Every post in Proverbs, in order. Tap a post for the whole conversation, or the book icon for the verses.
Start here. The fear of the LORD is where knowledge begins. Only fools look down on being taught.
These are the proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Son, if people try to talk you into it, hiding out to jump someone and splitting whatever they take: don't go.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not yield to them. If they say, “Come along, let us lie in wait for blood, let us ambush the innocent without cause, let us swallow them alive like Sheol, and whole like those descending into the Pit. We will find all manner of precious goods; we will fill our houses with plunder. Throw in your lot with us; let us all share one purse”— my son, do not walk the road with them or set foot upon their path.
Replying to @solomon
They think they're setting a trap for someone else. They're the ones it catches.
But they lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives.
I'm out in the street, shouting at the busiest corner. How long are you lot going to love being clueless?
Wisdom calls out in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; in the main concourse she cries aloud, at the city gates she makes her speech: “How long, O simple ones, will you love your simple ways? How long will scoffers delight in their scorn and fools hate knowledge?
Trust the LORD with all your heart, and don't lean on your own understanding. Put him first in everything you do, and he'll make your paths straight.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.
Don't resent it when the LORD corrects you. He corrects the ones he loves, like a father with a son he delights in.
My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights.
Don't say “Come back tomorrow” when you can help them now.
Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.
Above everything else, guard your heart. Everything you do flows from it.
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.
Go and look at the ant, you lazy thing. No boss, no supervisor, and she still gets her food in all summer.
Walk in the manner of the ant, O slacker; observe its ways and become wise. Without a commander, without an overseer or ruler, it prepares its provisions in summer; it gathers its food at harvest.
Replying to @solomon
can't go out. there's a lion out there. i'd literally get killed in the street
The slacker says, “There is a lion outside! I will be slain in the streets!”
Six things the LORD hates. Seven, actually: 1. Proud eyes. 2. A lying tongue. 3. Hands that kill the innocent. 4. A heart that plots evil. 5. Feet that run to do wrong. 6. A witness who lies. 7. Someone who stirs up trouble between brothers.
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
Looking out through my window at dusk, I saw a young man with no sense heading down the street to a certain woman's house. She came out, grabbed him and kissed him. Her husband was away on a long trip, she said. He followed her like an ox to the slaughter, not knowing it would cost him his life.
For at the window of my house I looked through the lattice. I saw among the simple, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking judgment, crossing the street near her corner, strolling down the road to her house, at twilight, as the day was fading into the dark of the night. Then a woman came out to meet him, with the attire of a harlot and cunning of heart. She is loud and defiant; her feet do not remain at home. Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner. She seizes him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him: “I have made my peace offerings; today I have paid my vows. So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you. I have decked my bed with coverings, with colored linen from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, with aloes, and with cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill of love till morning. Let us delight in loving caresses! For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. He took with him a bag of money and will not return till the moon is full.” With her great persuasion she entices him; with her flattering lips she lures him. He follows her on impulse, like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding into a trap, until an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare—not knowing it will cost him his life.
Take what I teach instead of silver. I'm worth more than rubies. Nothing you want compares with me.
Receive my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.
I was there before the world began. When he set the sky in place and told the sea where to stop, I was right beside him. His delight, every day. Happy in the world he made, and delighting in people.
From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. I was there when He established the heavens, when He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep, when He established the clouds above, when the fountains of the deep gushed forth, when He set a boundary for the sea, so that the waters would not surpass His command, when He marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was a skilled craftsman at His side, and His delight day by day, rejoicing always in His presence. I was rejoicing in His whole world, delighting together in the sons of men.
Built my house. Seven pillars. Meat's cooked, wine's mixed, table's set. Anyone who's clueless, come in and eat.
Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maidservants; she calls out from the heights of the city. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. “Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
Replying to @wisdom
Y'all clueless ones, come in here instead. Stolen water's sweeter. Bread you eat in secret? Tastes better.
The woman named Folly is loud; she is naive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the heights of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who make their paths straight. “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” she says to him who lacks judgment. “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is tasty!”
Correct a mocker and he'll hate you. Correct a wise person and they'll love you for it.
Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
Hatred stirs up fights. Love covers over every wrong.
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all transgressions.
A beautiful woman with no sense is like a gold ring in a pig's snout.
Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion.
Refresh other people and you'll be refreshed.
A generous soul will prosper, and he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
A good person looks after their animals.
A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are only cruelty.
Worry weighs a person down. A kind word cheers them up.
Anxiety weighs down the heart of a man, but a good word cheers it up.
Hope that keeps getting put off makes you heartsick.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
No oxen, empty manger. But it's the strength of the ox that brings in a big harvest.
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but an abundant harvest comes through the strength of the ox.
There's a way that seems right to a person, but it ends in death.
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Even while you're laughing, your heart can ache.
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in sorrow.
A gentle answer turns anger away. A harsh word stirs it up.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
A bowl of veg with love beats a fattened calf with hatred.
Better a dish of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox with hatred.
Plans fail for lack of advice. With plenty of advisers, they work.
Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.
You plan your route. The LORD decides your steps.
A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
Pride comes before destruction. Arrogance comes before a fall.
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be patient than a warrior. Better to control your temper than capture a city.
He who is slow to anger is better than a warrior, and he who controls his temper is greater than one who captures a city.
You throw the lots into your lap, but how they land is up to the LORD.
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Better a dry crust in peace and quiet than a house full of feasting and fighting.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
A friend loves at all times. A brother is born for the hard times.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A cheerful heart is good medicine.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
Even a fool looks wise if he keeps his mouth shut.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower. Good people run into it and they're safe.
The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
Answering before you've listened: foolish, and embarrassing.
He who answers a matter before he hears it—this is folly and disgrace to him.
The first person to tell their side always sounds right. Until the other one turns up and starts asking questions.
The first to state his case seems right until another comes and cross-examines him.
The tongue has the power of life and death.
Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
There's a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.
Be kind to the poor and you're lending to the LORD. He'll pay you back.
Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
Wine makes a fool of you. Beer starts fights. Anyone who gets carried away by them isn't wise.
Wine is a mocker, strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
“Rubbish. Total rubbish,” says the buyer. Then off he goes, bragging about the deal he got.
“Worthless, worthless!” says the buyer, but on the way out, he gloats.
Young people's glory is their strength. Old people's splendour is their grey hair.
The glory of young men is their strength, and gray hair is the splendor of the old.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a wife who picks fights.
Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Replying to @solomon
Actually, the desert. The desert's better.
Better to live in the desert than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
A good name is worth more than great riches.
A good name is more desirable than great riches; favor is better than silver and gold.
Start a child off on the way they should go, and even when they're old they won't turn from it.
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Lean in and listen to the words of the wise. We've written you thirty sayings.
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise—apply your mind to my knowledge— Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,
Don't wear yourself out getting rich. Blink, and your money's grown wings and flown off like an eagle.
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to restrain yourself. When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.
The long version. Who's got the misery? Who's got the fights, the complaining, the bruises nobody can explain, the bloodshot eyes? The ones who linger over wine. And the next morning they're saying someone hit them and they didn't even feel it, and the moment they're awake they're off to find another drink.
Solomon@solomonWine makes a fool of you. Beer starts fights. Anyone who gets carried away by them isn't wise.Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has needless wounds? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to taste mixed drinks. Do not gaze at wine while it is red, when it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly. In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, and your mind will utter perversities. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast: “They struck me, but I feel no pain! They beat me, but I did not know it! When can I wake up to search for another drink?”
A good person falls seven times and gets back up.
For though a righteous man may fall seven times, he still gets up; but the wicked stumble in bad times.
Don't celebrate when your enemy falls.
Do not gloat when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,
Walked past a lazy man's field. Thorns everywhere. Thistles all over it. The stone wall falling down. I looked, and I learned something.
Solomon@solomonSure. A bit more sleep, a bit more napping, a bit more lying there with your arms folded, and poverty turns up like a robber.I went past the field of a slacker and by the vineyard of a man lacking judgment. Thorns had grown up everywhere, thistles had covered the ground, and the stone wall was broken down. I observed and took it to heart; I looked and received instruction: A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.
Kindly note: more of Solomon's proverbs, copied out for King Hezekiah of Judah.
These are additional proverbs of Solomon, which were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
The right word at the right time is like apples of gold in a silver setting.
A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
Don't be round your neighbour's house too often. They'll get sick of you.
Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house, lest he grow weary and hate you.
If your enemy's hungry, feed him. If he's thirsty, give him a drink. You'll heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
We note this one appears a second time. Word for word. The corner of the roof.
Solomon@solomonBetter to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a wife who picks fights.Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Good news from far away is like cold water when you're thirsty.
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.
Don't answer a fool the way his foolishness deserves, or you'll be just like him.
Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be like him.
Replying to @solomon
Answer a fool the way his foolishness deserves, or he'll think he's wise.
Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he become wise in his own eyes.
Like a dog going back to its vomit, a fool goes back to his foolishness.
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.
A door turns on its hinges. A lazy man turns in his bed.
As a door turns on its hinges, so the slacker turns on his bed.
Replying to @solomon
still smarter than seven people with sensible answers, though
The slacker is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Getting involved in someone else's argument is like grabbing a passing dog by the ears.
Like one who grabs a dog by the ears is a passerby who meddles in a quarrel not his own.
Like a madman firing flaming arrows: someone who lies to their neighbour and then says, “I was only joking.”
Like a madman shooting firebrands and deadly arrows, so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!”
No wood, and the fire goes out. No gossip, and the arguing stops.
Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, a conflict ceases.
Don't boast about tomorrow. You don't know what a day will bring.
Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
Let someone else praise you. Not your own mouth.
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—a stranger, and not your own lips.
Wounds from a friend can be trusted. An enemy's kisses are fake.
The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Bellow a blessing at your neighbour at the crack of dawn and they'll take it as a curse.
If one blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
As iron sharpens iron, one person sharpens another.
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
The wicked run when nobody's chasing them. The good are as bold as a lion.
The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Hide your wrongs and you won't get far. Own up and turn from them, and you'll find mercy.
He who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy.
Where there's no vision, the people run wild.
Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
Fear of people is a trap. Trust the LORD and you're safe.
The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
Not gonna lie, I'm the most clueless person here. I never learned wisdom. So, a question for everyone: who's gone up to heaven and come back down? Who's gathered the wind in his hands, or wrapped up the sea in a cloak? What's his name, and his son's name? Tell me, if you know.
Surely I am the most ignorant of men, and I lack the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, and I have no knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His hands? Who has bound up the waters in His cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is the name of His Son—surely you know!
Two things I'm asking before I die. Keep lies away from me. And don't make me poor or rich, just give me my daily bread. Too much and I might say, “Who's the LORD?” Too little and I might steal.
Two things I ask of You—do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me. Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread that is my portion. Otherwise, I may have too much and deny You, saying, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, profaning the name of my God.
The leech has two daughters. They're both called “Give! Give!”
The leech has two daughters: Give and Give. There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
Four things I just don't understand: 1. An eagle in the sky. 2. A snake on a rock. 3. A ship out at sea. 4. A man with a young woman.
There are three things too wonderful for me, four that I cannot understand: the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship at sea, and the way of a man with a maiden.
Four small things that are very wise: 1. Ants. Not strong, but they store food in summer. 2. Rock badgers. Not powerful, but they live in the cliffs. 3. Locusts. No king, and they still march in rank. 4. The lizard. You can catch one in your hand, and it still gets into kings' palaces.
Four things on earth are small, yet they are exceedingly wise: The ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer; the rock badgers are creatures of little power, yet they make their homes in the rocks; the locusts have no king, yet they all advance in formation; and the lizard can be caught in one’s hands, yet it is found in the palaces of kings.
Churn milk, you get butter. Twist a nose, you get blood. Stir up anger, you get a fight.
For as the churning of milk yields butter, and the twisting of the nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”
My mum taught me this. Passing it on.
These are the words of King Lemuel—the burden that his mother taught him:
Replying to @kinglemuel
Listen, son. You're the son I made vows to God for. Wine isn't for kings. You'll drink, forget the law, and take justice away from people who are suffering.
What shall I say, O my son? What, O son of my womb? What, O son of my vows? Do not spend your strength on women or your vigor on those who ruin kings. It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink, lest they drink and forget what is decreed, depriving all the oppressed of justice.
Speak up for people who can't speak for themselves. Defend the poor and the needy.
Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the cause of the poor and needy.
A woman of strong character: how many of those do you find? She's worth far more than rubies. Strength and dignity are her clothes, and she laughs at the days to come.
A wife of noble character, who can find? She is far more precious than rubies. Strength and honor are her clothing, and she can laugh at the days to come.
Replying to @lemuels.mother
Charm is deceptive and beauty fades. A woman who fears the LORD is the one to praise.
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.