Proverbs 18

1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom.

2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.

3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good, Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.

8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.

9 He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.

10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.

12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility.

13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear?

15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.

17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.

18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.

19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.

23 The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.

24 He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Proverbs 19

1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.

10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that is careless of his ways shall die.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.

18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; and set not thy heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.

22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.

24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.

26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.

Proverbs 20

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.

8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.

17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.

19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good.

24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing -wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness.

29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.