Proverbs 21

1 The kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.4 A haughty look, a proud heart, And the plowing of the wicked are sin.5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.6 Getting treasures by a lying tongue Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.7 The violence of the wicked will destroy them, Because they refuse to do justice.8 The way of a guilty man is perverse; But as for the pure, his work is right.9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.10 The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.13 Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be heard.14 A gift in secret pacifies anger, And a bribe behind the back, strong wrath.15  It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.19 Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.20  There is desirable treasure, And oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man squanders it.21 He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness and honor.22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty, And brings down the trusted stronghold.23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.24 A proud and haughty man Scoffer is his name; He acts with arrogant pride.25 The desire of the lazy man kills him, For his hands refuse to labor.26 He covets greedily all day long, But the righteous gives and does not spare.27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination; How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!28 A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.29 A wicked man hardens his face, But as for the upright, he establishes his way.30  There is no wisdom or understanding Or counsel against the Lord.31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But deliverance is of the Lord.

Proverbs 22

1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.2 The rich and the poor have this in common, The Lord is the maker of them all.3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.4 By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will 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 rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.8 He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.9 He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave; Yes, strife and reproach will cease.11 He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge, But He overthrows the words of the faithless.13 The lazy man says, There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!14 The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; Let them all be fixed upon your lips,19 So that your trust may be in the Lord; I have instructed you today, even you.20 Have I not written to you excellent things Of counsels and knowledge,21 That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may answer words of truth To those who send to you?22 Do not rob the poor because he is poor, Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;23 For the Lord will plead their cause, And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.24 Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go,25 Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.26 Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts;27 If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?28 Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

Proverbs 23

1 When you sit down to eat with a ruler, Consider carefully what is before you;2 And put a knife to your throat If you are a man given to appetite.3 Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.4 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease!5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.6 Do not eat the bread of a miser, Nor desire his delicacies;7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. Eat and drink! he says to you, But his heart is not with you.8 The morsel you have eaten, you will vomit up, And waste your pleasant words.9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.10 Do not remove the ancient landmark, Nor enter the fields of the fatherless;11 For their Redeemer is mighty; He will plead their cause against you.12 Apply your heart to instruction, And your ears to words of knowledge.13 Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die.14 You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell.15 My son, if your heart is wise, My heart will rejoiceindeed, I myself;16 Yes, my inmost being will rejoice When your lips speak right things.17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day;18 For surely there is a hereafter, And your hope will not be cut off.19 Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way.20 Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat;21 For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.22 Listen to your father who begot you, And do not despise your mother when she is old.23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice, And he who begets a wise child will delight in him.25 Let your father and your mother be glad, And let her who bore you rejoice.26 My son, give me your heart, And let your eyes observe my ways.27 For a harlot is a deep pit, And a seductress is a narrow well.28 She also lies in wait as for a victim, And increases the unfaithful among men.29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes?30 Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.31 Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly;32 At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things.34 Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: 35 They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?