Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.s3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.s18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Proverbs 10

1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.s4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.ss9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.s11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.s14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.15 The rich man's wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.s18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.s22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.s28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.s

Proverbs 11

1 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.ss2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.s6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.s13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.s14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.ss16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.s23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.s26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.s31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.