[Prov 1]
1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
1:2 To know wisdom and instruction; To discern the words of understanding;
1:3 To receive instruction in wise dealing, In righteousness and justice and equity;
1:4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion:
1:5 That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:
1:6 To understand a proverb, and ¹a figure, The words of the wise, and their ²dark sayings.

¹Or, an interpretation, or, a parable,
²Or, riddles.

1:7 The awe of Jehovah is ³the beginning of knowledge; But the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.

³Or, the chief part of knowledge;

1:8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, And forsake not the ⁴law of thy mother:

⁴Or, teaching

1:9 For they shall be a chaplet of grace unto thy head, And chains about thy neck.
1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, Consent thou not.
1:11 If they say, Come with us, Let us lay in wait for blood; Let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
1:12 Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, ⁵And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

⁵Or, Even the perfect,

1:13 We shall find all precious substance; We shall fill our houses with spoil;
1:14 ⁶Thou shalt cast thy lot among us; We will all have one purse:

⁶Or, Cast in thy lot among us;

1:15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; Refrain thy foot from their path:
1:16 For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood.
1:17 For in vain is the net spread In the sight of any bird:
1:18 And these lay wait for their own blood; They lurk privily for their own souls.
1:19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the soul of the owners thereof.
1:20 Wisdom crieth aloud in the street; She uttereth her voice in the broad places;
1:21 She crieth ⁷in the chief place of concourse; At the entrance of the gates, In the city, she uttereth her words:

⁷Hb. at the head of the noisy streets;

1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And scoffers delight them in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
1:23 Turn you at my reproof: Behold, I will pour out my spirit upon you; I will make known my words unto you.
1:24 Because I have called, and ye have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man hath regarded;
1:25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, And would none of my reproof:
1:26 I also will laugh in the day of your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
1:27 When your fear cometh as ⁸a storm, And your calamity cometh on as a whirlwind; When distress and anguish come upon you.

⁸Or, desolation,

1:28 Then will they call upon me, but I will not answer; They will seek me ⁹diligently but they shall not find me:

⁹Or, early

1:29 For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the awe of Jehovah:
1:30 They would have none of my counsel; They despised all my reproof.
1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, And be filled with their own devices.
1:32 For the backsliding of the simple shall slay them, And the careless ease of fools shall destroy them.
1:33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, And shall be quiet without fear of evil.
[Prov 2]
2:1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And lay up my commandments with thee;
2:2 So as to incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thy heart to understanding;
2:3 Yes, if thou cry after discernment, And lift up thy voice for understanding;
2:4 If thou seek her as silver, And search for her as for hid treasures:
2:5 Then shalt thou understand the awe of Jehovah, And find the knowledge of God.
2:6 For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:
2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; ¹⁰He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

¹⁰Or, And a shield for them that walk in integrity;

2:8 ¹¹That he may guard the paths of justice, ¹²And preserve the way of his saints.

¹¹Or, That they may keep the paths of justice,
¹²Or, Yes, he preserveth the way of his saints.

2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, And equity, yes, every good path.
2:10 For wisdom shall enter into thy heart, And knowledge shall be pleasant unto thy soul;
2:11 Discretion shall watch over thee; Understanding shall keep thee:
2:12 To deliver thee from the way of ¹³evil, From the men that speak perverse things;

¹³Or, the Evil One, or, the evil man, And in vs. 14.

2:13 Who forsake the paths of uprightness, To walk in the ways of darkness;
2:14 Who rejoice to do evil, And delight in the perverseness of evil;
2:15 Who are crooked in their ways, And wayward in their paths:
2:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that ¹⁴flattereth with her words;

¹⁴Hb. maketh smooth her words; or, ...smooth talk;

2:17 That forsaketh the ¹⁵friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:

¹⁵Or, guide

2:18 For ¹⁶her house inclineth unto death, And her paths unto ¹⁷the dead;

¹⁶Or, she sinketh down unto death, which is her house,
¹⁷Or, the shades; Hb. Rephaim;

2:19 None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:
2:20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.
2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the ¹⁸land, And the perfect shall remain in it.

¹⁸Or, earth, And in vs. 22.

2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, And the treacherous shall be rooted out of it.
[Prov 3]
3:1 My son, forget not my ¹⁹law; But let thy heart keep my commandments:

¹⁹Or, teaching;

3:2 For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee.
3:3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart:
3:4 So shalt thou find favor and ²⁰good understanding In the sight of God and man.

²⁰Or, good repute

3:5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding:
3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will ²¹direct thy paths.

²¹Or, make straight (or, make plain) thy paths.

3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil:
3:8 It will be health to thy ²²navel, And ²³marrow to thy bones.

²²So Hb^txt Aram. Sept., Vg. read flesh, or, body
²³Or, refreshing Hb. moistening

3:9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine.
3:11 My son, despise not the ²⁴chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof:

²⁴Or, instruction

3:12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that ²⁵getteth understanding.

²⁵Hb. draweth forth understanding.

3:14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.
3:15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.
3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.
3:17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace.
3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.
3:19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens.
3:20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.
3:21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion:
3:22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck.
3:23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And ²⁶thy foot shall not stumble.

²⁶Hb. thou shalt not dash thy foot.

3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yes, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
3:25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the ²⁷desolation of the wicked, when it cometh:

²⁷Or, storm

3:26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.
3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it.
3:28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And tomorrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee.
3:29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
3:30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm.
3:31 Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways.
3:32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his ²⁸friendship is with the upright.

²⁸Or, counsel

3:33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous.
3:34 ²⁹Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; ³⁰But he giveth grace unto the lowly.

²⁹Or, Though
³⁰Or, Yet

3:35 The wise shall inherit glory; ³¹But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

³¹Or, But fools carry away shame.

[Prov 4]
4:1 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, And attend to know understanding:
4:2 For I give you good doctrine; Forsake ye not my ³²law.

³²Or, teaching.

4:3 For I was a son unto my father, Tender and ³³only beloved in the sight of my mother.

³³Hb. an only one in the sight of my mother.

4:4 And he taught me, and said unto me: Let thy heart retain my words; Keep my commandments, and live;
4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding; Forget not, neither decline from the words of my mouth;
4:6 Forsake her not, and she will preserve thee; Love her, and she will keep thee.
4:7 ³⁴Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom; Yes, with all ³⁵thy getting get understanding.

³⁴Or, The beginning of wisdom is, Get wisdom;
³⁵Or, thou hast gotten get understanding.

4:8 Exalt her, and she will promote thee; She will bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her.
4:9 She will give to thy head a chaplet of grace; A crown of ³⁶beauty will she deliver to thee.

³⁶Or, glory

4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; And the years of thy life shall be many.
4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in paths of uprightness.
4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; And if thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: Keep her; for she is thy life.
4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, And walk not in the way of evil men.
4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it; Turn from it, and pass on.
4:16 For they sleep not, except they do evil; And their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, And drink the wine of violence.
4:18 But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
4:19 The way of the wicked is as the darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
4:20 My son, attend to my words; Incline thine ear unto my sayings.
4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep them in the midst of thy heart.
4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.
4:23 Keep thy heart ³⁷with all diligence; For out of it are the issues of life.

³⁷Or, above all that thou guardest;

4:24 Put away from thee a wayward mouth, And perverse lips put far from thee.
4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, And let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
4:26 ³⁸Make level the path of thy feet, And let all thy ways be ³⁹established.

³⁸Or, Weigh carefully the path of thy feet,
³⁹Or, ordered aright.

4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: Remove thy foot from evil.
[Prov 5]
5:1 My son, attend unto my wisdom; Incline thine ear to my understanding:
5:2 That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.
5:3 For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:
5:4 But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, Sharp as a two-edged sword.
5:5 Her feet go down to death; Her steps take hold on Sheol;
5:6 ⁴⁰So that she findeth not the level path of life; Her ways are unstable, and ⁴¹she knoweth it not.

⁴⁰Or, Lest thou find the level path of life: or,  Lest thou weigh carefully the path of life:
⁴¹Or, thou canst not know them.

5:7 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And depart not from the words of my mouth.
5:8 Remove thy way far from her, And come not nigh the door of her house;
5:9 Lest thou give thine honor unto others, And thy years unto the cruel;
5:10 Lest strangers be filled with thy ⁴²strength, And thy labors be in the house of an alien,

⁴²Or, wealth,

5:11 And thou ⁴³mourn at thy latter end, When thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

⁴³Or, groan

5:12 And say, How have I hated instruction, And my heart despised reproof;
5:13 Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
5:14 I was well-nigh in all evil In the midst of the assembly and congregation.
5:15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, And running waters out of thine own well.
5:16 ⁴⁴Should thy springs be dispersed abroad, And streams of water in the streets?

⁴⁴Or, Let

5:17 Let them be for thyself alone, And not for strangers with thee.
5:18 Let thy fountain be blessed; And rejoice in the wife of thy youth.
5:19 As a loving hind and a pleasant doe, Let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; And ⁴⁵be thou ravished always with her love.

⁴⁵Hb. go astray always with her love.

5:20 For why shouldest thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, And embrace the bosom of a foreigner?
5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of Jehovah; And he ⁴⁶maketh level all his paths.

⁴⁶Or, weigheth carefully all his paths.

5:22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked, And he shall be holden with the cords of his sin.
5:23 He shall die for lack of instruction; And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
[Prov 6]
6:1 My son, if thou art become surety for thy neighbor, If thou hast stricken ⁴⁷thy hands for a stranger;

⁴⁷Or, thy hand with a stranger;

6:2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, Thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
6:3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, Seeing thou art come into the hand of thy neighbor: Go, ⁴⁸humble thyself, and importune thy neighbors;

⁴⁸Or, bestir

6:4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, Nor slumber to thine eyelids;
6:5 Deliver thyself as a ⁴⁹roe from the hand of the hunter, And as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁴⁹Or, gazelle

6:6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; Consider her ways, and be wise:
6:7 Which having no ⁵⁰chief, Overseer, or ruler,

⁵⁰Or, judge,

6:8 Provideth her bread in the summer, And gathereth her food in the harvest.
6:9 How long wilt thou ⁵¹sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

⁵¹Hb. lie down,

6:10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep:
6:11 So shall thy poverty come as a ⁵²robber, And thy want as ⁵³an armed man.

⁵²Or, rover,
⁵³Hb. a man with a shield.

6:12 A son of worthlessness, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;
6:13 That winketh with his eyes, that ⁵⁴speaketh with his feet, That ⁵⁵maketh signs with his fingers;

⁵⁴Or, shuffleth
⁵⁵Or, teacheth with his fingers;

6:14 In whose heart is perverseness, Who deviseth evil continually, Who ⁵⁶soweth discord.

⁵⁶Hb. letteth loose discord.

6:15 Therefore shall his calamity suddenly come; Suddenly shall he be broken, and that without remedy.
6:16 There are six things which Jehovah hateth; Yes, seven which are an abomination ⁵⁷unto him:

⁵⁷Hb. of his soul:

6:17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;
6:18 A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,
6:19 A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that ⁵⁸soweth discord among brethren.

⁵⁸Hb. breatheth out discord among brethren.

6:20 My son, keep the commandment of thy father, And forsake not the ⁵⁹law of thy mother:

⁵⁹Or, teaching

6:21 Bind them continually upon thy heart; Tie them about thy neck.
6:22 When thou walkest, it shall lead thee; When thou ⁶⁰sleepest, it shall watch over thee; And when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

⁶⁰Hb. liest down,

6:23 For ⁶¹the commandment is a lamp; and ⁶²the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

⁶¹Or, their commandment
⁶²Or, their teaching is a light;

6:24 To keep thee from the evil woman, From the flattery of the foreigner’s tongue.
6:25 Lust not after her beauty in thy heart; Neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
6:26 For on account of a harlot a man is brought to a piece of bread; And ⁶³the adulteress hunteth for the precious life.

⁶³Hb. a man’s wife hunteth for the precious soul.

6:27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, And his clothes not be burned?
6:28 Or can one walk upon hot coals, And his feet not be scorched?
6:29 So he that goeth in to his neighbor’s wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be ⁶⁴unpunished.

⁶⁴Hb. held innocent.

6:30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal To satisfy ⁶⁵himself when he is hungry:

⁶⁵Or, his appetite

6:31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house.
6:32 He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of ⁶⁶understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.

⁶⁶Hb. heart:

6:33 Wounds and dishonor shall he get; And his reproach shall not be wiped away.
6:34 For jealousy is the rage of a man; And he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
6:35 He will not regard any atonement; Neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
[Prov 7]
7:1 My son, keep my words, And lay up my commandments with thee.
7:2 Keep my commandments and live; And my law as the apple of thine eye.
7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart.
7:4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; And call understanding thy ⁶⁷kinswoman:

⁶⁷Or, familiar friend:

7:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that ⁶⁸flattereth with her words.

⁶⁸Hb. maketh her words smooth.

7:6 For at the window of my house I looked forth through my lattice;
7:7 And I beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, A young man void of understanding,
7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; And he went the way to her house,
7:9 In the twilight, in the evening of the day, In the ⁶⁹middle of the night and in the darkness.

⁶⁹Hb. pupil (of the eye)

7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and ⁷⁰wily of heart.

⁷⁰Or, close Hb. guarded

7:11 She is ⁷¹clamorous and wilful; Her feet abide not in her house:

⁷¹Or, turbulent

7:12 Now she is in the streets, now in the broad places, And lieth in wait at every corner.
7:13 So she caught him, and kissed him, ⁷²And with an impudent face she said unto him:

⁷²Hb. She hardened her face, and said unto him:

7:14 Sacrifices of peace-offerings ⁷³are with me; This day have I paid my vows.

⁷³Or, were due from me;

7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, Diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
7:16 I have spread my couch with ⁷⁴carpets of tapestry, With striped cloths of the yarn of Egypt.

⁷⁴Or, cushions

7:17 I have ⁷⁵perfumed my bed With myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

⁷⁵Or, sprinkled

7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning; Let us solace ourselves with loves.
7:19 For the man is not at home; He is gone on a long journey:
7:20 He hath taken a bag of money with him; He will come home at the full moon.
7:21 With her much fair speech she causeth him to yield; With the flattering of her lips she forceth him along.
7:22 He goeth after her ⁷⁶straightway As an ox goeth to the slaughter, Or as one in ⁷⁷fetters to the correction of the fool;

⁷⁶Hb. suddenly
⁷⁷RV comments, The Hebrew is obscure.

7:23 Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his soul.
7:24 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me, And attend to the words of my mouth.
7:25 Let not thy heart decline to her ways; Go not astray in her paths.
7:26 For she hath cast down many wounded: Yes, all her slain are a mighty host.
7:27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Going down to the chambers of death.
[Prov 8]
8:1 Doth not wisdom cry, And understanding put forth her voice?
8:2 On the top of high places by the way, Where the paths meet, she standeth;
8:3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, At the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:
8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; And my voice is to the sons of men.
8:5 O ye simple, understand prudence; And, ye fools, be of an understanding heart.
8:6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things; And the opening of my lips shall be right things.
8:7 For my mouth shall utter truth; And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8:8 All the words of my mouth ⁷⁸are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.

⁷⁸Or, are righteousness;

8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.
8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.
8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.
8:12 I wisdom have made prudence my dwelling, And find out ⁷⁹knowledge and discretion.

⁷⁹Or, knowledge of witty inventions.

8:13 The awe of Jehovah is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the perverse mouth, do I hate.
8:14 Counsel is mine, and ⁸⁰sound knowledge: I am understanding; I have might.

⁸⁰Or, effectual working:

8:15 By me kings reign, And princes decree justice.
8:16 By me ⁸¹princes rule, And nobles, even all the ⁸²judges of the earth.

⁸¹Or, rulers
⁸²Some mss., Aram., Vg. read righteous judges.

8:17 I love them that love me; And those that seek me ⁸³diligently shall find me.

⁸³Or, early

8:18 Riches and honor are with me; Yes, ⁸⁴durable wealth and righteousness.

⁸⁴Or, ancient

8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold; And my ⁸⁵revenue than choice silver.

⁸⁵Or, increase

8:20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice;
8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.
8:22 Jehovah ⁸⁶acquired me as the beginning of his way, The first of his works of old.

⁸⁶Or, possessed me in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old. or, bought me etc. Sept., Aram., Targ. read created me etc.

8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, Before the earth was.
8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water.
8:25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills was I brought forth;
8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor fields, Nor the ⁸⁷beginning of the dust of the world.

⁸⁷Or, sum

8:27 When he ⁸⁸established the heavens, I was there: When he set a circle upon the face of the deep,

⁸⁸Or, prepared the heavens,

8:28 When he made firm the skies above, When the fountains of the deep became strong,
8:29 When he gave to the sea ⁸⁹its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he ⁹⁰marked out the foundations of the earth;

⁸⁹Or, his decree,
⁹⁰Or, appointed the foundations of the earth;

8:30 Then I was by him, as a master workman; And I ⁹¹was daily his delight. ⁹²Rejoicing always before him,

⁹¹Or, had delight continually,
⁹²Or, Sporting Also in vs. 31.

8:31 Rejoicing in his habitable earth; And my delight was with the sons of men.
8:32 Now therefore, my sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.
8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, And refuse it not.
8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.
8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, And shall ⁹³obtain favor of Jehovah.

⁹³Hb. draw forth favor

8:36 But ⁹⁴he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

⁹⁴Or, he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul:

[Prov 9]
9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house; She hath hewn out her seven pillars:
9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; She hath also furnished her table:
9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens; She crieth upon the highest places of the city:
9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
9:5 Come, eat ye of my bread, And drink of the wine which I have mingled.
9:6 ⁹⁵Leave off, ye simple ones, and live; And walk in the way of understanding.

⁹⁵Or, Forsake the simple, and live;

9:7 He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
9:8 Reprove not a scoffer, lest he hate thee: Reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.
9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
9:10 The awe of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy Ones is understanding.
9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, And the years of thy life shall be increased.
9:12 If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; And if thou scoffest, thou alone shalt bear it.
9:13 ⁹⁶The foolish woman is clamorous; She is ⁹⁷simple, and knoweth nothing.

⁹⁶Or, Folly is clamorous;
⁹⁷Hb. simplicity,

9:14 And she sitteth at the door of her house, On a seat in the high places of the city,
9:15 To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:
9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,
9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
9:18 But he knoweth not that ⁹⁸the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

⁹⁸Or, the shades Hb. Rephaim

[Prov 10]
10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; But righteousness delivereth from death.
10:3 Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; But he thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.
10:4 He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
10:5 He that gathereth in summer is ⁹⁹a wise son; But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son ¹⁰⁰that causeth shame.

⁹⁹Or, a son that doeth wisely;
¹⁰⁰Or, that doeth shamefully.

10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; But ¹⁰¹violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

¹⁰¹Or, the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.

10:7 The memory of the righteous is blessed; But the name of the wicked shall rot.
10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments; But ¹⁰²a prating fool ¹⁰³shall fall.

¹⁰²Hb. the foolish of lips Also in vs. 10.
¹⁰³Or, shall be overthrown. or, shall be laid low.

10:9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
10:10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool ¹⁰⁴shall fall.

¹⁰⁴Or, shall be overthrown. or, shall be laid low.

10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; But ¹⁰⁵violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

¹⁰⁵Or, the mouth of the wicked covereth violence.

10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes; But love covereth all transgressions.
10:13 In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of ¹⁰⁶understanding.

¹⁰⁶Hb. heart.

10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction.
10:15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
10:16 The labor of the righteous tendeth to life; The increase of the wicked to sin.
10:17 He ¹⁰⁷is in the way of life that heedeth ¹⁰⁸correction; But he that forsaketh reproof ¹⁰⁹erreth.

¹⁰⁷Or, is a way of life
¹⁰⁸Or, instruction;
¹⁰⁹Or, causeth to err.

10:18 He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.
10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips ¹¹⁰doeth wisely.

¹¹⁰Or, is wise.

10:20 The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver: The heart of the wicked is little worth.
10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many; But the foolish die for lack of ¹¹¹understanding.

¹¹¹Hb. heart.

10:22 The blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich; And ¹¹²he addeth no sorrow therewith.

¹¹²Or, toil addeth nothing thereto.

10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; ¹¹³And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.

¹¹³Or, But a man of understanding hath wisdom.

10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; And the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
10:25 ¹¹⁴When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; But the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

¹¹⁴Or, As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more;

10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him.
10:27 The awe of Jehovah ¹¹⁵prolongeth days; But the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

¹¹⁵Hb. addeth days;

10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness; But the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
10:29 The way of Jehovah is a stronghold to the upright; But ¹¹⁶it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

¹¹⁶Or, destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

10:30 The righteous shall never be removed; But the wicked shall not dwell in the ¹¹⁷land.

¹¹⁷Or, earth.

10:31 The mouth of the righteous ¹¹⁸bringeth forth wisdom; But the perverse tongue shall be cut off.

¹¹⁸Or, buddeth with wisdom;

10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wicked ¹¹⁹speaketh perverseness.

¹¹⁹Or, is

[Prov 11]
11:1 A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; But a just weight is his delight.
11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame; But with the lowly is wisdom.
11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them; But the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.
11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath; But righteousness delivereth from death.
11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall ¹²⁰direct his way; But the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

¹²⁰Or, make straight his way; or, make plain his way;

11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; But the treacherous shall be taken in their own iniquity.
11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish; And the hope of ¹²¹iniquity perisheth.

¹²¹Or, strong men

11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, And the wicked cometh in his stead.
11:9 With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; And when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
11:12 He that despiseth his neighbor is void of ¹²²wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

¹²²Hb. heart;

11:13 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.
11:14 Where no wise guidance is, the people falleth; But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
11:15 He that is surety for a stranger ¹²³shall smart for it; But he that hateth ¹²⁴suretyship is secure.

¹²³Hb. shall be sore broken;
¹²⁴Hb. those that strike hands is secure.

11:16 A gracious woman obtaineth honor; ¹²⁵And violent men obtain riches.

¹²⁵Sept., Aram. read But a woman that hateth righteousness is a seat of disgrace. Slothful men do lack substance, But they that are diligent obtain riches.

11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
11:18 The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.
11:19 ¹²⁶He that is stedfast in righteousness shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

¹²⁶Or, So righteousness tendeth to life, And he etc.

11:20 They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.
11:21 ¹²⁷Though hand join to hand, the evil man shall not be unpunished; But the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

¹²⁷Or, My hand upon it! Hb. Hand to hand,

11:22 As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, So is a fair woman that ¹²⁸is without discretion.

¹²⁸Hb. turneth aside from discretion.

11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good; But the expectation of the wicked is ¹²⁹wrath.

¹²⁹Or, arrogance.

11:24 There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth ¹³⁰more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

¹³⁰Or, what is justly due,

11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
11:26 He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
11:27 He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.
11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.
11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.
11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.
11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: How much more the wicked and the sinner!
[Prov 12]
12:1 Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is brutish.
12:2 A good man shall obtain favor of Jehovah; But a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness; But the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
12:4 A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are just; But the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
12:6 The words of the wicked ¹³¹are of lying in wait for blood; But the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

¹³¹Or, are a lying in wait for blood;

12:7 ¹³²The wicked are overthrown, and are not; But the house of the righteous shall stand.

¹³²Or, Overthrow the wicked, and they are not;

12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
12:9 Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and ¹³³hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

¹³³Sept., Aram., Vg. read laboreth for himself,

12:10 A righteous man regardeth the soul of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
12:11 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after ¹³⁴vain persons is void of understanding.

¹³⁴Or, vain things

12:12 The wicked desireth ¹³⁵the net of evil men; But the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

¹³⁵Or, the prey of evil men;

12:13 In the transgression of the lips is ¹³⁶a snare to the evil man; But the righteous shall come out of trouble.

¹³⁶Or, an evil snare.

12:14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth; And the doings of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.
12:16 A fool’s vexation is ¹³⁷presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.

¹³⁷Or, openly Hb. in the day

12:17 He that ¹³⁸uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.

¹³⁸Hb. breatheth out truth

12:18 There is he that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.
12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever; But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy.
12:21 There shall no mischief happen to the righteous; But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight.
12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge; But the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule; But ¹³⁹the slothful shall be put under taskwork.

¹³⁹Hb. slothfulness And so in vs. 27.

12:25 ¹⁴⁰Heaviness in the heart of a man maketh it stoop; But a good word maketh it glad.

¹⁴⁰Or, Care

12:26 The righteous is a guide to his neighbor; But the way of the wicked causeth them to err.
12:27 The slothful man ¹⁴¹roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men ¹⁴²is to the diligent.

¹⁴¹Or, catcheth not his prey;
¹⁴²Or, is to be diligent.

12:28 In the way of righteousness is life; And in the pathway thereof there is no death.
[Prov 13]
13:1 A wise son heareth his father’s ¹⁴³instruction; But a scoffer heareth not rebuke.

¹⁴³Or, correction;

13:2 A man shall eat good ¹⁴⁴by the fruit of his mouth; But ¹⁴⁵the soul of the treacherous shall eat violence.

¹⁴⁴Or, from
¹⁴⁵Or, the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

13:3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
13:5 A righteous man hateth lying; But a wicked man ¹⁴⁶is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

¹⁴⁶Or, causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

13:6 Righteousness guardeth ¹⁴⁷him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth ¹⁴⁸the sinner.

¹⁴⁷Hb. uprightness of way;
¹⁴⁸Hb. sin.

13:7 There is that ¹⁴⁹maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

¹⁴⁹Or, feigneth

13:8 The payment of a man’s soul is his riches; But the poor heareth no ¹⁵⁰threatening.

¹⁵⁰Or, rebuke.

13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; But the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
13:10 By pride cometh only contention; But with the well-advised is wisdom.
13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth ¹⁵¹by labor shall have increase.

¹⁵¹Hb. with the hand shall have increase.

13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; But when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
13:13 Whoso despiseth the word ¹⁵²bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

¹⁵²Or, maketh himself a debtor thereto;

13:14 The ¹⁵³law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

¹⁵³Or, teaching

13:15 Good understanding ¹⁵⁴giveth favor; But the way of the transgressor is hard.

¹⁵⁴Or, getteth favor;

13:16 Every prudent man worketh with knowledge; But a fool flaunteth his folly.
13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; But a faithful ambassador is health.
13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth ¹⁵⁵correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.

¹⁵⁵Or, instruction;

13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; But it is an abomination to fools to depart from evil.
13:20 ¹⁵⁶Walk with wise men, and thou shalt be wise; But the companion of fools shall ¹⁵⁷smart for it.

¹⁵⁶Hb^mg reads He that walketh with wise men shall be wise;
¹⁵⁷Hb. be broken for it.

13:21 Evil pursueth sinners; But the righteous shall be recompensed with good.
13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children; And the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous.
13:23 Much food is in the ¹⁵⁸tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.

¹⁵⁸Or, tilled land of the poor;

13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him ¹⁵⁹betimes.

¹⁵⁹Or, diligently.

13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; But the belly of the wicked shall want.
[Prov 14]
14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house; But ¹⁶⁰the foolish plucketh it down with her own hands.

¹⁶⁰Hb. folly plucketh it down

14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his pride; But the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; But much increase is by the strength of the ox.
14:5 A faithful witness will not lie; But a false witness ¹⁶¹uttereth lies.

¹⁶¹Hb. breatheth out lies.

14:6 A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.
14:7 ¹⁶²Go into the presence of a foolish man, And thou shalt not perceive in him the lips of knowledge.

¹⁶²Or, Go from the presence of a foolish man, For thou wilt not perceive in him the lips etc.

14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way; But the folly of fools is deceit.
14:9 ¹⁶³A trespass-offering mocketh fools; But among the upright there is ¹⁶⁴good will.

¹⁶³Or, Fools make a mock at sin;
¹⁶⁴Or, the favor of God.

14:10 The heart knoweth the bitterness of its soul; And a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.
14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; But the tent of the upright shall flourish.
14:12 There is a way which ¹⁶⁵seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.

¹⁶⁵Or, is straight before a man;

14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; And the end of mirth is heaviness.
14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways; And a good man shall be satified from himself.
14:15 The simple believeth every word; But the prudent man looketh well to his going.
14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil; But the fool beareth himself insolently, and is confident.
14:17 He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.
14:18 The simple inherit folly; But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
14:19 The evil bow down before the good; And the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.
14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbor; But the rich hath many friends.
14:21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.
14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
14:23 In all labor there is profit; But the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
14:24 ¹⁶⁶The crown of the wise is their riches; But the folly of fools is only folly.

¹⁶⁶Or, Their riches is a crown unto the wise;

14:25 A true witness delivereth souls; But he that ¹⁶⁷uttereth lies causeth deceit.

¹⁶⁷Hb. breatheth out lies

14:26 In the awe of Jehovah is strong confidence; And ¹⁶⁸his children shall have a place of refuge.

¹⁶⁸Or, the children of him that hath it shall have etc.

14:27 The awe of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.
14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s glory; But in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
14:29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit ¹⁶⁹exalteth folly.

¹⁶⁹Or, carrieth away folly.

14:30 A tranquil heart is the life of the flesh; But ¹⁷⁰envy is the rottenness of the bones.

¹⁷⁰Or, jealousy

14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.
14:32 The wicked is thrust down in his ¹⁷¹evil-doing; But the righteous hath a refuge ¹⁷²in his death.

¹⁷¹Or, calamity;
¹⁷²So Massoretic, 4QProv^b Vg. Sept. (Aram.) read  in their piety (or, integrity).

14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; ¹⁷³But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.

¹⁷³Or, And in the midst of fools it maketh itself known.

14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; But sin ¹⁷⁴is a reproach to any people.

¹⁷⁴Lit. is a thing needing mercy to peoples. 4QProv^b Sept., Vg. (Aram.) read diminishes peoples.

14:35 The king’s favor is toward a servant that dealeth wisely; But his wrath will be against him that ¹⁷⁵causeth shame.

¹⁷⁵Or, doeth shamefully.

[Prov 15]
15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.
15:2 The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.
15:3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, Keeping watch upon the evil and the good.
15:4 ¹⁷⁶A gentle tongue is a tree of life; But perverseness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

¹⁷⁶Hb. The healing of the tongue is a tree of life;

15:5 A fool despiseth his father’s ¹⁷⁷correction; But he that regardeth reproof ¹⁷⁸getteth prudence.

¹⁷⁷Or, instruction;
¹⁷⁸Or, dealeth prudently.

15:6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure; But in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge; But the heart of the foolish ¹⁷⁹doeth not so.

¹⁷⁹Or, is not stedfast. or, is not right.

15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But the prayer of the upright is his delight.
15:9 The way of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
15:10 There is grievous correction for him that forsaketh the way; And he that hateth reproof shall die.
15:11 Sheol and ¹⁸⁰Abaddon are before Jehovah: How much more then the hearts of the children of men!

¹⁸⁰Or, Destruction

15:12 A scoffer loveth not to be reproved; He will not go unto the wise.
15:13 A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance; But by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.
15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge; But the mouth of fools feedeth on folly.
15:15 All the days of the afflicted are evil; But he that is of a cheerful heart hath a continual feast.
15:16 Better is little, with the awe of Jehovah, Than great treasure and trouble therewith.
15:17 Better is a ¹⁸¹dinner of herbs, where love is, Than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

¹⁸¹Or, portion

15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up contention; But he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
15:19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; But the path of the upright is made a highway.
15:20 A wise son maketh a glad father; But a foolish man despiseth his mother.
15:21 Folly is joy to him that is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding maketh straight his going.
15:22 Where there is no counsel, purposes are disappointed; But in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
15:23 A man hath joy in the answer of his mouth; And a word in due season, how good is it!
15:24 To the wise the way of life goeth upward, That he may depart from Sheol beneath.
15:25 Jehovah will root up the house of the proud; But he will establish the border of the widow.
15:26 Evil devices are an abomination to Jehovah; But ¹⁸²pleasant words are pure.

¹⁸²Or, the pure speak pleasant words.

15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; But he that hateth bribes shall live.
15:28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer; But the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
15:29 Jehovah is far from the wicked; But he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
15:30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; And good tidings make the bones fat.
15:31 The ear that hearkeneth to the reproof of life Shall abide among the wise.
15:32 He that refuseth ¹⁸³correction despiseth his own soul; But he that hearkeneth to reproof getteth understanding.

¹⁸³Or, instruction

15:33 The awe of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honor goeth humility.
[Prov 16]
16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man; But ¹⁸⁴the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah.

¹⁸⁴Or, the final decree is from Jehovah. per Rotherham

16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits.
16:3 ¹⁸⁵Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established.

¹⁸⁵Hb. Roll

16:4 Jehovah hath made every thing for ¹⁸⁶its own end; Yes, even the wicked for the day of evil.

¹⁸⁶Or, his own purpose;

16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah; ¹⁸⁷Though hand join to hand, he shall not be unpunished.

¹⁸⁷Hb. hand to hand See note on ch. 11:21.

16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the awe of Jehovah men depart from evil.
16:7 When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
16:8 Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice.
16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps.
16:10 ¹⁸⁸A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment.

¹⁸⁸Hb. Divination is in the lips of the king;

16:11 A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s; All the weights of the bag are his work.
16:12 It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness.
16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right.
16:14 The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it.
16:15 In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain.
16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yes, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver.
16:17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
16:19 Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the ¹⁸⁹poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

¹⁸⁹Or, meek,

16:20 He that ¹⁹⁰giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he.

¹⁹⁰Or, handleth a matter wisely shall find good;

16:21 The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
16:22 Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is their folly.
16:23 The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips.
16:24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
16:25 There is a way which ¹⁹¹seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death.

¹⁹¹Or, is straight before a man,

16:26 The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him thereto.
16:27 A man of worthlessness deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire.
16:28 A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer ¹⁹²separateth chief friends.

¹⁹²Or, alienateth his friend.

16:29 A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good.
16:30 ¹⁹³He that shutteth his eyes, it is to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass.

¹⁹³Or, He that shutteth his eyes to devise perverse things, That compresseth his lips, bringeth evil etc.

16:31 The hoary head is a crown of ¹⁹⁴glory; ¹⁹⁵If it be found in the way of righteousness.

¹⁹⁴Or, beauty;
¹⁹⁵Or, It shall be found in the way of righteousness.

16:32 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city.
16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.
[Prov 17]
17:1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of ¹⁹⁶feasting with strife.

¹⁹⁶Hb. the sacrifices of strife.

17:2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that ¹⁹⁷causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

¹⁹⁷Or, doeth shamefully,

17:3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
17:4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And ¹⁹⁸a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

¹⁹⁸Hb. falsehood giveth ear

17:5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
17:6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.
17:7 ¹⁹⁹Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

¹⁹⁹Or, Arrogant

17:8 The ²⁰⁰bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, ²⁰¹it ²⁰²prospereth.

²⁰⁰Or, gift (especially to escape punishment)
²⁰¹Or, he
²⁰²Or, dealeth wisely.

17:9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
17:10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
17:11 ²⁰³An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

²⁰³Or, A rebellious man (Hb. Rebellion) seeketh only evil;

17:12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
17:13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
17:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
17:15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
17:16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no ²⁰⁴understanding?

²⁰⁴Hb. heart

17:17 A friend loveth at all times; And ²⁰⁵a brother is born for adversity.

²⁰⁵Or, is born as a brother for adversity.

17:18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
17:19 ²⁰⁶He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰⁶Or, He that loveth transgression loveth strife:

17:20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into ²⁰⁷mischief.

²⁰⁷Or, calamity.

17:21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.
17:22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
17:23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
17:24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
17:25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
17:26 Also to ²⁰⁸punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

²⁰⁸Or, fine

17:27 He ²⁰⁹that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

²⁰⁹Or, that hath knowledge spareth his words: And a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

17:28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; ²¹⁰When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

²¹⁰Or, He that shutteth his lips is esteemed as prudent.

[Prov 18]
18:1 He that separateth himself seeketh his own desire, And ²¹¹rageth against all sound wisdom.

²¹¹Or, quarrelleth with all sound wisdom.

18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself.
18:3 When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy cometh reproach.
18:4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters; ²¹²The wellspring of wisdom is as a flowing brook.

²¹²Or, A flowing brook, a wellspring of wisdom.

18:5 To respect the person of the wicked is not good, ²¹³Nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

²¹³Or, So as to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

18:6 A fool’s lips ²¹⁴enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes.

²¹⁴Or, bring contention,

18:7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul.
18:8 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
18:9 He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer.
18:10 The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and ²¹⁵is safe.

²¹⁵Hb. is set on high.

18:11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination.
18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor goeth humility.
18:13 He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him.
18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can ²¹⁶bear?

²¹⁶Or, raise up

18:15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
18:16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.
18:17 He that pleadeth his cause first seemeth just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out.
18:18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty.
18:19 A brother ²¹⁷offended is harder to be won than a strong city; And such contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²¹⁷Or, injured

18:20 A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied.
18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah.
18:23 The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly.
18:24 ²¹⁸He that maketh many friends doeth it to his own destruction; But there is a ²¹⁹friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

²¹⁸Hb. A man of friends
²¹⁹Hb. lover

[Prov 19]
19:1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
19:2 Also, ²²⁰that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet ²²¹sinneth.

²²⁰Or, desire without knowledge is not good;
²²¹Or, misseth his way.

19:3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.
19:4 Wealth addeth many friends; But ²²²the poor is separated from his friend.

²²²Or, the friend of the poor separateth himself from him

19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that ²²³uttereth lies shall not escape.

²²³Hb. breatheth out lies Also in vs. 9.

19:6 Many will entreat the favor of ²²⁴the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

²²⁴Or, a prince;

19:7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! ²²⁵He pursueth them with words, but they are gone.

²²⁵Or, He pursueth after words, which are nought.

19:8 He that getteth ²²⁶wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.

²²⁶Hb. heart.

19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.
19:10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
19:11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
19:12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.
19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
19:14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.
19:15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.
19:16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; But he that ²²⁷is careless of his ways shall die.

²²⁷Hb. despiseth his ways

19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.
19:18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on ²²⁸his destruction.

²²⁸Hb. causing him to die.

19:19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver him, thou must do it yet again.
19:20 Hear counsel, and receive ²²⁹instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

²²⁹Or, correction,

19:21 There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.
19:22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.
19:23 The awe of Jehovah tendeth to life; And he that hath it shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.
19:24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
19:25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
19:26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.
19:27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction Only to err from the words of knowledge.
19:28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.
19:29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
[Prov 20]
20:1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever ²³⁰erreth thereby is not wise.

²³⁰Or, reeleth

20:2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that ²³¹provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own ²³²soul.

²³¹Or, angereth himself against him sinneth etc.
²³²Or, life. or, being.

20:3 It is an honor for a man to ²³³keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarelling.

²³³Or, cease from strife;

20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; ²³⁴Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

²³⁴Or, Therefore when he seeketh in harvest, there shall be nothing.

20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out.
20:6 ²³⁵Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find?

²³⁵Or, Many a man will meet one that is kind to him;

20:7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him.
20:8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment ²³⁶Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

²³⁶Or, Winnoweth all evil with his eyes.

20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
20:10 ²³⁷Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

²³⁷Hb. A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah,

20:11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.
20:13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
20:14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
20:15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
20:16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And ²³⁸hold him in pledge that is surety for ²³⁹foreigners.

²³⁸Or, take a pledge of him that is surety
²³⁹Hb^mg reads a foreign woman.

20:17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
20:18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war.
20:19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.
20:20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
20:21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed.
20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.
20:23 ²⁴⁰Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And ²⁴¹a false balance is not good.

²⁴⁰Hb. A stone and a stone are an abomination etc.
²⁴¹Hb. a balance of deceit is not good. or, ...no good.

20:24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way?
20:25 It is a snare to a man ²⁴²rashly to say, It is holy, And after vows to make inquiry.

²⁴²Or, rashly to utter holy words, or, to devour that which is holy,

20:26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them.
20:27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts.
20:28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And ²⁴³his throne is upholden by kindness.

²⁴³Or, he upholdeth his throne by kindness.

20:29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.
20:30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes reach the innermost parts.
[Prov 21]
21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will.
21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts.
21:3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.
21:4 A high look, and a proud heart, ²⁴⁴Even the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

²⁴⁴Or, and the tillage of the wicked is sin.

21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty hasteth only to want.
21:6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death.
21:7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice.
21:8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is ²⁴⁵right.

²⁴⁵Or, straight.

21:9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in ²⁴⁶a wide house.

²⁴⁶Or, a house in common. Hb. a house of society.

21:10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes.
21:11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And ²⁴⁷when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

²⁴⁷Or, when one considereth the wise,

21:12 ²⁴⁸The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, How the wicked are overthrown to their ruin.

²⁴⁸Or, One that is righteous considereth ... the wicked, He overthroweth the wicked to their ruin.

21:13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard.
21:14 A gift in secret ²⁴⁹pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath.

²⁴⁹Hb. bendeth

21:15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; ²⁵⁰But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.

²⁵⁰Or, But destruction shall be to etc.

21:16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of ²⁵¹the dead.

²⁵¹Or, the shades. Hb. Rephaim.

21:17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
21:18 The wicked is a payment for the righteous; And the treacherous cometh in the stead of the upright.
21:19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with ²⁵²a contentious and fretful woman.

²⁵²Or, a contentious woman and vexation.

21:20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up.
21:21 He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor.
21:22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
21:23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.
21:24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride.
21:25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor.
21:26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.
21:27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it ²⁵³with a wicked mind!

²⁵³Or, to atone for wickedness!

21:28 A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure.
21:29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, ²⁵⁴he establisheth his ways.

²⁵⁴Hb^mg reads he considereth his way.

21:30 There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah.
21:31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But the victory is of Jehovah.
[Prov 22]
22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, And ²⁵⁵loving favor rather than silver and gold.

²⁵⁵Or, favor is better than silver and gold.

22:2 The rich and the poor meet together: Jehovah is the maker of them all.
22:3 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and ²⁵⁶suffer for it.

²⁵⁶Hb. are mulcted.

22:4 The reward of humility and the awe of Jehovah Is riches, and honor, and life.
22:5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse: He that keepeth his soul shall be far from them.
22:6 Train up a child ²⁵⁷in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.

²⁵⁷Hb. according to his way,

22:7 The rich ruleth over the poor; And the borrower is servant to the lender.
22:8 He that soweth iniquity shall reap ²⁵⁸calamity; And the rod of his wrath shall fail.

²⁵⁸Or, vanity;

22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; For he giveth of his bread to the poor.
22:10 Cast out the scoffer, and contention will go out; Yes, strife and ignominy will cease.
22:11 He that loveth ²⁵⁹pureness of heart, ²⁶⁰For the grace of his lips the king will be his friend.

²⁵⁹Hb^mg reads the pure of heart,
²⁶⁰Or, Hath grace in his lips; or, That hath grace in his lips,

22:12 The eyes of Jehovah preserve him that hath knowledge; But he overthroweth the words of the treacherous man.
22:13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion without: I shall be lain in the streets.
22:14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: He ²⁶¹that is abhorred of Jehovah shall fall therein.

²⁶¹Or, against whom Jehovah hath indignation.

22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
22:16 He that oppresseth the poor to increase his gain, And he that giveth to the rich, shall come only to want.
22:17 Incline thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, And apply thy heart unto my knowledge.
22:18 For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee, If they be established together upon thy lips.
22:19 That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I have made them known to thee this day, even to thee.
22:20 Have not I written unto thee ²⁶²excellent things ²⁶³Of counsels and knowledge,

²⁶²The word is doubtful. Hb^mg reads heretofore
²⁶³Or, In

22:21 To make thee know ²⁶⁴the certainty of the words of truth, That thou mayest carry back words of truth to them that send thee?

²⁶⁴Or, of a certainty the words of truth,

22:22 Rob not the poor, ²⁶⁵because he is poor; Neither ²⁶⁶oppress the afflicted ²⁶⁷in the gate:

²⁶⁵Or, for
²⁶⁶Or, crush
²⁶⁷That is, in a legal court case:

22:23 For Jehovah will plead their cause, And despoil of life those that despoil them.
22:24 Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; And with a wrathful man thou shalt not go:
22:25 Lest thou learn his ways, And get a snare to thy soul.
22:26 Be thou not one of them that strike hands, Or of them that are sureties for debts.
22:27 If thou hast not wherewith to pay, Why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
22:28 Remove not the ancient ²⁶⁸landmark, Which thy fathers have set.

²⁶⁸That is, property marker, Similarly in vs. 10.

22:29 Seest thou a man ²⁶⁹diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; He shall not stand before ²⁷⁰mean men.

²⁶⁹Or, skilful
²⁷⁰Hb. obscure men.

[Prov 23]
23:1 When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Consider diligently ²⁷¹him that is before thee;

²⁷¹Or, what is before thee;

23:2 ²⁷²And put a knife to thy throat, If thou be a man given to thy soul.

²⁷²Or, For thou wilt put a knife to thy throat,

23:3 Be not desirous of his dainties; Seeing they are deceitful food.
23:4 Weary not thyself to be rich; Cease ²⁷³from thine own wisdom.

²⁷³Or, by reason of thine own understanding.

23:5 ²⁷⁴Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.

²⁷⁴Or, Wilt thou set thine eyes upon it? it is gone: Hb. Shall thine eyes fly upon it and it is not?

23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, Neither desire thou his dainties:
23:7 For ²⁷⁵as he thinketh within his soul, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.

²⁷⁵Or, as one that reckoneth within himself,

23:8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, And lose thy sweet words.
23:9 Speak not in the hearing of a fool; For he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
23:10 Remove not the ancient landmark; And enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
23:11 For their Ransomer is strong; He will plead their cause against thee.
23:12 Apply thy heart unto ²⁷⁶instruction, And thine ears to the words of knowledge.

²⁷⁶Or, correction,

23:13 Withhold not correction from the child; For ²⁷⁷if thou beat him with the rod, he will not die.

²⁷⁷Or, though

23:14 Thou shalt beat him with the rod, And shalt deliver his soul from Sheol.
23:15 My son, if thy heart be wise, My heart will be glad, even mine:
23:16 Yes, my ²⁷⁸heart will rejoice, When thy lips speak right things.

²⁷⁸Hb. kidneys or, reins

23:17 Let not thy heart envy sinners; But be thou in awe of Jehovah all the day long:
23:18 For surely there is a ²⁷⁹reward; And thy hope shall not be cut off.

²⁷⁹Or, sequel; or, future; Hb. latter end;

23:19 Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And guide thy heart in the way.
23:20 Be not among winebibbers, Among gluttonous eaters of flesh:
23:21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty; And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.
23:22 Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she is old.
23:23 Buy the truth, and sell it not; Yes, wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
23:24 The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; And he that begetteth a wise child will have joy of him.
23:25 Let thy father and thy mother be glad, And let her that bare thee rejoice.
23:26 My son, give me thy heart; And let thine eyes ²⁸⁰delight in my ways.

²⁸⁰Hb^mg reads observe

23:27 For a harlot is a deep ditch; And a foreign woman is a narrow pit.
23:28 Yes, she lieth in wait ²⁸¹as a robber, And increaseth the treacherous among men.

²⁸¹Or, as for a prey,

23:29 Who hath ²⁸²woe? who hath ²⁸³sorrow? who hath contentions? Who hath complaining? who hath wounds without cause? Who hath ²⁸⁴redness of eyes?

²⁸²Hb. Oh!
²⁸³Hb. Alas!
²⁸⁴Or, darkness

23:30 They that tarry long at the wine; They that go to ²⁸⁵seek out mixed wine.

²⁸⁵Or, try mixed wine.

23:31 Look not thou upon wine when it is red, When it sparkleth in the cup, When it ²⁸⁶goeth down smoothly:

²⁸⁶Or, moveth itself aright:

23:32 At the last it biteth like a serpent, And stingeth like an adder.
23:33 Thine eyes shall behold ²⁸⁷strange things, And thy heart shall utter pervese thengs.

²⁸⁷Or, strange women,

23:34 Yes, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, Or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
23:35 They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not hurt; They have beaten me, and I felt it not: When shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
[Prov 24]
24:1 Be not thou envious against evil men; Neither desire to be with them:
24:2 For their heart studieth oppression, And their lips talk of mischief.
24:3 Through wisdom is a house builded; And by understanding it is established;
24:4 And by knowledge are the chambers filled With all precious and pleasant riches.
24:5 A wise man ²⁸⁸is strong; Yes, a man of knowledge ²⁸⁹increaseth might.

²⁸⁸Hb. is in strength;
²⁸⁹Hb. strengtheneth might.

24:6 For by wise guidance thou shalt make thy war; And in a multitude of counsellors there is ²⁹⁰safety.

²⁹⁰Or, victory.

24:7 Wisdom is too high for a fool: He openeth not his mouth in the gate.
24:8 He that deviseth to do evil, Men shall call him a mischief-maker.
24:9 The thought of foolishness is sin; And the scoffer is an abomination to men.
24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, Thy strength is small.
24:11 Deliver them that are carried away unto death, And those that are ²⁹¹ready to be slain, ²⁹²see that thou hold them back.

²⁹¹Hb. tottering to the slaughter
²⁹²Or, forbear thou not to deliver.

24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew not ²⁹³this; Doth not he that weigheth the hearts consider it? And he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? And shall not he render to every man according to his work?

²⁹³Or, this man;

24:13 My son, eat thou honey, for it is good; And the drippings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to thy taste:
24:14 So shalt thou know wisdom to be unto thy soul; If thou hast found it, then shall there be a reward, And thy hope shall not be cut off.
24:15 Lay not wait, ²⁹⁴O wicked man, against the ²⁹⁵habitation of the righteous; Destroy not his ²⁹⁶resting-place:

²⁹⁴Or, as a wicked man,
²⁹⁵Or, pasture
²⁹⁶Or, fold:

24:16 For a righteous man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; But the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
24:17 Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, And let not thy heart be glad when he is overthrown;
24:18 Lest Jehovah see it, and it displease him, And he turn away his wrath from him.
24:19 Fret not thyself because of evil-doers; Neither be thou envious at the wicked:
24:20 For there shall be no reward to the evil man; The lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
24:21 My son, fear thou Jehovah and the king; And company not with them that are given to change:
24:22 For their calamity shall rise suddenly; And the destruction ²⁹⁷from them both, who knoweth it?

²⁹⁷Or, of their years,

24:23 These also are sayings of the wise. To have respect of persons in judgment is not good.
24:24 He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; Peoples shall curse him, nations shall abhor him:
24:25 But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, And a good blessing shall come upon them.
24:26 He ²⁹⁸kisseth the lips Who giveth a straight answer.

²⁹⁸Or, shall kiss with the lips

24:27 Prepare thy work without, And make it ready for thee in the field; And afterwards build thy house.
24:28 Be not a witness against thy neighbor without cause; ²⁹⁹And deceive not with thy lips.

²⁹⁹Hb. And wouldest thou deceive with thy lips?

24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.
24:30 I went by the field of the sluggard, And by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
24:31 And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, The face thereof was covered with ³⁰⁰nettles, And the stone wall thereof was broken down.

³⁰⁰Or, wild vetches,

24:32 Then I beheld, and considered well; I saw, and received instruction:
24:33 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep;
24:34 So shall thy poverty come as a robber, And thy want as an armed man.
[Prov 25]
25:1 These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing; But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.
25:3 As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, So the heart of kings is unsearchable.
25:4 Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the refiner:
25:5 Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.
25:6 ³⁰¹Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

³⁰¹Hb. Glorify not thyself in the presence of the king,

25:7 For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither, Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.
25:8 Go not forth hastily to strive, ³⁰²Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbor hath put thee to shame.

³⁰²Or, Lest it be said in the end thereof, What wilt thou do? when thy neighbor etc.

25:9 Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself, ³⁰³And disclose not the secret of another;

³⁰³Or, But

25:10 Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.
25:11 A word ³⁰⁴fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in network of silver.

³⁰⁴Or, in due season

25:12 As ³⁰⁵an ear-ring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

³⁰⁵Or, a nose-ring

25:13 As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.
25:14 As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself ³⁰⁶of his gifts falsely.

³⁰⁶Hb. in a gift of falsehood.

25:15 By long forbearing is a ³⁰⁷ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

³⁰⁷Or, judge

25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
25:17 Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbor’s house, Lest he be ³⁰⁸weary of thee, and hate thee.

³⁰⁸Hb. full of thee,

25:18 A man that beareth false witness against his neighbor Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
25:20 As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon soda, So is he that singeth songs to a heavy heart.
25:21 ³⁰⁹If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

³⁰⁹Hb. If he that hateth thee be hungry,

25:22 For thou wilt heap coals of fire upon his head, And Jehovah will reward thee.
25:23 The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.
25:24 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.
25:25 As cold waters to a ³¹⁰thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

³¹⁰Or, weary soul,

25:26 As ³¹¹a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that ³¹²giveth way before the wicked.

³¹¹Hb. a trampled fountain,
³¹²Or, is moved before the wicked.

25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: ³¹³So for men to search out their own glory is grievous.

³¹³Or, But for men to search out their own glory is glory. ARV says The Hebrew text is obscure. Franz Delitzsch uses different pointing, But to search out hard things is an honor.

25:28 ³¹⁴He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

³¹⁴Or, He that hath no rule over his spirit Is like a city

[Prov 26]
26:1 As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, So honor is not seemly for a fool.
26:2 As the sparrow in her wandering, as the swallow in her flying, So the curse that is causeless ³¹⁵alighteth not.

³¹⁵Hb. cometh not.

26:3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, And a rod for the back of fools.
26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou also be like unto him.
26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in ³¹⁶his own conceit.

³¹⁶Hb. his own eyes. Also in vs. 16.

26:6 He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool Cutteth off his own feet, and drinketh in damage.
26:7 The legs of the lame hang loose: So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
26:8 As one that bindeth a stone in a sling, So is he that giveth honor to a fool.
26:9 As a thorn that goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, So is a parable in the mouth of fools.
26:10 ³¹⁷As an archer that woundeth all, So is he that hireth the fool and he that hireth them that pass by.

³¹⁷Or, A master worker formeth all things; But he that hireth the fool is as one that hireth them that pass by. ARV says The Hebrew text is obscure.

26:11 As a dog that returneth to his vomit, So is a fool that repeateth his folly.
26:12 ³¹⁸Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

³¹⁸Lamsa reads The body of a fool is greatly afflicted, and a drunkard thinks he can cross a sea.

26:13 The sluggard saith, There is a lion in the way; A lion is in the streets.
26:14 As the door turneth upon its hinges, So doth the sluggard upon his bed.
26:15 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; It wearieth him to bring it again to his mouth.
26:16 The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit Than seven men that can ³¹⁹render a reason.

³¹⁹Or, answer discretely.

26:17 ³²⁰He that passeth by, and vexeth himself with strife belonging not to him, Is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

³²⁰Or, He that vexeth himself with strife not his own, Is like one that taketh a passing dog by the ears.

26:18 As a madman who casteth firebrands, Arrows, and death,
26:19 So is the man that deceiveth his neighbor, And saith, Am not I in sport?
26:20 For lack of wood the fire goeth out; And where there is no whisperer, contention ceaseth.
26:21 As coals are to hot embers, and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to inflame strife.
26:22 The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts.
26:23 Fervent lips and a wicked heart Are like an earthen vessel overlaid with silver dross.
26:24 He that hateth dissembleth with his lips; But he layeth up deceit within him:
26:25 When he speaketh fair, believe him not; For there are seven abominations in his heart:
26:26 Though his hatred cover itself with guile, His wickedness shall be openly showed before the assembly.
26:27 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein; And he that rolleth a stone, it shall return upon him.
26:28 A lying tongue hateth those it hath ³²¹wounded; And a flattering mouth worketh ruin.

³²¹Hb. crushed;

[Prov 27]
27:1 Boast not thyself of tomorrow; For thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; A stranger, and not thine own lips.
27:3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool’s vexation is heavier than they both.
27:4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is ³²²overwhelming; But who is able to stand before jealousy?

³²²Hb. a flood;

27:5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is hidden.
27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
27:7 The full soul ³²³loatheth a honeycomb; But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

³²³Hb. trampleth upon a honeycomb;

27:8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, So is a man that wandereth from his place.
27:9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; So doth the sweetness of a man’s friend that cometh of the counsel of the soul.
27:10 Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; And go not to thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: Better is a neighbor that is near than a brother far off.
27:11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him that reproacheth me.
27:12 A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; But the simple pass on, and suffer for it.
27:13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge that is surety for a foreign woman.
27:14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It shall be counted a curse to him.
27:15 ³²⁴A continual dripping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike:

³²⁴REB says A constant dripping on a rainy day –     That is what a woman’s nagging is like.                16 As well try to control the wind as to control her!     As well try to pick up oil in ones fingers!

27:16 ³²⁵He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And ³²⁶his right hand encountereth oil.

³²⁵Hb. He that would hide her hideth the wind;
³²⁶Or, the oil of his right hand betrayeth itself.

27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
27:18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; And he that regardeth his master shall be honored.
27:19 ³²⁷As in water face answereth to face, So the heart of man to man.

³²⁷Or, As water showeth face to face, So the heart showeth man to man.

27:20 ³²⁸Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; And the eyes of man are never satisfied.

³²⁸Or possibly, Hell and Destruction are never full;

27:21 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; And a man is tried by ³²⁹his praise.

³²⁹Or, that which he praiseth. or, that whereof he boasteth.

27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with bruised grain, Yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, And look well to thy herds:
27:24 For riches are not for ever; And doth the crown endure unto all generations?
27:25 The ³³⁰hay is carried, and the tender grass showeth itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

³³⁰Hb. grass

27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, And the goats are the price of the field;
27:27 And there will be goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, And maintenance for thy maidens.
[Prov 28]
28:1 The wicked flee when no man pursueth; But the righteous are bold as a lion.
28:2 For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; But by ³³¹men of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.

³³¹Or, a man of understanding

28:3 A needy man that oppresseth the poor Is like a sweeping rain ³³²which leaveth no food.

³³²Hb. without food.

28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked; But such as keep the law contend with them.
28:5 Evil men understand not justice; But they that seek Jehovah understand all things.
28:6 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, Than he that is ³³³perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

³³³Hb. perverse of two ways,

28:7 Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son; But he that is a companion of gluttons shameth his father.
28:8 He that augmenteth his substance by interest and increase, Gathereth it for him that hath pity on the poor.
28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
28:10 Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, He shall fall himself into his own pit; But the perfect shall inherit good.
28:11 The rich man is wise in ³³⁴his own conceit; But the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

³³⁴Hb. his own eyes;

28:12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; But when the wicked rise, men ³³⁵hide themselves.

³³⁵Hb. must be searched for.

28:13 He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper: But whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.
28:14 Happy is the man that feareth always; But he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into ³³⁶mischief.

³³⁶Or, calamity.

28:15 As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear, So is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
28:16 ³³⁷The prince that lacketh understanding is also a great oppressor; But he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

³³⁷Or, O prince that lackest understanding and art a great oppressor, He that hateth covetousness etc.

28:17 A man that is laden with the blood of any soul Shall flee unto the pit; let no man stay him.
28:18 Whoso walketh uprightly shall be delivered; But ³³⁸he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.

³³⁸Or, he that walketh perveresely in two ways shall

28:19 He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
28:20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings; But he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be unpunished.
28:21 To have respect of persons is not good; ³³⁹Neither that a man should transgress for a piece of bread.

³³⁹Or, For, for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

28:22 He that hath an evil eye hasteth after riches, And knoweth not that want shall come upon him.
28:23 He that rebuketh a man shall afterward find more favor Than he that flattereth with the tongue.
28:24 Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, The same is the companion of a destroyer.
28:25 He that is of a greedy soul stirreth up strife; But he that putteth his trust in Jehovah shall be made fat.
28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool; But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; But he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
28:28 When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.
[Prov 29]
29:1 He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
29:2 When the righteous ³⁴⁰are increased, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man beareth rule, the people sigh.

³⁴⁰Or, are in authority,

29:3 Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; But he that keepeth company with harlots wasteth his substance.
29:4 The king by justice establisheth the land; But ³⁴¹he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.

³⁴¹Or, he that imposeth tribute overthroweth it. Hb.  a man of offerings overthroweth it.

29:5 A man that flattereth his neighbor Spreadeth a net for his steps.
29:6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
29:7 The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; The wicked ³⁴²hath not understanding to know it.

³⁴²Or, understandeth not knowledge.

29:8 Scoffers set a city in a flame; But wise men turn away wrath.
29:9 If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man, ³⁴³Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

³⁴³Or, He rageth and laugheth, and there is no rest.

29:10 The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect; ³⁴⁴And as for the upright, they seek his soul.

³⁴⁴Or, But the upright care for his life.

29:11 A fool uttereth all his ³⁴⁵anger; But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.

³⁴⁵Hb. spirit;

29:12 If a ruler hearkeneth to falsehood, All his servants are wicked.
29:13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the eyes of them both.
29:14 The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, His throne shall be established for ever.
29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom; But a child left to himself causeth shame to his mother.
29:16 When the wicked are increased, transgression increaseth; But the righteous shall look upon their fall.
29:17 Correct thy son, and he will give thee rest; Yes, he will give delight unto thy soul.
29:18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
29:19 A servant will not be corrected by words; For though he understand, he will not ³⁴⁶give heed.

³⁴⁶Hb. answer.

29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his ³⁴⁷words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.

³⁴⁷Or, business

29:21 He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him ³⁴⁸aspire to be a son at the last.

³⁴⁸Or, become a son or, become stubborn ARV says The meaning of the word is doubtful.

29:22 An angry man stirreth up strife, And a wrathful man aboundeth in transgression.
29:23 A man’s pride shall bring him low; But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.
29:24 Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul; He heareth the adjuration and uttereth nothing.
29:25 The fear of man bringeth a snare; But whoso putteth his trust in Jehovah ³⁴⁹shall be safe.

³⁴⁹Hb. shall be set on high.

29:26 Many seek the ruler’s favor; But a man’s judgment cometh from Jehovah.
29:27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
[Prov 30]
30:1 The words of Agur the son of ³⁵⁰Jakeh; the ³⁵¹burden. The man ³⁵²saith unto Ithiel, unto Ithiel and Ucal:

³⁵⁰Or, Jakeh, of Massa. See Ge 25:14.
³⁵¹Or perhaps, oracle.
³⁵²Hb^mg reads saith, I have wearied myself, O God, I have wearied myself, O God, and am consumed: For I am more brutish than any man,

30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, And have not the understanding of a man;
30:3 And I have not learned wisdom, ³⁵³Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy Ones.

³⁵³Or, That I should have the knowledge of etc.

30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou knowest?
30:5 Every word of God is ³⁵⁴tried: He is a shield unto them that take refuge in him.

³⁵⁴Hb. purified:

30:6 Add thou not unto his words, Lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
30:7 Two things have I asked of thee; Deny me them not before I die:
30:8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies; Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with ³⁵⁵the food that is needful for me:

³⁵⁵Hb. the bread of my portion:

30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is Jehovah? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And ³⁵⁶use profanely the name of my God.

³⁵⁶Hb. handle the name of my God.

30:10 Slander not a servant unto his master, Lest he ³⁵⁷curse thee, and thou be held guilty.

³⁵⁷Or, disdain or, ill-treat Also in vs. 11.

30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, And blesseth not their mother.
30:12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes, And yet is not washed from its filthiness.
30:13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up.
30:14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
30:15 The ³⁵⁸horseleach hath two daughters, ³⁵⁹crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, Yes, four that say not, Enough:

³⁵⁸Or, vampire
³⁵⁹Or, called

30:16 Sheol; and the barren womb; The earth that is not satisfied with water; And the fire that saith not, Enough.
30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, And despiseth to obey his mother, The ravens of ³⁶⁰the valley shall pick it out, And the ³⁶¹young eagles shall eat it.

³⁶⁰Or, the brook
³⁶¹Or, vultures shall eat it.

30:18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Yes, four which I know not:
30:19 The way of an eagle in the air; The way of a serpent upon a rock; The way of a ship in the midst of the sea; And the way of a man with a maiden.
30:20 So is the way of an adulterous woman; She eateth and wipeth her mouth, And saith, I have done no wickedness.
30:21 ³⁶²For three things the earth doth tremble, And for four, which it cannot bear:

³⁶²Hb. Under

30:22 For a servant when he is king; And a fool when he is filled with food;
30:23 For an odious woman when she is married; And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
30:24 There are four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise:
30:25 The ants are a people not strong, Yet they provide their food in the summer;
30:26 The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks;
30:27 The locusts have no king, Yet go they forth all of them by bands;
30:28 The lizard ³⁶³taketh hold with her hands, Yet is she in kings’ palaces.

³⁶³Or, thou canst seize with thy hands,

30:29 There are three things which are stately in their march, Yes, four which are stately in going:
30:30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts, And turneth not away for any;
30:31 The ³⁶⁴greyhound; the he-goat also; And the king ³⁶⁵against whom there is no rising up.

³⁶⁴Or, war-horse; Hb. well girt (or, well knit) in the loins;
³⁶⁵Or, when his army is with him.

30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, Or if thou hast thought evil, Lay thy hand upon thy mouth.
30:33 For the ³⁶⁶churning of milk bringeth forth butter, And the ³⁶⁷wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood; So the ³⁶⁸forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

³⁶⁶Hb. pressing
³⁶⁷Hb. pressing
³⁶⁸Hb. pressing

[Prov 31]
31:1 ³⁶⁹The words of king Lemuel; the ³⁷⁰burden which his mother taught him.

³⁶⁹Or, The words of Lemuel king of Massa, which etc. See ch. 30:1 footnotes.
³⁷⁰Or perhaps, oracle

31:2 What, my son? and what, O son of my womb? And what, O son of my vows?
31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, Nor thy ways to ³⁷¹that which destroyeth kings.

³⁷¹Hb^mg reads them that destroy kings.

31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; Nor for princes ³⁷²to say, Where is strong drink?

³⁷²Hb^mg reads to desire strong drink.

31:5 Lest they drink, and forget ³⁷³the law, And pervert the justice due to ³⁷⁴any that is afflicted.

³⁷³Hb. that which is decreed,
³⁷⁴Hb. all the sons of affliction.

31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, And wine unto the bitter of soul:
31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, And remember his misery no more.
31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb, In the cause of all such as are ³⁷⁵left desolate.

³⁷⁵Or, ready to pass away. Hb. the sons of passing away.

31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, And minister justice to the poor and needy.
31:10 A worthy woman who can find? For her price is far above rubies.
31:11 The heart of her husband trusteth in her, And he shall have no lack of ³⁷⁶gain.

³⁷⁶Hb. spoil.

31:12 She doeth him good and not evil All the days of her life.
31:13 She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh ³⁷⁷willingly with her hands.

³⁷⁷Or, at the business of her hands.

31:14 She is like the merchant-ships; She bringeth her bread from afar.
31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, And giveth food to her household, And their ³⁷⁸task to her maidens.

³⁷⁸Or, portion

31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it; With the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, And maketh strong her arms.
31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is profitable: Her lamp goeth not out in the night.
31:19 She layeth her hands to the distaff, And her ³⁷⁹hands hold the spindle.

³⁷⁹Hb. palms

31:20 She stretcheth out her ³⁸⁰hand to the poor; Yes, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

³⁸⁰Hb. palm

31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household; For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
31:22 She maketh for herself ³⁸¹carpets of tapestry; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

³⁸¹Or, cushions

31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sitteth among the elders of the land.
31:24 She maketh linen garments and selleth them, And delivereth girdles unto the ³⁸²merchant.

³⁸²Hb. Canaanite.

31:25 Strength and splendor are her clothing; And she laugheth at the time to come.
31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the ³⁸³law of kindness is on her tongue.

³⁸³Or, teaching

31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, And eateth not the bread of idleness.
31:28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praiseth her, saying:
31:29 Many daughters have done worthily, But thou excellest them all.
31:30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain; But a woman that feareth Jehovah, she shall be praised.
31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; And let her works praise her in the gates.