Chapter 11
1; False balances are hateful to YAHWEH, but a perfect stone is His delight.
2; Pride comes, then shame comes, but with the humble is wisdom.
3; The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perversity of traitors will destroy them.
4; Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.
5; The righteousness of the perfect shall make his way right, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6; The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but traitors shall be taken in their lust.
7; In the death of a wicked man, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of the evil shall be lost.
8; The righteous is delivered from distress, and the wicked goes in instead of him.
9; The wicked are corrupting his neighbor with his mouth, but the just is delivered by knowledge.
10; When the righteous prospers, the city rejoices; and at the wicked's perishing is singing.
11; A city is lifted up by the blessing of the upright, but by the wicked's mouth it is overthrown.
12; One despising his friend lacks heart, but an understanding man remains silent.
13; One going with slander is a revealer of secrets, but the faithful of spirit keeps a matter hidden.
14; In the absence of wise counsels the people fall, but safety is in abundance of counselors.
15; One suffers evil when he is surety for a stranger, but one hating strikers of hands is trusted.
16; A gracious woman holds to honor, and terrifying men hold to riches.
17; A merciful man does good to his own soul, but the cruel troubles his own flesh.
18; The wicked makes a deceitful wage, but one sowing righteousness has a reward of truth.
19; So righteousness leads to life, but one pursuing evil, to his death.
20; Hateful to YAHWEH are the perverse hearted, but His delight is the upright in way.
21; Though hand join to hand, the evil shall not be innocent, but the righteous seed escapes.
22; As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a woman who is beautiful, yet turning aside discretion.
23; The desire of the righteous is only good, the hope of the wicked is wrath.
24; There is one who scatters yet increases more; but a withholder of just due comes only to poverty.
25; The blessed soul will be made fat; he who waters will also drink fully.
26; One holding back grain, the people curse him; but a blessing is to the head of one selling grain.
27; He who early is seeking good seeks favor; but one pursuing evil, it shall come to him.
28; One trusting in his riches, he shall fall; but like a green leaf the righteous shall sprout.
29; One troubling his house inherits the wind; and the fool is servant to the wise of heart.
30; The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he who takes hold of souls is wise.
31; Behold, the righteous shall be rewarded in the earth; much more the wicked and the sinner.
Chapter 12
1; Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is like a brute animal.
2; The good obtain grace from YAHWEH, but He will condemn a man of wicked devices.
3; A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be dislodged.
4; A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband, but one causing shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5; The thoughts of the righteous are right; the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
6; The words of the wicked lie in ambush for blood, but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7; Overthrow the wicked, and they are not; but the house of the righteous stands.
8; A man shall be praised according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9; He who is despised, and has a servant, is better than one honoring himself and lacking bread.
10; The righteous knows the life of his animal, but the mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11; He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he chasing vanities lacks heart.
12; The wicked desires the net of evils, but the root of the righteous gives fruit.
13; In the transgression of the lips is the snare of evil, but the righteous will come out from distress.
14; A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of the mouth, and the dealing of a man's hand shall be given back to him.
15; The way of a fool is upright in his own eyes, but he who listens to advice is wise.
16; A fool's vexation is known in a day, but the astute one covers shame.
17; He who breathes faithfulness reveals righteousness, but a false witness deceit.
18; There is a rash speaking like thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise is healing.
19; The lips of truth are established forever, but a lying tongue lasts only while I wink.
20; Deceit is in the heart of those who plot evil, but to counselors of peace is joy.
21; No trouble shall be sent to the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil.
22; Lying lips are an abomination to YAHWEH, but those who deal with faithfulness are His delight.
23; A wise man conceals knowledge, but the heart of fools calls out their folly.
24; The hand of the hard worker shall rule, but the lazy ones will become forced labor.
25; Heaviness in a man's heart makes it droop, but a good word makes it glad.
26; The righteous searches out with his friend, but the way of the wicked misleads them.
27; A person of laziness does not start after his prey, but the wealth of a working man is precious.
28; In the way of righteousness is life, and in that pathway is no death.
Chapter 13
1; A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scorner does not hear rebuke.
2; From the fruit of his mouth a man eats good, but the desire of the treacherous is violence.
3; He who guards his mouth keeps his life; he who opens his lips wide is ruined.
4; The sluggard's soul is craving, but is not getting, but the soul of the hard workers shall be made fat.
5; The righteous hates even a word of falsehood, but the wicked is odious and acts shamefully.
6; Righteousness keeps the upright one in the way, but wickedness perverts a sinner.
7; There are those who act rich, yet have nothing at all; and those who act poor, yet have great wealth.
8; The ransom of a man's life is his riches, but the poor man does not hear rebuke.
9; The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
10; Arguing only comes by pride, but wisdom is with those who take advice.
11; Wealth from vanity shall dwindle away, but he who gathers by labor shall increase.
12; Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a tree of life is desire fulfilled.
13; He who despises the Word shall be destroyed, but he who fears the Commandment shall be rewarded.
14; The Torah to the wise is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.
15; Good sense gives grace, but the way of traitors is continual.
16; Every prudent one deals with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly.
17; A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador is healing.
18; Poverty and shame shall be to him who refuses instruction, but he who keeps to correction shall be honored.
19; The desire coming to pass is sweet to the soul, but to depart from evil is hateful to fools.
20; He who walks with the wise shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be broken.
21; Evil pursues sinners, but the righteous shall be rewarded with good.
22; A good man leaves an inheritance to his son's sons, but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23; The tilled ground of the poor yields much food, but without justice, it is swept away.
24; He who holds back his rod hates his son, but he who loves him seeks him with correction.
25; The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul, but the belly of the wicked shall lack.
Chapter 14
1; A wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her own hands.
2; He who walks in his uprightness fears YAHWEH, but the perverse in his ways despises Him.
3; A rod of pride is in the mouth of a fool, but the lips of the wise shall keep them.
4; The stall is clean where there are no cattle, but much gain is by the strength of an ox.
5; A faithful witness will not lie, but a false witness breathes lies.
6; A scorner seeks wisdom, but finds it not, yet knowledge is swift to the discerning.
7; Go from before a foolish man, or you will not know the lips of knowledge.
8; The wisdom of the wise is to understand his way, but the foolishness of fools is deceit.
9; Fools laugh at guilt offering, but among the righteous is favor.
10; The heart knows the bitterness of its own soul, and a stranger does not mix in its joy.
11; The wicked's house shall be thrown down, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12; There is a way that seems upright to a man, but the end of it is the ways of death.
13; Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that joy is grief.
14; The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, but a good man from himself.
15; The simple believes every word, but the wise considers his step.
16; The wise fears and departs from evil, but the fool rages and is sure.
17; He who is short of temper acts foolishly; and a man of evil plots is hated.
18; The simple inherit foolishness, but the wise are crowned with knowledge.
19; The evil bow before the good; yea, the wicked at the gates of the just.
20; The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but the rich has many friends.
21; He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has mercy on the poor, Oh how happy is he!
22; Do not those who think evil go astray? But mercy and truth will be to those who think of good.
23; In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty.
24; The crown of the wise is their riches; the foolishness of fools is folly.
25; A true witness delivers souls, but a deceitful witness speaks lies.
26; In the fear of YAHWEH is strong trust, and His sons shall have a hiding place.
27; The fear of YAHWEH is a fountain of life, to turn away from snares of death.
28; In the multitude of people is the king's glory, but in the lack of people is the ruin of a prince.
29; One slow to anger is of great understanding, but he who is short of spirit exalts folly.
30; A healthy heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.
31; He who oppresses the poor curses his Maker, but he who honors Him gives grace to the needy.
32; The wicked is thrust out in his wickedness, but the righteous has hope in his death.
33; Wisdom rests in the heart of the intelligent, but among fools it is revealed.
34; Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a shame to any people.
35; The king's favor is toward a servant who acts prudently, but his wrath takes place on one causing shame.
Chapter 15
1; A soft answer turns away wrath, but a hurtful word stirs up anger.
2; The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours out foolishness.
3; The eyes of YAHWEH are in every place watching the evil and the good.
4; A tongue that can heal is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a break of the spirit.
5; A fool despises his father's instruction, but he keeping correction is sensible.
6; In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but in the gain of the wicked is tumult.
7; The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool is not so.
8; The sacrifice of the wicked is a hateful thing to YAHWEH, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
9; The way of the wicked is hateful to YAHWEH, but He loves him who pursues righteousness.
10; Correction is grievous to him who forsakes the way, he who hates reproof shall die.
11; Sheol and destruction are before YAHWEH; even more the hearts of the sons of men!
12; A scorner does not love one who corrects him, nor will he go to the wise.
13; A joyful heart makes a good face, but by grief of heart the spirit is stricken.
14; The heart of the wise one seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.
15; All the days of the depressed are evil, but gladness of heart is a continual feast.
16; Better is a little with the fear of YAHWEH than great treasure and destruction with it.
17; Better is a dinner of vegetables where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred with it.
18; A furious man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger calms fighting.
19; The way of the lazy one is like a hedge of thorns, but the path of the righteous is exalted.
20; A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man despises his mother.
21; Foolishness is joy to him who lacks understanding, but a man of understanding walks a straight path.
22; Without counsel plans are broken, but by many counselors they rise.
23; A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and how good is a word in its right timing!
24; The path of life is upward to the prudent, that he may turn away from Sheol downward.
25; YAHWEH will tear down the house of the proud, but He will set up the widow's border.
26; The thoughts of the wicked are very hateful to YAHWEH, but the words of pleasantness are pure.
27; He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes shall live.
28; The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.
29; YAHWEH is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.
30; The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, a good report makes the bones fat.
31; The ear that hears the reproof of life shall remain among the wise.
32; He who ignores correction despises his own soul, but he who hears reproof gets a sound heart.
33; The fear of YAHWEH is instruction in wisdom, and before honor is humility.
Chapter 16
1; The orderings of the heart are for man, and the answer of the tongue is from YAHWEH.2; All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but YAHWEH weighs the spirits.
3; Roll your works on YAHWEH, and your thoughts shall be established.
4; YAHWEH has made all for His purpose, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
5; Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to YAHWEH; though hand join in hand he shall not be innocent.
6; Iniquity is covered by mercy and truth, and in the fear of YAHWEH, men turn aside from evil.
7; When a man's ways please YAHWEH, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
8; Better is a little with righteousness than great increase without justice.
9; A man's heart plans his way, but YAHWEH fixes his step.
10; A righteous decision is on the lips of the king, his mouth is not treacherous in judgment.
11; A just scale and balances are to YAHWEH, all the stones of the bag are His work.
12; It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is made firm by righteousness.
13; Righteous lips are the king's delight, and he speaking uprightly is loved.
14; A king's fury is as messengers of death, but a wise man will cover it.
15; In the light of the face of the king is life, and his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain.
16; How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.
17; The highway of the upright is to turn away from evil, he keeping his soul watches his way.
18; Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
19; It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.
20; He who acts prudently shall find good, and he who trusts in YAHWEH, Oh how happy is he!
21; The wise in heart shall be called prudent, and sweetness of lips increases learning.
22; Prudence is a fountain of life to those who own it, but the teaching of fools is folly.
23; The heart of the wise makes his mouth prudent, and he adds learning on his lips.
24; Pleasant words are an overflowing of honey, sweetness to the soul and healing to the bones.
25; There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end of it is the ways of death.
26; A laboring one labors for himself, for his mouth urges him on.
27; A worthless man digs up evil, and on his lips it is like a burning fire.
28; A perverse man causes strife, and a talebearer separates close friends.
29; A violent man lures his neighbor, and causes him to go in a way that is not good.
30; He who shuts his eyes to plan perverse things, compressing his lips, he brings evil to pass.
31; The gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness.
32; One slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
33; The lot is cast into the lap, but all ordering of it is from YAHWEH.
Chapter 17
1; Better is a dry piece of bread, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices with fighting.
2; A servant who acts prudently shall rule over a son who causes shame, and he shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
3; The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but YAHWEH tries the hearts.
4; An evildoer gives heed to lips of iniquity; a liar listens to a tongue of evil desire.
5; He who mocks the poor reviles his Maker, he who rejoices at calamity shall not be innocent.
6; Grandsons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7; An arrogant lip is not fitting for a fool, much less are lying lips for a noble.
8; A reward is a precious stone in the eyes of his owner; everywhere he turns, he is prudent.
9; He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates friends.
10; A reproof enters more into one discerning than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11; Rebellion seeks evil, so a cruel messenger is sent against him.
12; Let a bear bereaved of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13; Whoever returns evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14; The beginning of strife is like the releasing of water, therefore leave off fighting before it breaks out.
15; He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, even both of them are hateful to YAHWEH.
16; Why is there hire in a fool's hand to get wisdom, and there is no heart for it?
17; A friend loves at all times, but a brother is born for distress.
18; A man lacking heart strikes the hand, he pledges in the presence of his friend.
19; He loving strife loves rebellion, he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20; One crooked of heart does not find good, and he who is perverse in his tongue falls into evil.
21; He who fathers a fool has sorrow for it; yea, the father of a fool has no joy.
22; A cheerful heart makes good healing, but a stricken spirit dries the bone.
23; The wicked takes a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the paths of justice.
24; With the face of the wise is wisdom, but a fool's eyes are in the ends of the earth.
25; A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26; And it is not good to punish the just, to strike leaders for uprightness.
27; He who restrains his words knows knowledge, and of a rare of spirit is a man of understanding.
28; Even a fool who is silent is counted wise, he who shuts his lips is counted as discerning.
Chapter 18
1; He who separates himself seeks his own desire, he breaks out against all sound wisdom.
2; A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in uncovering his heart.
3; When the wicked comes, scorn also comes, and with shame comes reproach.
4; The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters, the fountain of wisdom like a flowing stream.
5; To lift up the face of the wicked is not good, nor to turn aside the righteous in judgment.
6; A fool's lips enter into strife, and his mouth calls for strokes.
7; A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare of his soul.
8; The words of a slanderer are as wounds; yea, they go down into the innermost chambers of the belly.
9; And he who is slack in his work, he is a brother to a master destroyer.
10; The name of YAHWEH is a tower of strength, the righteous runs into it and is set on high.
11; The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as a high wall in his imagination.
12; Before shattering, a man's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor.
13; If one turns back a matter before he hears, it is folly and shame to him.
14; The spirit of a man will endure his sickness, but who can bear a wounded spirit?
15; The heart of the prudent gets knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
16; A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.
17; He who is first in his cause seems just, but his neighbor comes and searches him.
18; The lot causes arguments to cease, and divides between the mighty.
19; An offended brother is worse than a fortified city; yea, their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
20; A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; he shall be satisfied with the produce of his lips.
21; Death and life are in the hand of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat its fruit.
22; Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and gets favor from YAHWEH.
23; The poor speak with entreaties, but the rich answer fiercely.
24; A man of friends may be broken up, but there is a Lover who sticks closer than a brother.
Chapter 19
1; Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked in his lips, and he is a fool.
2; Also, without knowledge the soul is not good, and he who hurries with his feet sins.
3; The foolishness of man overturns his way, and his heart rages against YAHWEH.
4; Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor.
5; A false witness shall not be blameless; yea, a breather of lies shall not escape.
6; Many will beg the favor of a noble, and all are friends to him who gives gifts.
7; All the poor man's brothers hate him, and his friends also surely leave him; he pursues them with words, yet they are not.
8; He who gets wisdom loves his own soul, he who keeps understanding finds good.
9; A false witness shall not be blameless; yea, he who speaks lies shall perish.
10; Luxury is not becoming for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes.
11; A man's discretion makes his anger slow, and his glory is to pass over a transgression.
12; The king's wrath is like a lion's roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13; A foolish son is a ruin to his father, and a wife's quarreling a never ending dripping.
14; House and riches are the legacy of fathers, but a prudent wife is from YAHWEH.
15; Laziness makes one fall into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16; He who keeps the Commandment keeps his own soul, he who despises His ways shall die.
17; He who has pity on the poor lends to YAHWEH, and He will repay his dealing to him.
18; Chasten your son, for there is hope, and do not set your soul on making him die.
19; A man great of fury will bear the penalty, for if you deliver him, then you must do it again.
20; Hear advice and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
21; Many purposes are in a man's heart, but the counsel of YAHWEH shall stand.
22; The desirableness of a man is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.
23; The fear of YAHWEH tends to life, and he shall rest satisfied, he shall not be visited with evil.
24; A lazy one puts his hand in a dish, and he will not return it to his mouth.
25; Strike a scorner and the simple will be shrewd; reprove a discerner, and he will discern knowledge.
26; He who assaults his father and chases his mother away, he is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27; My son, cease to hear the discipline, and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28; A worthless witness scorns justice, and the mouth of the wicked devours evil.
29; Judgments are prepared for scorners, and blows for the backs of fools.
Chapter 20
1; Wine is a mocker, strong drink is noisy, and each one straying by it is not wise.
2; The fear of a king is as the roar of a lion, he who stirs him up to anger wrongs his own soul.
3; For a man to cease from strife is an honor, but every fool exposes himself.
4; The lazy man will not plow, after autumn he begs at harvest, and nothing is there.
5; Counsel in a man's heart is like deep water, and a man of understanding will draw it out.
6; Most men will proclaim each his own kindness, but who can find a faithful man?
7; The just one walks in his integrity, blessed are his sons after him!
8; A king who sits on the throne of judgment does not look upon any evil with his eyes.
9; Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
10; A stone and a smaller stone, an ephah and an unequal ephah, both are hateful to YAHWEH.
11; Even a child is known by his acts, whether his work is pure, or upright.
12; The hearing ear and the seeing eye, YAHWEH has even made both of them.
13; Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; open your eyes, be satisfied with bread.
14; Bad! Bad! says the buyer, but when it is left to him, then he boasts.
15; There is gold and a multitude of gems, but the lips of knowledge are a rare vessel.
16; Take the garment of the one who is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge from one who guarantees for strangers.
17; Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
18; Purposes are established in counsel; yea, make war with wise guidance.
19; A revealer of secrets walks about as a gossip, so do not meddle with him who opens his lips wide.
20; Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.
21; An inheritance may be gotten quickly in the beginning, but the end of it shall not be blessed.
22; Do not say, I will repay evil; wait on YAHWEH, and He will save you.
23; A stone and a stone are hateful to YAHWEH; and a false balance is not good.
24; The steps of a man are from YAHWEH, and what can man discern of his way?
25; It is a snare to a man to say rashly, a holy thing, and after he vows to inquire about it.
26; A wise king scatters the wicked and turns the wheel over them.
27; The spirit of man is the lamp of YAHWEH, searching all the inward parts of the heart.
28; Mercy and truth preserve the king, and his throne is upheld by mercy.
29; The glory of young men is their vigor, and the honor of old men is the gray head.
30; The stripes of a wound cleanse away evil, and strokes the inward parts of the heart.