|
Proverbs Part 1
Proverbs Part 2
Proverbs 21:1 ¶The king's heart
is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it
whithersoever he will.
2 ¶Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the
hearts.
3 ¶To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4 ¶An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
5 ¶The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one
that is hasty only to want.
6 ¶The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro
of them that seek death.
7 ¶The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do
judgment.
8 ¶The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is
right.
9 ¶It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling
woman in a wide house.
10 ¶The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in
his eyes.
11 ¶When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise
is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
12 ¶The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God
overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
13 ¶Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry
himself, but shall not be heard.
14 ¶A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong
wrath.
15 ¶It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the
workers of iniquity.
16 ¶The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in
the congregation of the dead.
17 ¶He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil
shall not be rich.
18 ¶The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for
the upright.
19 ¶It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an
angry woman.
20 ¶There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but
a foolish man spendeth it up.
21 ¶He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life,
righteousness, and honour.
22 ¶A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength
of the confidence thereof.
23 ¶Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
24 ¶Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
25 ¶The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and
spareth not.
27 ¶The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he
bringeth it with a wicked mind?
28 ¶A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh
constantly.
29 ¶A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth
his way.
30 ¶There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the
LORD.
Proverbs 22:1 ¶A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and
loving favour rather than silver and gold.
2 ¶The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 ¶A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass
on, and are punished.
4 ¶By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
5 ¶Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his
soul shall be far from them.
6 ¶Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not
depart from it.
7 ¶The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 ¶He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall
fail.
9 ¶He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread
to the poor.
10 ¶Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and
reproach shall cease.
11 ¶He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king
shall be his friend.
12 ¶The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words
of the transgressor.
13 ¶The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the
streets.
14 ¶The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the
LORD shall fall therein.
15 ¶Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction
shall drive it far from him.
16 ¶He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth
to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 ¶Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine
heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall
withal be fitted in thy lips.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day,
even to thee.
20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that
thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 ¶Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in
the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that
spoiled them.
24 ¶Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt
not go:
25 Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
26 ¶Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties
for debts.
27 If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under
thee?
28 ¶Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
29 ¶Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings;
he shall not stand before mean men.
Proverbs 23:1 ¶When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently
what is before thee:
2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
4 ¶Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make
themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
6 ¶Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou
his dainty meats:
7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to
thee; but his heart is not with thee.
8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet
words.
9 ¶Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy
words.
10 ¶Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the
fatherless:
11 For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
12 ¶Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of
knowledge.
13 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the
rod, he shall not die.
14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
17 ¶Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD
all the day long.
18 For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
19 ¶Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
20 Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness
shall clothe a man with rags.
22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when
she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and
understanding.
24 The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth
a wise child shall have joy of him.
25 Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall
rejoice.
26 My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
27 For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
28 She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors
among men.
29 ¶Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling?
who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in
the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter
perverse things.
34 Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as
he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have
beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
Proverbs 24:1 ¶Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be
with them.
2 For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
3 ¶Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is
established:
4 And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and
pleasant riches.
5 A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of
counsellors there is safety.
7 ¶Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
8 He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
9 The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to
men.
10 ¶If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
11 ¶If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those
that are ready to be slain;
12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the
heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and
shall not he render to every man according to his works?
13 ¶My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is
sweet to thy taste:
14 So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found
it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
15 ¶Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil
not his resting place:
16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked
shall fall into mischief.
17 ¶Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad
when he stumbleth:
18 Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath
from him.
19 ¶Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the
wicked;
20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked
shall be put out.
21 ¶My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that
are given to change:
22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them
both?
23 ¶These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of
persons in judgment.
24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people
curse, nations shall abhor him:
25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall
come upon them.
26 Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
27 ¶Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and
afterwards build thine house.
28 ¶Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not
with thy lips.
29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the
man according to his work.
30 ¶I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void
of understanding;
31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the
face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
32 Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received
instruction.
33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to
sleep:
34 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an
armed man.
Proverbs 25:1 ¶These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah
king of Judah copied out.
2 ¶It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to
search out a matter.
3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is
unsearchable.
4 ¶Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel
for the finer.
5 Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be
established in righteousness.
6 ¶Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the
place of great men:
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou
shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have
seen.
8 ¶Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end
thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to
another:
10 Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not
away.
11 ¶A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
12 As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise
reprover upon an obedient ear.
13 ¶As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger
to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
14 ¶Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without
rain.
15 ¶By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the
bone.
16 ¶Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou
be filled therewith, and vomit it.
17 ¶Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee,
and so hate thee.
18 ¶A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a
sword, and a sharp arrow.
19 ¶Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken
tooth, and a foot out of joint.
20 ¶As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon
nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
21 ¶If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty,
give him water to drink:
22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall
reward thee.
23 ¶The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a
backbiting tongue.
24 ¶It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a
brawling woman and in a wide house.
25 ¶As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
26 ¶A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled
fountain, and a corrupt spring.
27 ¶It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory
is not glory.
28 ¶He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken
down, and without walls.
Proverbs 26:1 ¶As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not
seemly for a fool.
2 ¶As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse
causeless shall not come.
3 ¶A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool's
back.
4 ¶Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto
him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
6 ¶He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and
drinketh damage.
7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
8 As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a
fool.
9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the
mouth of fools.
10 ¶The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and
rewardeth transgressors.
11 ¶As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
12 ¶Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool
than of him.
13 ¶The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the
streets.
14 ¶As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
15 ¶The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it
again to his mouth.
16 ¶The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render
a reason.
17 ¶He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is
like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
18 ¶As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
20 ¶Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no
talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
21 As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man
to kindle strife.
22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the
innermost parts of the belly.
23 ¶Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver
dross.
24 ¶He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within
him;
25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations
in his heart.
26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before
the whole congregation.
27 ¶Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it
will return upon him.
28 ¶A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering
mouth worketh ruin.
Proverbs 27:1 ¶Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a
day may bring forth.
2 ¶Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not
thine own lips.
3 ¶A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier
than them both.
4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before
envy?
5 ¶Open rebuke is better than secret love.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are
deceitful.
7 ¶The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter
thing is sweet.
8 ¶As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from
his place.
9 ¶Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's
friend by hearty counsel.
10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into
thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour
that is near than a brother far off.
11 ¶My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that
reproacheth me.
12 ¶A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple
pass on, and are punished.
13 ¶Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him
for a strange woman.
14 ¶He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the
morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
15 ¶A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are
alike.
16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand,
which bewrayeth itself.
17 ¶Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
18 ¶Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that
waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
19 ¶As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
20 ¶Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never
satisfied.
21 ¶As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to
his praise.
22 ¶Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle,
yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
23 ¶Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy
herds.
24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every
generation?
25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the
mountains are gathered.
26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy
household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
Proverbs 28:1 ¶The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are
bold as a lion.
2 ¶For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a
man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
3 ¶A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth
no food.
4 ¶They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law
contend with them.
5 ¶Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand
all things.
6 ¶Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is
perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
7 ¶Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of
riotous men shameth his father.
8 ¶He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall
gather it for him that will pity the poor.
9 ¶He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall
be abomination.
10 ¶Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall
himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in
possession.
11 ¶The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath
understanding searcheth him out.
12 ¶When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked
rise, a man is hidden.
13 ¶He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and
forsaketh them shall have mercy.
14 ¶Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart
shall fall into mischief.
15 ¶As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the
poor people.
16 ¶The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he
that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
17 ¶A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the
pit; let no man stay him.
18 ¶Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his
ways shall fall at once.
19 ¶He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that
followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
20 ¶A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to
be rich shall not be innocent.
21 ¶To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that
man will transgress.
22 ¶He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that
poverty shall come upon him.
23 ¶He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that
flattereth with the tongue.
24 ¶Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no
transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
25 ¶He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his
trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
26 ¶He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely,
he shall be delivered.
27 ¶He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes
shall have many a curse.
28 ¶When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the
righteous increase.
Proverbs 29:1 ¶He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall
suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 ¶When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the
wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
3 ¶Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company
with harlots spendeth his substance.
4 ¶The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts
overthroweth it.
5 ¶A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
6 ¶In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous
doth sing and rejoice.
7 ¶The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth
not to know it.
8 ¶Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
9 ¶If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh,
there is no rest.
10 ¶The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
11 ¶A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till
afterwards.
12 ¶If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
13 ¶The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both
their eyes.
14 ¶The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be
established for ever.
15 ¶The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth
his mother to shame.
16 ¶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the
righteous shall see their fall.
17 ¶Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight
unto thy soul.
18 ¶Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the
law, happy is he.
19 ¶A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he
will not answer.
20 ¶Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a
fool than of him.
21 ¶He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him
become his son at the length.
22 ¶An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in
transgression.
23 ¶A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in
spirit.
24 ¶Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing,
and bewrayeth it not.
25 ¶The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the
LORD shall be safe.
26 ¶Many seek the ruler's favour; but every man's judgment cometh from the
LORD.
27 ¶An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in
the way is abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 30:1 ¶The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the
man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a
man.
3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind
in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established
all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son's name, if
thou canst tell?
5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust
in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a
liar.
7 ¶Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with food convenient for me:
9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be
poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
10 ¶Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be
found guilty.
11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their
mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not
washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are
lifted up.
14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as
knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 ¶The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three
things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
16 The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water;
and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the
ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
18 ¶There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I
know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way
of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth,
and saith, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot
bear:
22 For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
23 For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to
her mistress.
24 ¶There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are
exceeding wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the
summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the
rocks;
27 The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28 The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.
29 ¶There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
30 A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
31 A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising
up.
32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast
thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of
the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth
strife.
Proverbs 31:1 ¶The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught
him.
2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth
kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for
princes strong drink:
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of
the afflicted.
6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those
that be of heavy hearts.
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to
destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and
needy.
10 ¶Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have
no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household,
and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she
planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by
night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her
hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household
are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and
purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of
the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the
merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to
come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of
kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread
of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he
praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the
LORD, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in
the gates.
Proverbs Part 1 Proverbs Part
2
|