Category: Proverbs

The Purpose of Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomonson of David, king of Israel:

2 For learning what wisdom and discipline are;

for understanding insightful sayings;

3 for receiving wise instruction

in righteousness, justice, and integrity;

4 for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced,

knowledge and discretionto a young man —

5 a wise man will listen and increase his learning,

and a discerning man will obtain guidance —

6 for understanding a proverb or a parable,

the words of the wise, and their riddles.

7 The fear of theLord

is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Avoid the Path of the Violent

8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching,

9 for they will be a garlandof grace on your head

and a gold chain around your neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice you,

don’t be persuaded.

11 If they say — “Come with us!

Let’s set an ambushand kill someone.

Let’s attack some innocent personjust for fun!

12 Let’s swallow them alive,like Sheol,

still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property

and fill our houses with plunder.

14 Throw in your lot with us,

and we’ll all share our money”—

15 my son, don’t travel that road with them

or set foot on their path,

16 because their feet run toward trouble

and they hurry to commit murder.

17 It is foolish to spread a net

where any bird can see it,

18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves;

they attack their own lives.

19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly;

it takes the lives of those who receive it.

Wisdom’s Plea

20 Wisdom calls out in the street;

she raises her voice in the public squares.

21 She cries out abovethe commotion;

she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:

22 “How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?

How long will you mockersenjoy mocking

and you fools hate knowledge?

23 If you respond to my warning,

then I will pour out my spirit on you

and teach you my words.

24 Since I called out and you refused,

extended my hand and no one paid attention,

25 since you neglected all my counsel

and did not accept my correction,

26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.

I will mock when terror strikes you,

27 when terror strikes you like a storm

and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,

when trouble and stress overcome you.

28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;

they will search for me, but won’t find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge,

didn’t choose to fear theLord,

30 were not interested in my counsel,

and rejected all my correction,

31 they will eat the fruit of their way

and be glutted with their own schemes.

32 For the turning away of the inexperienced will kill them,

and the complacency of fools will destroy them.

33 But whoever listens to me will live securely

and be free from the fear of danger.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/1-225364e2670c23413a2820148fe387f6.mp3?version_id=72—

Wisdom’s Worth

1 My son, if you accept my words

and store up my commands within you,

2 listening closelyto wisdom

and directing your heart to understanding;

3 furthermore, if you call out to insight

and lift your voice to understanding,

4 if you seek it like silver

and search for it like hidden treasure,

5 then you will understand the fear of theLord

and discover the knowledge of God.

6 For theLordgives wisdom;

from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He stores up successfor the upright;

He is a shield for those who live with integrity

8 so that He may guard the paths of justice

and protect the way of His loyal followers.

9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice,

and integrity — every good path.

10 For wisdom will enter your mind,

and knowledge will delight your heart.

11 Discretion will watch over you,

and understanding will guard you,

12 rescuing you from the way of evil —

from the one who says perverse things,

13 from those who abandon the right paths

to walk in ways of darkness,

14 from those who enjoy doing evil

and celebrate perversion,

15 whose paths are crooked,

and whose ways are devious.

16 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman,

from a strangerwith her flattering talk,

17 who abandons the companion of her youth

and forgets the covenant of her God;

18 for her house sinks down to death

and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.

19 None return who go to her;

none reach the paths of life.

20 So follow the way of good people,

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright will inhabit the land,

and those of integrity will remain in it;

22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,

and the treacherous uprooted from it.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/2-e17f764bc2f416b7ba194af51538e7c1.mp3?version_id=72—

Trust the Lord

1 My son, don’t forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commands;

2 for they will bring you

many days, a full life,and well-being.

3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.

Tie them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Then you will find favor and high regard

in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in theLordwith all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding;

6 think about Him in all your ways,

and He will guide you on the right paths.

7 Don’t consider yourself to be wise;

fear theLordand turn away from evil.

8 This will be healing for your body

and strengthening for your bones.

9 Honor theLordwith your possessions

and with the first produce of your entire harvest;

10 then your barns will be completely filled,

and your vats will overflow with new wine.

11 Do not despise theLord’s instruction, my son,

and do not loathe His discipline;

12 for theLorddisciplines the one He loves,

just as a father, the son he delights in.

Wisdom Brings Happiness

13 Happy is a man who finds wisdom

and who acquires understanding,

14 for she is more profitable than silver,

and her revenue is better than gold.

15 She is more precious than jewels;

nothing you desire compares with her.

16 Long lifeis in her right hand;

in her left, riches and honor.

17 Her ways are pleasant,

and all her paths, peaceful.

18 She is a tree of lifeto those who embrace her,

and those who hold on to her are happy.

19 TheLordfounded the earth by wisdom

and established the heavens by understanding.

20 By His knowledge the watery depths broke open,

and the clouds dripped with dew.

21 Maintain your competence and discretion.

My son, don’t lose sight of them.

22 They will be life for you

and adornmentfor your neck.

23 Then you will go safely on your way;

your foot will not stumble.

24 When you liedown, you will not be afraid;

you will lie down, and your sleep will be pleasant.

25 Don’t fear sudden danger

or the ruin of the wicked when it comes,

26 for theLordwill be your confidence

and will keep your foot from a snare.

Treat Others Fairly

27 When it is in your power,

don’t withhold goodfrom the one it belongs to.

28 Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go away! Come back later.

I’ll give it tomorrow” — when it is there with you.

29 Don’t plan any harm against your neighbor,

for he trusts you and lives near you.

30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause,

when he has done you no harm.

31 Don’t envy a violent man

or choose any of his ways;

32 for the devious are detestable to theLord,

but He is a friendto the upright.

33 TheLord’s curse is on the household of the wicked,

but He blesses the home of the righteous;

34 He mocks those who mock,

but gives grace to the humble.

35 The wise will inherit honor,

but He holds up fools to dishonor.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/3-99f6d35d3d48240227a03a447ec4c1c4.mp3?version_id=72—

A Father’s Example

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s discipline,

and pay attention so that you may gain understanding,

2 for I am giving you good instruction.

Don’t abandon my teaching.

3 When I was a son with my father,

tender and precious to my mother,

4 he taught me and said:

“Your heart must hold on to my words.

Keep my commands and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding;

don’t forget or turn away from the words of my mouth.

6 Don’t abandon wisdom, and she will watch over you;

love her,and she will guard you.

7 Wisdom is supreme — so get wisdom.

And whatever else you get, get understanding.

8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;

if you embrace her, she will honor you.

9 She will place a garland of grace on your head;

she will give you a crown of beauty.”

Two Ways of Life

10 Listen, my son. Accept my words,

and you will live many years.

11 I am teaching you the way of wisdom;

I am guiding you on straight paths.

12 When you walk, your steps will not be hindered;

when you run, you will not stumble.

13 Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.

Guard it, for it is your life.

14 Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked;

don’t proceed in the way of evil ones.

15 Avoid it; don’t travel on it.

Turn away from it, and pass it by.

16 For they can’t sleep

unless they have done what is evil;

they are robbed of sleep

unless they make someone stumble.

17 They eat the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,

shining brighter and brighter until midday.

19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;

they don’t know what makes them stumble.

The Straight Path

20 My son, pay attention to my words;

listen closely to my sayings.

21 Don’t lose sight of them;

keep them within your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them,

and health to one’s whole body.

23 Guard your heart above all else,

for it is the source of life.

24 Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,

and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

25 Let your eyes look forward;

fix your gazestraight ahead.

26 Carefully consider the pathfor your feet,

and all your ways will be established.

27 Don’t turn to the right or to the left;

keep your feet away from evil.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/4-9f7d60ded2b41c6c8ab39f7b2a8ebc90.mp3?version_id=72—

Avoid Seduction

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

listen closelyto my understanding

2 so that you may maintain discretion

and your lips safeguard knowledge.

3 Though the lips of the forbidden woman drip honey

and her words aresmoother than oil,

4 in the end she’s as bitter as wormwood

and as sharp as a double-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death;

her steps head straight for Sheol.

6 She doesn’t consider the path of life;

she doesn’t know that her ways are unstable.

7 So now, my sons, listen to me,

and don’t turn away from the words of my mouth.

8 Keep your way far from her.

Don’t go near the door of her house.

9 Otherwise, you will give up your vitality to others

and your years to someone cruel;

10 strangers will drain your resources,

and your earnings will end up in a foreigner’s house.

11 At the end of your life, you will lament

when your physical body has been consumed,

12 and you will say, “How I hated discipline,

and how my heart despised correction.

13 I didn’t obey my teachers

or listen closelyto my mentors.

14 I am on the verge of complete ruin

before the entire community.”

Enjoy Marriage

15 Drink water from your own cistern,

water flowing from your own well.

16 Should your springs flow in the streets,

streams of water in the public squares?

17 They should be for you alone

and not for you to share with strangers.

18 Let your fountain be blessed,

and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.

19 A loving doe, a graceful fawn —

let her breasts always satisfy you;

be lost in her love forever.

20 Why, my son, would you be infatuated

with a forbidden woman

or embrace the breast of a stranger?

21 For a man’s ways are before theLord’s eyes,

and He considers all his paths.

22 A wicked man’s iniquities entrap him;

he is entangled in the ropes of his own sin.

23 He will die because there is no discipline,

and be lost because of his great stupidity.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/5-25610c0cc850a2e67548e4f49218e42c.mp3?version_id=72—

Financial Entanglements

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor

or entered into an agreement witha stranger,

2 you have been trapped by the words of your lips—

ensnared by the words of your mouth.

3 Do this, then, my son, and free yourself,

for you have put yourself in your neighbor’s power:

Go, humble yourself, and plead with your neighbor.

4 Don’t give sleep to your eyes

or slumber to your eyelids.

5 Escape like a gazelle from a hunter,

like a bird from a fowler’s trap.

Laziness

6 Go to the ant,you slacker!

Observe its ways and become wise.

7 Without leader, administrator, or ruler,

8 it prepares its provisions in summer;

it gathers its food during harvest.

9 How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?

When will you get up from your sleep?

10 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the arms to rest,

11 and your poverty will come like a robber,

your need, like a bandit.

The Malicious Man

12 A worthless person,a wicked man

goes around speaking dishonestly,

13 winkinghis eyes, signaling with his feet,

and gesturing with his fingers.

14 He always plots evilwith perversity in his heart —

he stirs up trouble.

15 Therefore calamity will strike him suddenly;

he will be shattered instantly — beyond recovery.

What the Lord Hates

16 TheLordhates six things;

in fact, seven are detestable to Him:

17 arrogant eyes,a lying tongue,

hands that shed innocent blood,

18 a heart that plots wicked schemes,

feet eager to run to evil,

19 a lying witness who gives false testimony,

and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.

Warning against Adultery

20 My son, keep your father’s command,

and don’t reject your mother’s teaching.

21 Always bind them to your heart;

tie them around your neck.

22 When you walk here and there, they will guide you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

when you wake up, they will talk to you.

23 For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,

and corrective discipline is the way to life.

24 They will protect you from an evil woman,

from the flatteringtongue of a stranger.

25 Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty

or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.

26 For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread,

but an adulteressgoes after a precious life.

27 Can a man embrace fire

and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can a man walk on burning coals

without scorching his feet?

29 So it is with the one who sleeps with

another man’s wife;

no one who touches her will go unpunished.

30 People don’t despise the thief if he steals

to satisfy himself when he is hungry.

31 Still, if caught, he must pay seven times as much;

he must give up all the wealth in his house.

32 The one who commits adulterylacks sense;

whoever does so destroys himself.

33 He will get a beatingand dishonor,

and his disgrace will never be removed.

34 For jealousy enrages a husband,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

35 He will not be appeased by anything

or be persuaded by lavish gifts.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/6-38f7af6306b0c4b2a187cc477a2deac1.mp3?version_id=72—

1 My son, obey my words,

and treasure my commands.

2 Keep my commands and live;

protect my teachings

as the pupil of your eye.

3 Tie them to your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,”

and call understanding your relative.

5 She will keep you from a forbidden woman,

a stranger with her flattering talk.

A Story of Seduction

6 At the window of my house

I looked through my lattice.

7 I saw among the inexperienced,

I noticed among the youths,

a young man lacking sense.

8 Crossing the street near her corner,

he strolled down the road to her house

9 at twilight, in the evening,

in the dark of the night.

10 A woman came to meet him

dressed like a prostitute,

having a hidden agenda.

11 She is loud and defiant;

her feet do not stay at home.

12 Now in the street, now in the squares,

she lurks at every corner.

13 She grabs him and kisses him;

she brazenly saysto him,

14 “I’ve made fellowship offerings;

today I’ve fulfilled my vows.

15 So I came out to meet you,

to search for you, and I’ve found you.

16 I’ve spread coverings on my bed—

richly colored linen from Egypt.

17 I’ve perfumed my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning.

Let’s feast on each other’s love!

19 My husband isn’t home;

he went on a long journey.

20 He took a bag of money with him

and will come home at the time of the full moon.”

21 She seduces him with her persistent pleading;

she lures with her flatteringtalk.

22 He follows her impulsively

like an ox going to the slaughter,

like a deer bounding toward a trap

23 until an arrow pierces itsliver,

like a bird darting into a snare—

he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

24 Now, my sons, listen to me,

and pay attention to the words of my mouth.

25 Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;

don’t stray onto her paths.

26 For she has brought many down to death;

her victims are countless.

27 Her house is the road to Sheol,

descending to the chambers of death.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/7-5d41bc9c73804d3f6ac49378da319b5b.mp3?version_id=72—

Wisdom’s Appeal

1 Doesn’t Wisdomcall out?

Doesn’t Understanding make her voice heard?

2 At the heights overlooking the road,

at the crossroads, she takes her stand.

3 Beside the gatesat the entry tothe city,

at the main entrance, she cries out:

4 “People, I call out to you;

my cry is to mankind.

5 Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;

develop common sense, you who are foolish.

6 Listen, for I speak of noble things,

and what my lips say is right.

7 For my mouth tells the truth,

and wickedness is detestable to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

none of them are deceptive or perverse.

9 All of them are clear to the perceptive,

and right to those who discover knowledge.

10 Accept my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than pure gold.

11 For wisdom is better than jewels,

and nothing desirable can compare with it.

12 I, Wisdom, share a home with shrewdness

and have knowledge and discretion.

13 To fear theLordis to hate evil.

I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct,

and perverse speech.

14 I possess good advice and competence;

I have understanding and strength.

15 It is by me that kings reign

and rulers enact just law;

16 by me, princes lead,

as do nobles and all righteous judges.

17 I love those who love me,

and those who search for me find me.

18 With me are riches and honor,

lasting wealth and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than solid gold,

and my harvest than pure silver.

20 I walk in the way of righteousness,

along the paths of justice,

21 giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,

and filling their treasuries.

22 “TheLordmademe

at the beginning of His creation,

before His works of long ago.

23 I was formed before ancient times,

from the beginning, before the earth began.

24 I was born

when there were no watery depths

and no springs filled with water.

25 I was delivered

before the mountains and hills were established,

26 before He made the land, the fields,

or the first soil on earth.

27 I was there when He established the heavens,

when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

28 when He placed the skies above,

when the fountains of the ocean gushed out,

29 when He set a limit for the sea

so that the waters would not violate His command,

when He laid out the foundations of the earth.

30 I was a skilled craftsmanbeside Him.

I was Hisdelight every day,

always rejoicing before Him.

31 I was rejoicing in His inhabited world,

delighting in the human race.

32 “And now, my sons, listen to me;

those who keep my ways are happy.

33 Listen to instruction and be wise;

don’t ignore it.

34 Anyone who listens to me is happy,

watching at my doors every day,

waiting by the posts of my doorway.

35 For the one who finds me finds life

and obtains favor from theLord,

36 but the one who misses meharms himself;

all who hate me love death.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/8-3da2b7ec80cd6de23254b0e751965b45.mp3?version_id=72—

Wisdom versus Foolishness

1 Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved out her seven pillars.

2 She has prepared her meat;she has mixed her wine;

she has also set her table.

3 She has sent out her female servants;

she calls out from the highest points of the city:

4 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ”

To the one who lacks sense,she says,

5 “Come, eat my bread,

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6 Leave inexperience behind, and you will live;

pursue the way of understanding.

7 The one who corrects a mocker

will bring dishonor on himself;

the one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.

8 Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;

rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still;

teach a righteous man, and he will learn more.

10 “The fear of theLordis the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy Oneis understanding.

11 For by Wisdom your days will be many,

and years will be added to your life.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit;

if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.”

13 The woman Folly is rowdy;

she is gullible and knows nothing.

14 She sits by the doorway of her house,

on a seat at the highest point of the city,

15 calling to those who pass by,

who go straight ahead on their paths:

16 “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ”

To the one who lacks sense, she says,

17 “Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten secretly is tasty! ”

18 But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there,

that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/9-577b226a7d52edf84162bd8c184bd2ce.mp3?version_id=72—

A Collection of Solomon’s Proverbs

1 Solomon’s proverbs:

A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish son, heartache to his mother.

2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone,

but righteousness rescues from death.

3 TheLordwill not let the righteous go hungry,

but He denies the wicked what they crave.

4 Idle hands make one poor,

but diligent hands bring riches.

5 The son who gathers during summer is prudent;

the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.

6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

7 The remembrance of the righteous is a blessing,

but the name of the wicked will rot.

8 A wise heart accepts commands,

but foolish lips will be destroyed.

9 The one who lives with integrity lives securely,

but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.

10 A sly wink of the eyecauses grief,

and foolish lips will be destroyed.

11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

12 Hatred stirs up conflicts,

but love covers all offenses.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,

but a rod is for the back of the one who lacks sense.

14 The wise store up knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool hastens destruction.

15 A rich man’s wealth is his fortified city;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16 The labor of the righteous leads to life;

the activity of the wicked leads to sin.

17 The one who follows instruction is on the path to life,

but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

18 The one who conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

19 When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,

but the one who controls his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is pure silver;

the heart of the wicked is of little value.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

22 TheLord’s blessing enriches,

and struggle adds nothing to it.

23 As shameful conduct is pleasure for a fool,

so wisdom is for a man of understanding.

24 What the wicked dreads will come to him,

but what the righteous desire will be given to them.

25 When the whirlwind passes,

the wicked are no more,

but the righteous are secure forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

so the slacker is to the one who sends him on an errand.

27 The fear of theLordprolongs life,

but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 The hope of the righteous is joy,

but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

29 The way of theLordis a stronghold for the honorable,

but destruction awaits the malicious.

30 The righteous will never be shaken,

but the wicked will not remain on the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom,

but a perverse tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is appropriate,

but the mouth of the wicked, only what is perverse.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/PRO/10-4388edce97449002d93dc22e2e4856a3.mp3?version_id=72—