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

for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight;

for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;

for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—

let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—

for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;

How useless to spread a net where every bird can see it!

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square;

on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:

“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?

Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.

I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you—

when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you.

“Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me,

they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes.

For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them;

but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—

indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,

and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,

who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,

who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,

whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding,

for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.

Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed.

By wisdom the Lord laid the earth`s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

by his knowledge the watery depths were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion;

they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

He mocks proud mockers but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.

Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.

Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, turn your ear to my words of insight,

that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor`s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion— and give your neighbor no rest!

Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.”

I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who had no sense.

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

At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:

“To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.

You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.

Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.

To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.

Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,

for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.

Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,

bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;

I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water;

before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,

before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth.

I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,

rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.

Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.

For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.

But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”

Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.

She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.

She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,

“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,

“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.

Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.

If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.

Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.

She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,

calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,

“Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.

A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.

From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors, but through knowledge the righteous escape.

Like a gold ring in a pig`s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.

Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and the one who is wise saves lives.

A person is praised according to their prudence, and one with a warped mind is despised.

Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice.

Fools show their annoyance at once, but the prudent overlook an insult.

The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool`s heart blurts out folly.

Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.

Good judgment wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.

All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly.

A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil.

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

A fool`s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them.

The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning.

Stay away from a fool, for you will not find knowledge on their lips.

The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception.

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.

The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.

The wise fear the Lord and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

The wealth of the wise is their crown, but the folly of fools yields folly.

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.

Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning and even among fools she lets herself be known.

A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant arouses his fury.

The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.

Mockers resent correction, so they avoid the wise.

The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish man despises his mother.

Folly brings joy to one who has no sense, but whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

The path of life leads upward for the prudent to keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.

A king`s wrath is a messenger of death, but the wise will appease it.

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!

The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.

Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent, and their lips promote instruction.

There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly.

Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?

A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool`s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions.

The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

The lips of fools bring them strife, and their mouths invite a beating.

Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

To answer before listening— that is folly and shame.

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.

Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way!

A person`s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord.

The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.

It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury— how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!

Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

The purposes of a person`s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.

Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom; by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

Whoever strays from the path of prudence comes to rest in the company of the dead.

The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.

One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name— behaves with insolent fury.

The wicked put up a bold front, but the upright give thought to their ways.

There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.

Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,

Have I not written thirty sayings for you, sayings of counsel and knowledge,

Do not speak to fools, for they will scorn your prudent words.

My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad indeed;

There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path:

Buy the truth and do not sell it— wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

The father of a righteous child has great joy; a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established;

through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.

The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength.

Surely you need guidance to wage war, and victory is won through many advisers.

Wisdom is too high for fools; in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

The schemes of folly are sin, and people detest a mocker.

Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Know also that wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:

These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

Do not exalt yourself in the king`s presence, and do not claim a place among his great men;

it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than for him to humiliate you before his nobles. What you have seen with your eyes

Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes.

Sending a message by the hands of a fool is like cutting off one`s feet or drinking poison.

Like the useless legs of one who is lame is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

Like tying a stone in a sling is the giving of honor to a fool.

Like a thornbush in a drunkard`s hand is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly.

Do you see a person wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for them.

A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven people who answer discreetly.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool`s provocation is heavier than both.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

As water reflects the face, so one`s life reflects the heart.

Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding them like grain with a pestle, you will not remove their folly from them.

When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.

If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.

Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man`s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.

Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.

I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.

those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;

those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;

“There are three things that are too amazing for me, four that I do not understand:

the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the high seas, and the way of a man with a young woman.

“Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot bear up:

“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:

Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;

hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;

locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;

a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings` palaces.

“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:

a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;

“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth!

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.