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
1 Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.s3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.ss4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.s5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.s7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.ss8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.s9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.s10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.ss11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.s13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.s15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.16 The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.17 Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:s18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.s