for acquiring a discipline and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young, let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance, for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver, and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. for the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store fo the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

let love and faithfulness never leave you, bind around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man trust in the Lord with all our hear and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight. do not be wise in your own eye, fear the Lord and shun evil.

when I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother, he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live. get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight, that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge. for the lips of an adulteress drip honey, and her speech is smoother and oil; but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave she gives no thought to the way of life, her paths are crooked, but she knows it not. now then, my sons, listen to me; do not turn aside from what I say.

then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! it has no commanders, no overseer or ruler,

bind them on your finger; write them on the tablet of your heart say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your kinsman; they will keep you from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words. at the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgement.

at the gates leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries alound: "to you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. you who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. my mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.

she has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. "let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgement. "come, eat my food and drink the wise I have mixed. leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding." whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.

The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. he who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son. blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. the memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

the integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. the righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. the righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires. when a wicked man dies, his hope perishes; all he expected from his power comes to nothing.

a man cannot be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted a wife of noble character is her husband's crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. the plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful. the words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them. wicked men are overthrown and are no more, but the ouse of the righteous stands firm.

he who guards his lips guards his life, but he speaks rashly will come to ruin. the sluggard craves but gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied. the righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace. righteousness guards the man of integrity, but wickedness overthrows the sinner. one man pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor,yet has great wealth.

a fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. a truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies the mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. stay away from a follish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. the tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceiftul tongue crushes the spirit a fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. the house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble. the lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. the Lord works out everything for his own ends- even the wicked for the day of disaster. the Lord detests all the proud of heart. be sure of this: they will not go unpunished. through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through fear of the Lord a man avoids evil. when a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.

the crucible for silver and furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. a wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a malicious tongue. he who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. arrogant lips are unsuited to a fool- how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

when wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace. the words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountain for wisdom is a bubbling brook. it is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice. a fool's lips bring him strife, and his mouth invites a beating. a fool's mouth is his undoing and his lips are a snare to his soul.

a man's own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord. wealth brings many friends, but a poor man's friend deserts him. a false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free. many curry favor with a ruler, and everyone is the friend of a man who gives gifts. a poor man is shunned by all his relatives- how much more do his friends avoid him! though he pursues them with pleading, they are nowhere to be found.

it is to a man's honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. a sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. the purpose of a man's heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. many a man claims to have unfailing love, but a faithful man who can find? the righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after him.

to do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin! the plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. a fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. the violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do what is right.

a prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life. in the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them. train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. the rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; for he is the kind of man who is alwas thinking about the cost. "eat and drink," he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

by wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its room are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. a wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength for waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers. wisdom is too high for a fool; in the assembly at the gate he has nothing to say.

as the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith; remove the wicked from the king's presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness. do not exalt yourself in the king's presence, and do not claim a place among great men; it is better for him to say to you, "come up here," than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.

a whip for the horse, a halter for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will be like him yourself. answer a fool according to his folly, or he will be wise in his own eyes. like cutting off one's feet or drinking violence is the sending of a message by the hand of a fool. like a lame man's legs that hang limp is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both. anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? better is open rebuke than hidden love. woulds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. he who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

a ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law resist them evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it fully. better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a rich man whose ways are perverse. he who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

a man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. by justice a king gives a country stability, but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down. whoever flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet. an evil man is snared by his own sin, but a righteous one can sing and be glad. the righteous care about the justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.

I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. who has gone up to heaven and come down? who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands? who has wrapped up the waters i his cloak? who has established all the ends of th earth? what is his name, and the name of his son? tell me if you know! "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." "two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die:

do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin kings "it is not for kings, O Lemuel - not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.