through illness;<br>But low spirits—who can bear them?",
            "The mind of an intelligent man acquires knowledge;<br>The ears of the wise seek out knowledge.",
            "A man’s gift eases his way<br>And gives him access to the great.",
            "The first to plead his case seems right<br>Till the other party examines him.",
            "The lot puts an end to strife<br>And separates those locked in dispute.",
            "A brother offended is more formidable than a stronghold;<br>Such strife is like the bars of a fortress.",
            "A man’s belly is filled by the fruit of his mouth;<br>He will be filled by the produce of his lips.",
            "Death and life are in the power of the tongue;<br>Those who love it will eat its fruit.",
            "He who finds a wife has found happiness<br>And has won the favor of the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "The poor man speaks beseechingly;<br>The rich man’s answer is harsh.",
            "There are companions to keep one company,<br>And there is a friend more devoted than a brother."
        ],
        [
            "Better a poor man who lives blamelessly<br>Than one who speaks perversely and is a dullard.",
            "A person without knowledge is surely not good;<br>He who moves hurriedly blunders.",
            "A man’s folly subverts his way,<br>And his heart rages against the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "Wealth makes many friends,<br>But a poor man loses his last friend.",
            "A false witness will not go unpunished;<br>He who testifies lies will not escape.",
            "Many court the favor of a great man,<br>And all are the friends of a dispenser of gifts.",
            "All the brothers of a poor man despise him;<br>How much more is he shunned by his friends!<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>He who pursues words—they are of no avail.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "He who acquires wisdom is his own best friend;<br>He preserves understanding and attains happiness.",
            "A false witness will not go unpunished;<br>He who testifies falsely is doomed.",
            "Luxury is not fitting for a dullard,<br>Much less that a servant rule over princes.",
            "A man shows intelligence by his forebearance;<br>It is his glory when he overlooks an offense.",
            "The rage of a king is like the roar of a lion;<br>His favor is like dew upon the grass.",
            "A stupid son is a calamity to his father;<br>The nagging of a wife is like the endless dripping of water.",
            "Property and riches are bequeathed by fathers,<br>But an efficient wife comes from the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "Laziness induces sleep,<br>And a negligent person will go hungry.",
            "He who has regard for his life pays regard to commandments;<br>He who is heedless of his ways will die.",
            "He who is generous to the poor makes a loan to the L<small>ORD</small>;<br>He will repay him his due.",
            "Discipline your son while there is still hope,<br>And<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “But.”</i> do not <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “pay attention to his moaning.”</i>set your heart on his destruction.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup>",
            "A hot-tempered man incurs punishment;<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>If you try to save him you will only make it worse.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "Listen to advice and accept discipline<br>In order that you may be wise in the end.",
            "Many designs are in a man’s mind,<br>But it is the L<small>ORD</small>’s plan that is accomplished.",
            "<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Greed is a reproach to a man;<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup><br>Better be poor than a liar.",
            "He who fears the L<small>ORD</small> earns life;<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>He shall abide in contentment,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup><br>Free from misfortune.",
            "The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;<br>He will not even bring it to his mouth.",
            "Beat the scoffer and the simple will become clever;<br>Reprove an intelligent man and he gains knowledge.",
            "A son who causes shame and disgrace<br>Plunders his father, puts his mother to flight.",
            "My son, cease to stray from words of knowledge<br>And receive discipline.",
            "A malicious witness scoffs at justice,<br>And the speech of the wicked conceals mischief.",
            "Punishments are in store for scoffers<br>And blows for the backs of dullards."
        ],
        [
            "Wine is a scoffer, strong drink a roisterer;<br>He who is muddled by them will not grow wise.",
            "The terror of a king is like the roar of a lion;<br>He who provokes his anger risks his life.",
            "It is honorable for a man to desist from strife,<br>But every fool <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>becomes embroiled.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "In winter the lazy man does not plow;<br>At harvesttime he seeks, and finds nothing.",
            "The designs in a man’s mind are deep waters,<br>But a man of understanding can draw them out.",
            "He calls many a man his loyal friend,<br>But who can find a faithful man?",
            "The righteous man lives blamelessly;<br>Happy are his children who come after him.",
            "The king seated on the throne of judgment<br>Can winnow out all evil by his glance.",
            "Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,<br>I am purged of my sin”?",
            "False weights and false measures,<br>Both are an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "A child may be dissembling in his behavior<br>Even though his actions are blameless and proper.",
            "The ear that hears, the eye that sees—<br>The L<small>ORD</small> made them both.",
            "Do not love sleep lest you be impoverished;<br>Keep your eyes open and you will have plenty of food.",
            "“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,<br>But having moved off, he congratulates himself.",
            "Gold is plentiful, jewels abundant,<br>But wise speech is a precious object.",
            "Seize his garment, for he stood surety for another;<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “a stranger.”</i><br>Take it as a pledge, [for he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.",
            "Bread gained by fraud may be tasty to a man,<br>But later his mouth will be filled with gravel.",
            "Plans laid in council will succeed;<br>Wage war with stratagems.",
            "He who gives away secrets is a base fellow;<br>Do not take up with a garrulous man.",
            "One who reviles his father or mother,<br>Light will fail him when darkness comes.",
            "An estate acquired in haste at the outset<br>Will not be blessed in the end.",
            "Do not say, “I will requite evil”;<br>Put your hope in the L<small>ORD</small> and He will deliver you.",
            "False weights are an abomination to the L<small>ORD</small>;<br>Dishonest scales are not right.",
            "A man’s steps are decided by the L<small>ORD</small>;<br>What does a man know about his own way?",
            "It is a snare for a man <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>to pledge a sacred gift rashly<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup><br>And to give thought to his vows only after they have been made.",
            "A wise king winnows out the wicked,<br>And turns the wheel upon them.",
            "The lifebreath of man is the lamp of the L<small>ORD</small><br>Revealing all his inmost parts.",
            "Faithfulness and loyalty protect the king;<br>He maintains his throne by faithfulness.",
            "The glory of youths is their strength;<br>The majesty of old men is their gray hair.",
            "Bruises and wounds are repayment<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> for evil,<br>Striking at one’s inmost parts."
        ],
        [
            "Like channeled water is the mind of the king in the L<small>ORD</small>’s hand;<br>He directs it to whatever He wishes.",
            "All the ways of a man seem right to him,<br>But the L<small>ORD</small> probes the mind.",
            "To do what is right and just<br>Is more desired by the L<small>ORD</small> than sacrifice.",
            "Haughty looks, a proud heart—<br>The tillage of the wicked is sinful.",
            "The plans of the diligent make only for gain;<br>All rash haste makes only for loss.",
            "Treasures acquired by a lying tongue<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Are like driven vapor, heading for extinction.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "The violence of the wicked sweeps them away,<br>For they refuse to act justly.",
            "The way of a man may be tortuous and strange,<br>Though his actions are blameless and proper.",
            "Dwelling in the corner of a roof is better<br>Than a contentious wife in a <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>spacious house.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "The desire of the wicked is set upon evil;<br>His fellowman finds no favor in his eyes.",
            "When a scoffer is punished, the simple man is edified;<br>When a wise man is taught, he gains insight.",
            "The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked man;<br>He subverts the wicked to their ruin.",
            "Who stops his ears at the cry of the wretched,<br>He too will call and not be answered.",
            "A gift in secret subdues anger,<br>A present in private, fierce rage.",
            "Justice done is a joy to the righteous,<br>To evildoers, ruination.",
            "A man who strays from the path of prudence<br>Will rest in the company of ghosts.",
            "He who loves pleasure comes to want;<br>He who loves wine and oil does not grow rich.",
            "The wicked are the ransom of the righteous;<br>The traitor comes in place of the upright.",
            "It is better to live in the desert<br>Than with a contentious, vexatious wife.",
            "Precious treasure and oil are in the house of the wise man,<br>And a fool of a man will run through them.",
            "He who strives to do good and kind deeds<br>Attains life, success, and honor.",
            "One wise man prevailed over a city of warriors<br>And brought down its mighty stronghold.",
            "He who guards his mouth and tongue<br>Guards himself from trouble.",
            "The proud, insolent man, scoffer is his name,<br>Acts in a frenzy of insolence.",
            "The craving of a lazy man kills him,<br>For his hands refuse to work.",
            "All day long he is seized with craving<br>While the righteous man gives without stint.",
            "The sacrifice of the wicked man is an abomination,<br>The more so as he offers it in depravity.",
            "A false witness is doomed,<br>But one who really heard will testify with success.",
            "The wicked man is brazen-faced;<br>The upright man discerns his course.",
            "No wisdom, no prudence, and no counsel<br>Can prevail against the L<small>ORD</small>.",
            "The horse is readied for the day of battle,<br>But victory comes from the L<small>ORD</small>."
        ],
        [
            "Repute is preferable to great wealth,<br>Grace is better than silver and gold.",
            "Rich man and poor man meet;<br>The L<small>ORD</small> made them both.",
            "The shrewd man saw trouble and took cover;<br>The simple kept going and paid the penalty.",
            "The effect of humility is fear of the L<small>ORD</small>,<br>Wealth, honor, and life.",
            "Thorns and snares are in the path of the crooked;<br>He who values his life will keep far from them.",
            "Train a lad in the way he ought to go;<br>He will not swerve from it even in old age.",
            "The rich rule the poor,<br>And the borrower is a slave to the lender.",
            "He who sows injustice shall reap misfortune;<br>His rod of wrath shall fail.",
            "The generous man is blessed,<br>For he gives of his bread to the poor.",
            "Expel the scoffer and contention departs,<br>Quarrel and contumely cease.",
            "A pure-hearted friend,<br>His speech is gracious;<br>He has the king for his companion.",
            "The eyes of the L<small>ORD</small> watch the wise man;<br>He subverts the words of the treacherous.",
            "The lazy man says, “There’s a lion in the street;<br>I shall be killed <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “in the square.”</i>if I step outside.”<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "The mouth of a forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “strange.”</i> woman is a deep pit;<br>He who is doomed by the L<small>ORD</small> falls into it.",
            "If folly settles in the heart of a lad,<br>The rod of discipline will remove it.",
            "To profit by withholding what is due to the poor<br>Is like making gifts to the rich—pure loss.<br>",
            "Incline your ear and listen to the words of the sages;<br>Pay attention to my wisdom.",
            "It is good that you store them inside you,<br>And that all of them be constantly on your lips,",
            "That you may put your trust in the L<small>ORD</small>.<br>I let you know today—yes, you—",
            "Indeed, I wrote down for you <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>a threefold lore,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup><br>Wise counsel,",
            "To let you know truly reliable words,<br>That you may give a faithful reply to him who sent you.",
            "Do not rob the wretched because he is wretched;<br>Do not crush the poor man in the gate;",
            "For the L<small>ORD</small> will take up their cause<br>And despoil those who despoil them of life.",
            "Do not associate with an irascible man,<br>Or go about with one who is hot-tempered,",
            "Lest you learn his ways<br>And find yourself ensnared.",
            "Do not be one of those who give their hand,<br>Who stand surety for debts,",
            "Lest your bed be taken from under you<br>When you have no money to pay.",
            "Do not remove the ancient boundary stone<br>That your ancestors set up.",
            "See a man skilled at his work—<br>He shall attend upon kings;<br>He shall not attend upon <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>obscure men.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup>"
        ],
        [
            "When you sit down to dine with a ruler,<br>Consider well who is before you.",
            "Thrust a knife into your gullet<br>If you have a large appetite.",
            "Do not crave for his dainties,<br>For they are counterfeit food.<br>",
            "Do not toil to gain wealth;<br>Have the sense to desist.",
            "You see it, then it is gone;<br>It grows wings and flies away,<br>Like an eagle, heavenward.<br>",
            "Do not eat of a stingy man’s food;<br>Do not crave for his dainties;",
            "He is like one keeping accounts;<br>“Eat and drink,” he says to you,<br>But he does not really mean it.",
            "The morsel you eat you will vomit;<br>You will waste your courteous words.<br>",
            "Do not speak to a dullard,<br>For he will disdain your sensible words.",
            "Do not remove ancient boundary stones;<br>Do not encroach upon the field of orphans,",
            "For they have a mighty Kinsman,<br>And He will surely take up their cause with you.<br>",
            "Apply your mind to discipline<br>And your ears to wise sayings.",
            "Do not withhold discipline from a child;<br>If you beat him with a rod he will not die.",
            "Beat him with a rod<br>And you will save him from the grave.<br>",
            "My son, if your mind gets wisdom,<br>My mind, too, will be gladdened.",
            "I shall rejoice with all my heart<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “kidneys.”</i><br>When your lips speak right things.",
            "Do not envy sinners in your heart,<br>But only God-fearing men, at all times,",
            "For then you will have a future,<br>And your hope will never fail.<br>",
            "Listen, my son, and get wisdom;<br>Lead your mind in a [proper] path.",
            "Do not be of those who guzzle wine,<br>Or glut themselves on meat;",
            "For guzzlers and gluttons will be impoverished,<br>And drowsing will clothe you in tatters.<br>",
            "Listen to your father who begot you;<br>Do not disdain your mother when she is old.",
            "Buy truth and never sell it,<br>And wisdom, discipline, and understanding.",
            "The father of a righteous man will exult;<br>He who begets a wise son will rejoice in him.",
            "Your father and mother will rejoice;<br>She who bore you will exult.",
            "Give your mind to me, my son;<br>Let your eyes watch my ways.",
            "A harlot is a deep pit;<br>A forbidden<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “alien.”</i> woman is a narrow well.",
            "She too lies in wait as if for prey,<br>And destroys the unfaithful among men.<br>",
            "Who cries, “Woe!” who, “Alas!”;<br>Who has quarrels, who complaints;<br>Who has wounds without cause;<br>Who has bleary eyes?",
            "Those whom wine keeps till the small hours,<br>Those who gather to drain the cups.",
            "Do not ogle that red wine<br>As it lends its color to the cup,<br>As it flows on smoothly;",
            "In the end, it bites like a snake;<br>It spits like a basilisk.",
            "Your eyes will see strange sights;<br>Your heart<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">See note to 15.28.</i> will speak distorted things.",
            "You will be like one lying in bed on high seas,<br>Like one lying <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>on top of the rigging.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-d</sup>",
            "“They struck me, but I felt no hurt;<br>They beat me, but I was unaware;<br>As often as I wake,<br>I go after it again.”"
        ],
        [
            "Do not envy evil men;<br>Do not desire to be with them;",
            "For their hearts<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">See note to 15.28.</i> talk violence,<br>And their lips speak mischief.<br>",
            "A house is built by wisdom,<br>And is established by understanding;",
            "By knowledge are its rooms filled<br>With all precious and beautiful things.<br>",
            "A wise man is strength;<br>A knowledgeable man exerts power;",
            "For by stratagems you wage war,<br>And victory comes with much planning.<br>",
            "Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;<br>He does not open his mouth in the gate.",
            "He who lays plans to do harm<br>Is called by men a schemer.",
            "The schemes of folly are sin,<br>And a scoffer is an abomination to men.<br>",
            "If you showed yourself slack in time of trouble,<br>Wanting in power,",
            "If you refrained from rescuing those taken off to death,<br>Those condemned to slaughter—",
            "If you say, “We knew nothing of it,”<br>Surely He who fathoms hearts will discern [the truth],<br>He who watches over your life will know it,<br>And He will pay each man as he deserves.",
            "My son, eat honey, for it is good;<br>Let its sweet drops be on your palate.",
            "Know: such is wisdom for your soul;<br>If you attain it, there is a future;<br>Your hope will not be cut off.<br>",
            "Wicked man! Do not lurk by the home of the righteous man;<br>Do no violence to his dwelling.",
            "Seven times the righteous man falls and gets up,<br>While the wicked are tripped by one misfortune.<br>",
            "If your enemy falls, do not exult;<br>If he trips, let your heart not rejoice,",
            "Lest the L<small>ORD</small> see it and be displeased,<br>And avert His wrath from him.<br>",
            "Do not be vexed by evildoers;<br>Do not be incensed by the wicked;",
            "For there is no future for the evil man;<br>The lamp of the wicked goes out.<br>",
            "Fear the L<small>ORD</small>, my son, and the king,<br>And do not mix with dissenters,",
            "For disaster comes from them suddenly;<br>The doom both decree who can foreknow?<br>",
            "These also are by the sages:<br><br>It is not right to be partial in judgment.",
            "He who says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”<br>Shall be cursed by peoples,<br>Damned by nations;",
            "But it shall go well with them who decide justly;<br>Blessings of good things will light upon them.<br>",
            "Giving a straightforward reply<br>Is like giving a kiss.",
            "Put your external affairs in order,<br>Get ready what you have in the field,<br>Then build yourself a home.",
            "Do not be a witness against your fellow without good cause;<br>Would you mislead with your speech?",
            "Do not say, “I will do to him what he did to me;<br>I will pay the man what he deserves.”<br>",
            "I passed by the field of a lazy man,<br>By the vineyard of a man lacking sense.",
            "It was all overgrown with thorns;<br>Its surface was covered with chickweed,<br>And its stone fence lay in ruins.",
            "I observed and took it to heart;<br>I saw it and learned a lesson.",
            "A bit more sleep, a bit more slumber,<br>A bit more hugging yourself in bed,",
            "And poverty will come <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>calling upon you,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup><br>And want, like a man with a shield."
        ],
        [
            "These too are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of King Hezekiah of Judah copied:<br>",
            "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,<br>And the glory of a king to plumb a matter.",
            "Like the heavens in their height, like the earth in its depth,<br>Is the mind of kings—unfathomable.",
            "The dross having been separated from the silver,<br>A vessel emerged for the smith.",
            "Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,<br>And his throne will be established in justice.",
            "Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence;<br>Do not stand in the place of nobles.",
            "For it is better to be told, “Step up here,”<br>Than to be degraded in the presence of the great.<br><br>Do not let what your eyes have seen",
            "Be vented rashly in a quarrel;<br>Think<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “Lest.”</i> of what it will effect in the end,<br>When your fellow puts you to shame.",
            "Defend your right against your fellow,<br>But do not give away the secrets of another,",
            "Lest he who hears it reproach you,<br>And your bad repute never end.<br>",
            "Like golden apples in silver showpieces<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i><br>Is a phrase well turned.",
            "Like a ring of gold, a golden ornament,<br>Is a wise man’s reproof in a receptive ear.",
            "Like the coldness of snow at harvesttime<br>Is a trusty messenger to those who send him;<br>He lifts his master’s spirits.",
            "Like clouds, wind—but no rain—<br>Is one who boasts of gifts not given.",
            "Through forbearance a ruler may be won over;<br>A gentle tongue can break bones.",
            "If you find honey, eat only what you need,<br>Lest, surfeiting yourself, you throw it up.",
            "Visit your neighbor sparingly,<br>Lest he have his surfeit of you and loathe you.",
            "Like a club, a sword, a sharpened arrow,<br>Is a man who testifies falsely against his fellow.",
            "Like a loose tooth and an unsteady leg,<br>Is a treacherous support in time of trouble.",
            "Disrobing on a chilly day,<br>Like vinegar on natron,<br>Is one who sings songs to a sorrowful soul.<br>",
            "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;<br>If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.",
            "You will be heaping live coals on his head,<br>And the L<small>ORD</small> will reward you.<br>",
            "A north wind produces rain,<br>And whispered words, a glowering face.",
            "Dwelling in the corner of a roof is better<br>Than a contentious woman in <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>a spacious house.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup>",
            "Like cold water to a parched throat<br>Is good news from a distant land.",
            "Like a muddied spring, a ruined fountain,<br>Is a righteous man fallen before a wicked one.",
            "It is not good to eat much honey,<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Nor is it honorable to search for honor.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup>",
            "Like an open city without walls<br>Is a man whose temper is uncurbed."
        ],
        [
            "Like snow in summer and rain at harvesttime,<br>So honor is not fitting for a dullard.",
            "As a sparrow must flit and a swallow fly,<br>So a gratuitous curse must backfire.<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Kethib, “fail.”</i>",
            "A whip for a horse and a bridle for a donkey,<br>And a rod for the back of dullards.",
            "Do not answer a dullard in accord with his folly,<br>Else you will become like him.",
            "Answer a dullard in accord with his folly,<br>Else he will think himself wise.",
            "He who sends a message by a dullard<br>Will wear out legs and <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “drink.”</i>must put up with<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup> lawlessness.",
            "As legs hang limp on a cripple,<br>So is a proverb in the mouth of dullards.",
            "Like a pebble in a sling,<br>So is paying honor to a dullard.",
            "As a thorn comes to the hand of a drunkard,<br>So a proverb to the mouth of a dullard.",
            "<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>A master can produce anything,<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup><br>But he who hires a dullard is as one who hires transients.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup>",
            "As a dog returns to his vomit,<br>So a dullard repeats his folly.",
            "If you see a man who thinks himself wise,<br>There is more hope for a dullard than for him.<br>",
            "A lazy man says,<br>“There’s a cub on the road, a lion in the squares.”",
            "The door turns on its hinge,<br>And the lazy man on his bed.",
            "The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl;<br>He will not even bring it to his mouth.",
            "The lazy man thinks himself wiser<br>Than seven men who give good advice.<br>",
            "A passerby who gets embroiled in someone else’s quarrel<br>Is like one who seizes a dog by its ears.",
            "Like a madman<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> scattering deadly firebrands, arrows,",
            "Is one who cheats his fellow and says, “I was only joking.”<br>",
            "For lack of wood a fire goes out,<br>And without a querulous man contention is stilled.",
            "Charcoal for embers and wood for a fire<br>And a contentious man for kindling strife.",
            "The words of a querulous man are bruising;<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i><br>They penetrate one’s inmost parts.<br>",
            "Base silver laid over earthenware<br>Are ardent lips with an evil mind.",
            "An enemy dissembles with his speech,<br>Inwardly he harbors deceit.",
            "Though he be fair-spoken do not trust him,<br>For seven abominations are in his mind.",
            "His hatred may be concealed by dissimulation,<br>But his evil will be exposed to public view.<br>",
            "He who digs a pit will fall in it,<br>And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.",
            "A lying tongue hates <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>those crushed by it;<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup><br>Smooth speech throws one down."
        ],
        [
            "Do not boast of tomorrow,<br>For you do not know what the day will bring.",
            "Let the mouth of another praise you, not yours,<br>The lips of a stranger, not your own.",
            "A stone has weight, sand is heavy,<br>But a fool’s vexation outweighs them both.",
            "There is the cruelty of fury, the overflowing of anger,<br>But who can withstand jealousy?",
            "Open reproof is better than concealed love.",
            "Wounds by a loved one are long lasting;<br>The kisses of an enemy are profuse.",
            "A sated person disdains honey,<br>But to a hungry man anything bitter seems sweet.",
            "Like a sparrow wandering from its nest<br>Is a man who wanders from his home.",
            "Oil and incense gladden the heart,<br>And the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel.",
            "Do not desert your friend and your father’s friend;<br>Do not enter your brother’s house in your time of misfortune;<br>A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.",
            "Get wisdom, my son, and gladden my heart,<br>That I may have what to answer those who taunt me.",
            "The shrewd man saw trouble and took cover;<br>The simple kept going and paid the penalty.",
            "Seize his garment, for he stood surety for another;<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “a stranger.”</i><br>Take it as a pledge, [for he stood surety] for an unfamiliar woman.",
            "He who greets his fellow loudly early in the morning<br>Shall have it reckoned to him as a curse.",
            "An endless dripping on a rainy day<br>And a contentious wife are alike;",
            "As soon repress her as repress the wind,<br>Or declare one’s right hand to be oil.",
            "As iron sharpens iron<br>So a man sharpens the wit<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “face.”</i> of his friend.",
            "He who tends a fig tree will enjoy its fruit,<br>And he who cares for his master will be honored.",
            "As face answers to face in water,<br>So does one man’s heart to another.",
            "Sheol and Abaddon cannot be satisfied,<br>Nor can the eyes of man be satisfied.",
            "For silver—the crucible, for gold—the furnace,<br>And a man is tested by his praise.",
            "Even if you pound the fool in a mortar<br>With a pestle along with grain,<br>His folly will not leave him.<br>",
            "Mind well the looks of your flock;<br>Pay attention to your herds;",
            "For property does not last forever,<br>Or a crown for all generations.",
            "Grass vanishes, new grass appears,<br>And the herbage of the hills is gathered in.",
            "The lambs will provide you with clothing,<br>The he-goats, the price of a field.",
            "The goats’ milk will suffice for your food,<br>The food of your household,<br>And the maintenance of your maids."
        ],
        [
            "The wicked flee though no one gives chase,<br>But the righteous are as confident as a lion.",
            "When there is rebellion in the land, many are its rulers;<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>But with a man who has understanding and knowledge, stability will last.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "A poor man who withholds what is due to the wretched<br>Is like a destructive rain that leaves no food.",
            "Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,<br>But those who heed instruction fight them.",
            "Evil men cannot discern judgment,<br>But those who seek the L<small>ORD</small> discern all things.",
            "Better is a poor man who lives blamelessly<br>Than a rich man whose ways are crooked.",
            "An intelligent son heeds instruction,<br>But he who keeps company with gluttons disgraces his father.",
            "He who increases his wealth by loans at discount or interest<br>Amasses it for one who is generous to the poor.",
            "He who turns a deaf ear to instruction—<br>His prayer is an abomination.",
            "He who misleads the upright into an evil course<br>Will fall into his own pit,<br>But the blameless will prosper.",
            "A rich man is clever in his own eyes,<br>But a perceptive poor man can see through him.",
            "When the righteous exult there is great glory,<br>But when the wicked rise up men make themselves scarce.",
            "He who covers up his faults will not succeed;<br>He who confesses and gives them up will find mercy.",
            "Happy is the man who is anxious always,<br>But he who hardens his heart falls into misfortune.",
            "A roaring lion and a prowling bear<br>Is a wicked man ruling a helpless people.",
            "A prince who lacks understanding is very oppressive;<br>He who spurns ill-gotten gains will live long.",
            "A man oppressed by bloodguilt will flee to a pit;<br>Let none give him support.",
            "He who lives blamelessly will be delivered,<br>But he who is crooked in his ways will fall all at once.",
            "He who tills his land will have food in plenty,<br>But he who pursues vanities will have poverty in plenty.",
            "A dependable man will receive many blessings,<br>But one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished.",
            "To be partial is not right;<br>A man may do wrong for a piece of bread.",
            "A miserly man runs after wealth;<br>He does not realize that loss will overtake it.",
            "He who reproves a man will in the end<br>Find more favor than he who flatters him.",
            "He who robs his father and mother and says, “It is no offense,”<br>Is a companion to vandals.",
            "A greedy man provokes quarrels,<br>But he who trusts the L<small>ORD</small> shall enjoy prosperity.",
            "He who trusts his own instinct is a dullard,<br>But he who lives by wisdom shall escape.",
            "He who gives to the poor will not be in want,<br>But he who shuts his eyes will be roundly cursed.",
            "When the wicked rise up, men go into hiding,<br>But when they perish the righteous increase."
        ],
        [
            "One oft reproved may become stiffnecked,<br>But he will be suddenly broken beyond repair.",
            "When the righteous become great the people rejoice,<br>But when the wicked dominate the people groan.",
            "A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,<br>But he who keeps company with harlots will lose his wealth.",
            "By justice a king sustains the land,<br>But a fraudulent man tears it down.",
            "A man who flatters his fellow<br>Spreads a net for his feet.",
            "An evil man’s offenses are a trap for himself,<br>But the righteous sing out joyously.",
            "A righteous man is concerned with the cause of the wretched;<br>A wicked man cannot understand such concern.",
            "Scoffers inflame a city,<br>But the wise allay anger.",
            "When a wise man enters into litigation with a fool<br>There is ranting and ridicule, but no satisfaction.",
            "Bloodthirsty men detest the blameless,<br>But the upright seek them out.",
            "A dullard vents all his rage,<br>But a wise man calms it down.",
            "A ruler who listens to lies,<br>All his ministers will be wicked.",
            "A poor man and a fraudulent man meet;<br>The L<small>ORD</small> gives luster to the eyes of both.",
            "A king who judges the wretched honestly,<br>His throne will be established forever.",
            "Rod and reproof produce wisdom,<br>But a lad out of control is a disgrace to his mother.",
            "When the wicked increase, offenses increase,<br>But the righteous will see their downfall.",
            "Discipline your son and he will give you peace;<br>He will gratify you with dainties.",
            "For lack of vision a people lose restraint,<br>But happy is he who heeds instruction.",
            "A slave cannot be disciplined by words;<br>Though he may comprehend, he does not respond.",
            "If you see a man hasty in speech,<br>There is more hope for a fool than for him.",
            "A slave pampered from youth<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>Will come to a bad end.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup>",
            "An angry man provokes a quarrel;<br>A hot-tempered man commits many offenses.",
            "A man’s pride will humiliate him,<br>But a humble man will obtain honor.",
            "He who shares with a thief is his own enemy;<br>He hears the imprecation and does not tell.<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Cf. Lev. 5.1.</i>",
            "A man’s fears become a trap for him,<br>But he who trusts in the L<small>ORD</small> shall be safeguarded.",
            "Many seek audience with a ruler,<br>But it is from the L<small>ORD</small> that a man gets justice.",
            "The unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,<br>And he whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked."
        ],
        [
            "The words of Agur son of Jakeh, [man of] Massa; The speech of the man to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:<br>",
            "I am brutish, less than a man;<br>I lack common sense.",
            "I have not learned wisdom,<br>Nor do I possess knowledge of the Holy One.",
            "Who has ascended heaven and come down?<br>Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hand?<br>Who has wrapped the waters in his garment?<br>Who has established all the extremities of the earth?<br>What is his name or his son’s name, if you know it?<br>",
            "Every word of God is pure,<br>A shield to those who take refuge in Him.",
            "Do not add to His words,<br>Lest He indict you and you be proved a liar.<br>",
            "Two things I ask of You; do not deny them to me before I die:",
            "Keep lies and false words far from me;<br>Give me neither poverty nor riches,<br>But provide me with my daily bread,",
            "Lest, being sated, I renounce, saying,<br>“Who is the L<small>ORD</small>?”<br>Or, being impoverished, I take to theft<br>And profane<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i> the name of my God.",
            "Do not inform on a slave to his master,<br>Lest he curse you and you incur guilt.<br>",
            "There is a breed of men that brings a curse on its fathers<br>And brings no blessing to its mothers,",
            "A breed that thinks itself pure,<br>Though it is not washed of its filth;",
            "A breed so haughty of bearing, so supercilious;",
            "A breed whose teeth are swords,<br>Whose jaws are knives,<br>Ready to devour the poor of the land,<br>The needy among men.<br>",
            "The leech has two daughters, “Give!” and “Give!”<br>Three things are insatiable;<br>Four never say, “Enough!”:",
            "Sheol, a barren womb,<br>Earth that cannot get enough water,<br>And fire which never says, “Enough!”<br>",
            "The eye that mocks a father<br>And disdains the homage due a mother—<br>The ravens of the brook will gouge it out,<br>Young eagles will devour it.<br>",
            "Three things are beyond me;<br>Four I cannot fathom:",
            "How an eagle makes its way over the sky;<br>How a snake makes its way over a rock;<br>How a ship makes its way through the high seas;<br>How a man has his way with a maiden.",
            "Such is the way of an adulteress:<br>She eats, wipes her mouth,<br>And says, “I have done no wrong.”",
            "The earth shudders at three things,<br>At four which it cannot bear:",
            "A slave who becomes king;<br>A scoundrel sated with food;",
            "A loathsome woman who gets married;<br>A slave-girl who supplants her mistress.<br>",
            "Four are among the tiniest on earth,<br>Yet they are the wisest of the wise:",
            "Ants are a folk without power,<br>Yet they prepare food for themselves in summer;",
            "The badger is a folk without strength,<br>Yet it makes its home in the rock;",
            "The locusts have no king,<br>Yet they all march forth in formation;",
            "You can catch the lizard<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Or “spider.”</i> in your hand,<br>Yet it is found in royal palaces.<br>",
            "There are three that are stately of stride,<br>Four that carry themselves well:",
            "The lion is mightiest among the beasts,<br>And recoils before none;",
            "<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>The greyhound, the he-goat,<br>The king whom none dares resist.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-a</sup><br>",
            "If you have been scandalously arrogant,<br>If you have been a schemer,<br>Then clap your hand to your mouth.",
            "As milk under pressure produces butter,<br>And a nose under pressure produces blood,<br>So patience under pressure produces strife."
        ],
        [
            "The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, with which his mother admonished him:<br>",
            "No, my son!<br>No, O son of my womb!<br>No, O son of my vows!",
            "Do not give your strength to women,<br>Your vigor,<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">a</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “ways.”</i> <sup class=\"footnote-marker\">b</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Meaning of Heb. uncertain.</i>to those who destroy kings.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-b</sup>",
            "Wine is not for kings, O Lemuel;<br>Not for kings to drink,<br>Nor any strong drink for princes,",
            "Lest they drink and forget what has been ordained,<br>And infringe on the rights of the poor.",
            "Give strong drink to the hapless<br>And wine to the embittered.",
            "Let them drink and forget their poverty,<br>And put their troubles out of mind.",
            "Speak up for the dumb,<br>For the rights of all the unfortunate.",
            "Speak up, judge righteously,<br>Champion the poor and the needy.<br>",
            "What a rare find is a capable wife!<br>Her worth is far beyond that of rubies.",
            "Her husband puts his confidence in her,<br>And lacks no good thing.",
            "She is good to him, never bad,<br>All the days of her life.",
            "She looks for wool and flax,<br>And sets her hand to them with a will.",
            "She is like a merchant fleet,<br>Bringing her food from afar.",
            "She rises while it is still night,<br>And supplies provisions for her household,<br>The daily fare of her maids.",
            "She sets her mind on an estate and acquires it;<br>She plants a vineyard by her own labors.",
            "She girds herself with strength,<br><sup class=\"footnote-marker\">c</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “And exerts her arms.”</i>And performs her tasks with vigor.<sup class=\"endFootnote\">-c</sup>",
            "She sees<sup class=\"footnote-marker\">d</sup><i class=\"footnote\">Lit. “tastes.”</i> that her business thrives;<br>Her lamp never goes out at night.",
            "She sets her hand to the distaff;<br>Her fingers work the spindle.<br>",
            "She gives generously to the poor;<br>Her hands are stretched out to the needy.",
            "She is not worried for her household because of snow,<br>For her whole household is dressed in crimson.",
            "She makes covers for herself;<br>Her clothing is linen and purple.",
            "Her husband is prominent in the gates,<br>As he sits among the elders of the land.",
            "She makes cloth and sells it,<br>And offers a girdle to the merchant.",
            "She is clothed with strength and splendor;<br>She looks to the future cheerfully.",
            "Her mouth is full of wisdom,<br>Her tongue with kindly teaching.",
            "She oversees the activities of her household<br>And never eats the bread of idleness.",
            "Her children declare her happy;<br>Her husband praises her,",
            "“Many women have done well,<br>But you surpass them all.”",
            "Grace is deceptive,<br>Beauty is illusory;<br>It is for her fear of the L<small>ORD</small><br>That a woman is to be praised.",
            "Extol her for the fruit of her hand,<br>And let her works praise her in the gates."
        ]
    ],
    "sectionNames": [
        "Chapter",
        "Verse"
    ]
}