Wise Leadership<\/p>\n
Read the bible book of Proverbs and think of someone you consider a great leader and Compare and contrast them to the wise leader as portrayed in the lecture. All references must from Book of Proverbs.
\nRead the bible book of Proverbs and think of someone you consider a great leader in the world (nowadays or in the history) and Compare and contrast them to the wise leader as portrayed in the lecture.
\nOne page double space.
\nAll references must from the Book of Proverbs.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 1New International Version (NIV)
\nPurpose and Theme
\n1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
\n2 for gaining wisdom and instruction;
\nfor understanding words of insight;
\n3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
\ndoing what is right and just and fair;
\n4 for giving prudence to those who are simple,[a]
\nknowledge and discretion to the young\u2014
\n5 let the wise listen and add to their learning,
\nand let the discerning get guidance\u2014
\n6 for understanding proverbs and parables,
\nthe sayings and riddles of the wise.[b]
\n7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
\nbut fools[c] despise wisdom and instruction.
\nPrologue: Exhortations to Embrace Wisdom
\nWarning Against the Invitation of Sinful Men
\n8 Listen, my son, to your father\u2019s instruction
\nand do not forsake your mother\u2019s teaching.
\n9 They are a garland to grace your head
\nand a chain to adorn your neck.
\n10 My son, if sinful men entice you,
\ndo not give in to them.
\n11 If they say, \u201cCome along with us;
\nlet\u2019s lie in wait for innocent blood,
\nlet\u2019s ambush some harmless soul;
\n12 let\u2019s swallow them alive, like the grave,
\nand whole, like those who go down to the pit;
\n13 we will get all sorts of valuable things
\nand fill our houses with plunder;
\n14 cast lots with us;
\nwe will all share the loot\u201d\u2014
\n15 my son, do not go along with them,
\ndo not set foot on their paths;
\n16 for their feet rush into evil,
\nthey are swift to shed blood.
\n17 How useless to spread a net
\nwhere every bird can see it!
\n18 These men lie in wait for their own blood;
\nthey ambush only themselves!
\n19 Such are the paths of all who go after ill-gotten gain;
\nit takes away the life of those who get it.
\nWisdom\u2019s Rebuke
\n20 Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
\nshe raises her voice in the public square;
\n21 on top of the wall[d] she cries out,
\nat the city gate she makes her speech:
\n22 \u201cHow long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
\nHow long will mockers delight in mockery
\nand fools hate knowledge?
\n23 Repent at my rebuke!
\nThen I will pour out my thoughts to you,
\nI will make known to you my teachings.
\n24 But since you refuse to listen when I call
\nand no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand,
\n25 since you disregard all my advice
\nand do not accept my rebuke,
\n26 I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you;
\nI will mock when calamity overtakes you\u2014
\n27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm,
\nwhen disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,
\nwhen distress and trouble overwhelm you.
\n28 \u201cThen they will call to me but I will not answer;
\nthey will look for me but will not find me,
\n29 since they hated knowledge
\nand did not choose to fear the LORD.
\n30 Since they would not accept my advice
\nand spurned my rebuke,
\n31 they will eat the fruit of their ways
\nand be filled with the fruit of their schemes.
\n32 For the waywardness of the simple will kill them,
\nand the complacency of fools will destroy them;
\n33 but whoever listens to me will live in safety
\nand be at ease, without fear of harm.\u201d
\nProverbs 2New International Version (NIV)
\nMoral Benefits of Wisdom
\n2 My son, if you accept my words
\nand store up my commands within you,
\n2 turning your ear to wisdom
\nand applying your heart to understanding\u2014
\n3 indeed, if you call out for insight
\nand cry aloud for understanding,
\n4 and if you look for it as for silver
\nand search for it as for hidden treasure,
\n5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
\nand find the knowledge of God.
\n6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
\nfrom his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
\n7 He holds success in store for the upright,
\nhe is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
\n8 for he guards the course of the just
\nand protects the way of his faithful ones.
\n9 Then you will understand what is right and just
\nand fair\u2014every good path.
\n10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
\nand knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
\n11 Discretion will protect you,
\nand understanding will guard you.
\n12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
\nfrom men whose words are perverse,
\n13 who have left the straight paths
\nto walk in dark ways,
\n14 who delight in doing wrong
\nand rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
\n15 whose paths are crooked
\nand who are devious in their ways.
\n16 Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
\nfrom the wayward woman with her seductive words,
\n17 who has left the partner of her youth
\nand ignored the covenant she made before God.[a]
\n18 Surely her house leads down to death
\nand her paths to the spirits of the dead.
\n19 None who go to her return
\nor attain the paths of life.
\n20 Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
\nand keep to the paths of the righteous.
\n21 For the upright will live in the land,
\nand the blameless will remain in it;
\n22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
\nand the unfaithful will be torn from it.
\nWisdom Bestows Well-Being
\n3 My son, do not forget my teaching,
\nbut keep my commands in your heart,
\n2 for they will prolong your life many years
\nand bring you peace and prosperity.
\n3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
\nbind them around your neck,
\nwrite them on the tablet of your heart.
\n4 Then you will win favor and a good name
\nin the sight of God and man.
\n5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
\nand lean not on your own understanding;
\n6 in all your ways submit to him,
\nand he will make your paths straight.[a]
\n7 Do not be wise in your own eyes;
\nfear the LORD and shun evil.
\n8 This will bring health to your body
\nand nourishment to your bones.
\n9 Honor the LORD with your wealth,
\nwith the firstfruits of all your crops;
\n10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
\nand your vats will brim over with new wine.
\n11 My son, do not despise the LORD\u2019s discipline,
\nand do not resent his rebuke,
\n12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves,
\nas a father the son he delights in.[b]
\n13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
\nthose who gain understanding,
\n14 for she is more profitable than silver
\nand yields better returns than gold.
\n15 She is more precious than rubies;
\nnothing you desire can compare with her.
\n16 Long life is in her right hand;
\nin her left hand are riches and honor.
\n17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
\nand all her paths are peace.
\n18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
\nthose who hold her fast will be blessed.
\n19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth\u2019s foundations,
\nby understanding he set the heavens in place;
\n20 by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
\nand the clouds let drop the dew.
\n21 My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
\npreserve sound judgment and discretion;
\n22 they will be life for you,
\nan ornament to grace your neck.
\n23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
\nand your foot will not stumble.
\n24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
\nwhen you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
\n25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
\nor of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
\n26 for the LORD will be at your side
\nand will keep your foot from being snared.
\n27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
\nwhen it is in your power to act.
\n28 Do not say to your neighbor,
\n\u201cCome back tomorrow and I\u2019ll give it to you\u201d\u2014
\nwhen you already have it with you.
\n29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
\nwho lives trustfully near you.
\n30 Do not accuse anyone for no reason\u2014
\nwhen they have done you no harm.
\n31 Do not envy the violent
\nor choose any of their ways.
\n32 For the LORD detests the perverse
\nbut takes the upright into his confidence.
\n33 The LORD\u2019s curse is on the house of the wicked,
\nbut he blesses the home of the righteous.
\n34 He mocks proud mockers
\nbut shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
\n35 The wise inherit honor,
\nbut fools get only shame.
\nGet Wisdom at Any Cost
\n4 Listen, my sons, to a father\u2019s instruction;
\npay attention and gain understanding.
\n2 I give you sound learning,
\nso do not forsake my teaching.
\n3 For I too was a son to my father,
\nstill tender, and cherished by my mother.
\n4 Then he taught me, and he said to me,
\n\u201cTake hold of my words with all your heart;
\nkeep my commands, and you will live.
\n5 Get wisdom, get understanding;
\ndo not forget my words or turn away from them.
\n6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you;
\nlove her, and she will watch over you.
\n7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get[a] wisdom.
\nThough it cost all you have,[b] get understanding.
\n8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you;
\nembrace her, and she will honor you.
\n9 She will give you a garland to grace your head
\nand present you with a glorious crown.\u201d
\n10 Listen, my son, accept what I say,
\nand the years of your life will be many.
\n11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom
\nand lead you along straight paths.
\n12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered;
\nwhen you run, you will not stumble.
\n13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;
\nguard it well, for it is your life.
\n14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
\nor walk in the way of evildoers.
\n15 Avoid it, do not travel on it;
\nturn from it and go on your way.
\n16 For they cannot rest until they do evil;
\nthey are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
\n17 They eat the bread of wickedness
\nand drink the wine of violence.
\n18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun,
\nshining ever brighter till the full light of day.
\n19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
\nthey do not know what makes them stumble.
\n20 My son, pay attention to what I say;
\nturn your ear to my words.
\n21 Do not let them out of your sight,
\nkeep them within your heart;
\n22 for they are life to those who find them
\nand health to one\u2019s whole body.
\n23 Above all else, guard your heart,
\nfor everything you do flows from it.
\n24 Keep your mouth free of perversity;
\nkeep corrupt talk far from your lips.
\n25 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
\nfix your gaze directly before you.
\n26 Give careful thought to the[c] paths for your feet
\nand be steadfast in all your ways.
\n27 Do not turn to the right or the left;
\nkeep your foot from evil.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 5New International Version (NIV)
\nWarning Against Adultery
\n5 My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
\nturn your ear to my words of insight,
\n2 that you may maintain discretion
\nand your lips may preserve knowledge.
\n3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey,
\nand her speech is smoother than oil;
\n4 but in the end she is bitter as gall,
\nsharp as a double-edged sword.
\n5 Her feet go down to death;
\nher steps lead straight to the grave.
\n6 She gives no thought to the way of life;
\nher paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.
\n7 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
\ndo not turn aside from what I say.
\n8 Keep to a path far from her,
\ndo not go near the door of her house,
\n9 lest you lose your honor to others
\nand your dignity[a] to one who is cruel,
\n10 lest strangers feast on your wealth
\nand your toil enrich the house of another.
\n11 At the end of your life you will groan,
\nwhen your flesh and body are spent.
\n12 You will say, \u201cHow I hated discipline!
\nHow my heart spurned correction!
\n13 I would not obey my teachers
\nor turn my ear to my instructors.
\n14 And I was soon in serious trouble
\nin the assembly of God\u2019s people.\u201d
\n15 Drink water from your own cistern,
\nrunning water from your own well.
\n16 Should your springs overflow in the streets,
\nyour streams of water in the public squares?
\n17 Let them be yours alone,
\nnever to be shared with strangers.
\n18 May your fountain be blessed,
\nand may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
\n19 A loving doe, a graceful deer\u2014
\nmay her breasts satisfy you always,
\nmay you ever be intoxicated with her love.
\n20 Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man\u2019s wife?
\nWhy embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?
\n21 For your ways are in full view of the LORD,
\nand he examines all your paths.
\n22 The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them;
\nthe cords of their sins hold them fast.
\n23 For lack of discipline they will die,
\nled astray by their own great folly.<\/p>\n
Warnings Against Folly
\n6 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor,
\nif you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,
\n2 you have been trapped by what you said,
\nensnared by the words of your mouth.
\n3 So do this, my son, to free yourself,
\nsince you have fallen into your neighbor\u2019s hands:
\nGo\u2014to the point of exhaustion\u2014[a]
\nand give your neighbor no rest!
\n4 Allow no sleep to your eyes,
\nno slumber to your eyelids.
\n5 Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,
\nlike a bird from the snare of the fowler.
\n6 Go to the ant, you sluggard;
\nconsider its ways and be wise!
\n7 It has no commander,
\nno overseer or ruler,
\n8 yet it stores its provisions in summer
\nand gathers its food at harvest.
\n9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard?
\nWhen will you get up from your sleep?
\n10 A little sleep, a little slumber,
\na little folding of the hands to rest\u2014
\n11 and poverty will come on you like a thief
\nand scarcity like an armed man.
\n12 A troublemaker and a villain,
\nwho goes about with a corrupt mouth,
\n13 who winks maliciously with his eye,
\nsignals with his feet
\nand motions with his fingers,
\n14 who plots evil with deceit in his heart\u2014
\nhe always stirs up conflict.
\n15 Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;
\nhe will suddenly be destroyed\u2014without remedy.
\n16 There are six things the LORD hates,
\nseven that are detestable to him:
\n17 haughty eyes,
\na lying tongue,
\nhands that shed innocent blood,
\n18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
\nfeet that are quick to rush into evil,
\n19 a false witness who pours out lies
\nand a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
\nWarning Against Adultery
\n20 My son, keep your father\u2019s command
\nand do not forsake your mother\u2019s teaching.
\n21 Bind them always on your heart;
\nfasten them around your neck.
\n22 When you walk, they will guide you;
\nwhen you sleep, they will watch over you;
\nwhen you awake, they will speak to you.
\n23 For this command is a lamp,
\nthis teaching is a light,
\nand correction and instruction
\nare the way to life,
\n24 keeping you from your neighbor\u2019s wife,
\nfrom the smooth talk of a wayward woman.
\n25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
\nor let her captivate you with her eyes.
\n26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
\nbut another man\u2019s wife preys on your very life.
\n27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap
\nwithout his clothes being burned?
\n28 Can a man walk on hot coals
\nwithout his feet being scorched?
\n29 So is he who sleeps with another man\u2019s wife;
\nno one who touches her will go unpunished.
\n30 People do not despise a thief if he steals
\nto satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
\n31 Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
\nthough it costs him all the wealth of his house.
\n32 But a man who commits adultery has no sense;
\nwhoever does so destroys himself.
\n33 Blows and disgrace are his lot,
\nand his shame will never be wiped away.
\n34 For jealousy arouses a husband\u2019s fury,
\nand he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
\n35 He will not accept any compensation;
\nhe will refuse a bribe, however great it is.<\/p>\n
Warning Against the Adulterous Woman
\n7 My son, keep my words
\nand store up my commands within you.
\n2 Keep my commands and you will live;
\nguard my teachings as the apple of your eye.
\n3 Bind them on your fingers;
\nwrite them on the tablet of your heart.
\n4 Say to wisdom, \u201cYou are my sister,\u201d
\nand to insight, \u201cYou are my relative.\u201d
\n5 They will keep you from the adulterous woman,
\nfrom the wayward woman with her seductive words.
\n6 At the window of my house
\nI looked down through the lattice.
\n7 I saw among the simple,
\nI noticed among the young men,
\na youth who had no sense.
\n8 He was going down the street near her corner,
\nwalking along in the direction of her house
\n9 at twilight, as the day was fading,
\nas the dark of night set in.
\n10 Then out came a woman to meet him,
\ndressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
\n11 (She is unruly and defiant,
\nher feet never stay at home;
\n12 now in the street, now in the squares,
\nat every corner she lurks.)
\n13 She took hold of him and kissed him
\nand with a brazen face she said:
\n14 \u201cToday I fulfilled my vows,
\nand I have food from my fellowship offering at home.
\n15 So I came out to meet you;
\nI looked for you and have found you!
\n16 I have covered my bed
\nwith colored linens from Egypt.
\n17 I have perfumed my bed
\nwith myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
\n18 Come, let\u2019s drink deeply of love till morning;
\nlet\u2019s enjoy ourselves with love!
\n19 My husband is not at home;
\nhe has gone on a long journey.
\n20 He took his purse filled with money
\nand will not be home till full moon.\u201d
\n21 With persuasive words she led him astray;
\nshe seduced him with her smooth talk.
\n22 All at once he followed her
\nlike an ox going to the slaughter,
\nlike a deer[a] stepping into a noose[b]
\n23 till an arrow pierces his liver,
\nlike a bird darting into a snare,
\nlittle knowing it will cost him his life.
\n24 Now then, my sons, listen to me;
\npay attention to what I say.
\n25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways
\nor stray into her paths.
\n26 Many are the victims she has brought down;
\nher slain are a mighty throng.
\n27 Her house is a highway to the grave,
\nleading down to the chambers of death.<\/p>\n
Wisdom\u2019s Call
\n8 Does not wisdom call out?
\nDoes not understanding raise her voice?
\n2 At the highest point along the way,
\nwhere the paths meet, she takes her stand;
\n3 beside the gate leading into the city,
\nat the entrance, she cries aloud:
\n4 \u201cTo you, O people, I call out;
\nI raise my voice to all mankind.
\n5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
\nyou who are foolish, set your hearts on it.[a]
\n6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
\nI open my lips to speak what is right.
\n7 My mouth speaks what is true,
\nfor my lips detest wickedness.
\n8 All the words of my mouth are just;
\nnone of them is crooked or perverse.
\n9 To the discerning all of them are right;
\nthey are upright to those who have found knowledge.
\n10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
\nknowledge rather than choice gold,
\n11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
\nand nothing you desire can compare with her.
\n12 \u201cI, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
\nI possess knowledge and discretion.
\n13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
\nI hate pride and arrogance,
\nevil behavior and perverse speech.
\n14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
\nI have insight, I have power.
\n15 By me kings reign
\nand rulers issue decrees that are just;
\n16 by me princes govern,
\nand nobles\u2014all who rule on earth.[b]
\n17 I love those who love me,
\nand those who seek me find me.
\n18 With me are riches and honor,
\nenduring wealth and prosperity.
\n19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
\nwhat I yield surpasses choice silver.
\n20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
\nalong the paths of justice,
\n21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
\nand making their treasuries full.
\n22 \u201cThe LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]
\nbefore his deeds of old;
\n23 I was formed long ages ago,
\nat the very beginning, when the world came to be.
\n24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
\nwhen there were no springs overflowing with water;
\n25 before the mountains were settled in place,
\nbefore the hills, I was given birth,
\n26 before he made the world or its fields
\nor any of the dust of the earth.
\n27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
\nwhen he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
\n28 when he established the clouds above
\nand fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
\n29 when he gave the sea its boundary
\nso the waters would not overstep his command,
\nand when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
\n30 Then I was constantly[e] at his side.
\nI was filled with delight day after day,
\nrejoicing always in his presence,
\n31 rejoicing in his whole world
\nand delighting in mankind.
\n32 \u201cNow then, my children, listen to me;
\nblessed are those who keep my ways.
\n33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
\ndo not disregard it.
\n34 Blessed are those who listen to me,
\nwatching daily at my doors,
\nwaiting at my doorway.
\n35 For those who find me find life
\nand receive favor from the LORD.
\n36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
\nall who hate me love death.\u201d<\/p>\n
Invitations of Wisdom and Folly
\n9 Wisdom has built her house;
\nshe has set up[a] its seven pillars.
\n2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
\nshe has also set her table.
\n3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
\nfrom the highest point of the city,
\n4 \u201cLet all who are simple come to my house!\u201d
\nTo those who have no sense she says,
\n5 \u201cCome, eat my food
\nand drink the wine I have mixed.
\n6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
\nwalk in the way of insight.\u201d
\n7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
\nwhoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
\n8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
\nrebuke the wise and they will love you.
\n9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
\nteach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
\n10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
\nand knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
\n11 For through wisdom[b] your days will be many,
\nand years will be added to your life.
\n12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
\nif you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
\n13 Folly is an unruly woman;
\nshe is simple and knows nothing.
\n14 She sits at the door of her house,
\non a seat at the highest point of the city,
\n15 calling out to those who pass by,
\nwho go straight on their way,
\n16 \u201cLet all who are simple come to my house!\u201d
\nTo those who have no sense she says,
\n17 \u201cStolen water is sweet;
\nfood eaten in secret is delicious!\u201d
\n18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
\nthat her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 10New International Version (NIV)
\nProverbs of Solomon
\n10 The proverbs of Solomon:
\nA wise son brings joy to his father,
\nbut a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
\n2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value,
\nbut righteousness delivers from death.
\n3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry,
\nbut he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
\n4 Lazy hands make for poverty,
\nbut diligent hands bring wealth.
\n5 He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son,
\nbut he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
\n6 Blessings crown the head of the righteous,
\nbut violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.[a]
\n7 The name of the righteous is used in blessings,[b]
\nbut the name of the wicked will rot.
\n8 The wise in heart accept commands,
\nbut a chattering fool comes to ruin.
\n9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
\nbut whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
\n10 Whoever winks maliciously causes grief,
\nand a chattering fool comes to ruin.
\n11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
\nbut the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
\n12 Hatred stirs up conflict,
\nbut love covers over all wrongs.
\n13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
\nbut a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
\n14 The wise store up knowledge,
\nbut the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
\n15 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city,
\nbut poverty is the ruin of the poor.
\n16 The wages of the righteous is life,
\nbut the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.
\n17 Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
\nbut whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
\n18 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
\nand spreads slander is a fool.
\n19 Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
\nbut the prudent hold their tongues.
\n20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
\nbut the heart of the wicked is of little value.
\n21 The lips of the righteous nourish many,
\nbut fools die for lack of sense.
\n22 The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
\nwithout painful toil for it.
\n23 A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes,
\nbut a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
\n24 What the wicked dread will overtake them;
\nwhat the righteous desire will be granted.
\n25 When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
\nbut the righteous stand firm forever.
\n26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
\nso are sluggards to those who send them.
\n27 The fear of the LORD adds length to life,
\nbut the years of the wicked are cut short.
\n28 The prospect of the righteous is joy,
\nbut the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
\n29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless,
\nbut it is the ruin of those who do evil.
\n30 The righteous will never be uprooted,
\nbut the wicked will not remain in the land.
\n31 From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom,
\nbut a perverse tongue will be silenced.
\n32 The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
\nbut the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
\nProverbs 11New International Version (NIV)
\n11 The LORD detests dishonest scales,
\nbut accurate weights find favor with him.
\n2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
\nbut with humility comes wisdom.
\n3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
\nbut the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
\n4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
\nbut righteousness delivers from death.
\n5 The righteousness of the blameless makes their paths straight,
\nbut the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.
\n6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
\nbut the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
\n7 Hopes placed in mortals die with them;
\nall the promise of[a] their power comes to nothing.
\n8 The righteous person is rescued from trouble,
\nand it falls on the wicked instead.
\n9 With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbors,
\nbut through knowledge the righteous escape.
\n10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
\nwhen the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.
\n11 Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted,
\nbut by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed.
\n12 Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense,
\nbut the one who has understanding holds their tongue.
\n13 A gossip betrays a confidence,
\nbut a trustworthy person keeps a secret.
\n14 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
\nbut victory is won through many advisers.
\n15 Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer,
\nbut whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
\n16 A kindhearted woman gains honor,
\nbut ruthless men gain only wealth.
\n17 Those who are kind benefit themselves,
\nbut the cruel bring ruin on themselves.
\n18 A wicked person earns deceptive wages,
\nbut the one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
\n19 Truly the righteous attain life,
\nbut whoever pursues evil finds death.
\n20 The LORD detests those whose hearts are perverse,
\nbut he delights in those whose ways are blameless.
\n21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished,
\nbut those who are righteous will go free.
\n22 Like a gold ring in a pig\u2019s snout
\nis a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
\n23 The desire of the righteous ends only in good,
\nbut the hope of the wicked only in wrath.
\n24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more;
\nanother withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.
\n25 A generous person will prosper;
\nwhoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
\n26 People curse the one who hoards grain,
\nbut they pray God\u2019s blessing on the one who is willing to sell.
\n27 Whoever seeks good finds favor,
\nbut evil comes to one who searches for it.
\n28 Those who trust in their riches will fall,
\nbut the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
\n29 Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind,
\nand the fool will be servant to the wise.
\n30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
\nand the one who is wise saves lives.
\n31 If the righteous receive their due on earth,
\nhow much more the ungodly and the sinner!<\/p>\n
Proverbs 12New International Version (NIV)
\n12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
\nbut whoever hates correction is stupid.
\n2 Good people obtain favor from the LORD,
\nbut he condemns those who devise wicked schemes.
\n3 No one can be established through wickedness,
\nbut the righteous cannot be uprooted.
\n4 A wife of noble character is her husband\u2019s crown,
\nbut a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.
\n5 The plans of the righteous are just,
\nbut the advice of the wicked is deceitful.
\n6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
\nbut the speech of the upright rescues them.
\n7 The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
\nbut the house of the righteous stands firm.
\n8 A person is praised according to their prudence,
\nand one with a warped mind is despised.
\n9 Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant
\nthan pretend to be somebody and have no food.
\n10 The righteous care for the needs of their animals,
\nbut the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.
\n11 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
\nbut those who chase fantasies have no sense.
\n12 The wicked desire the stronghold of evildoers,
\nbut the root of the righteous endures.
\n13 Evildoers are trapped by their sinful talk,
\nand so the innocent escape trouble.
\n14 From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things,
\nand the work of their hands brings them reward.
\n15 The way of fools seems right to them,
\nbut the wise listen to advice.
\n16 Fools show their annoyance at once,
\nbut the prudent overlook an insult.
\n17 An honest witness tells the truth,
\nbut a false witness tells lies.
\n18 The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
\nbut the tongue of the wise brings healing.
\n19 Truthful lips endure forever,
\nbut a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
\n20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,
\nbut those who promote peace have joy.
\n21 No harm overtakes the righteous,
\nbut the wicked have their fill of trouble.
\n22 The LORD detests lying lips,
\nbut he delights in people who are trustworthy.
\n23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves,
\nbut a fool\u2019s heart blurts out folly.
\n24 Diligent hands will rule,
\nbut laziness ends in forced labor.
\n25 Anxiety weighs down the heart,
\nbut a kind word cheers it up.
\n26 The righteous choose their friends carefully,
\nbut the way of the wicked leads them astray.
\n27 The lazy do not roast[a] any game,
\nbut the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.
\n28 In the way of righteousness there is life;
\nalong that path is immortality.
\nProverbs 13New International Version (NIV)
\n13 A wise son heeds his father\u2019s instruction,
\nbut a mocker does not respond to rebukes.
\n2 From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things,
\nbut the unfaithful have an appetite for violence.
\n3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives,
\nbut those who speak rashly will come to ruin.
\n4 A sluggard\u2019s appetite is never filled,
\nbut the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
\n5 The righteous hate what is false,
\nbut the wicked make themselves a stench
\nand bring shame on themselves.
\n6 Righteousness guards the person of integrity,
\nbut wickedness overthrows the sinner.
\n7 One person pretends to be rich, yet has nothing;
\nanother pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth.
\n8 A person\u2019s riches may ransom their life,
\nbut the poor cannot respond to threatening rebukes.
\n9 The light of the righteous shines brightly,
\nbut the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.
\n10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
\nbut wisdom is found in those who take advice.
\n11 Dishonest money dwindles away,
\nbut whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow.
\n12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
\nbut a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
\n13 Whoever scorns instruction will pay for it,
\nbut whoever respects a command is rewarded.
\n14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
\nturning a person from the snares of death.
\n15 Good judgment wins favor,
\nbut the way of the unfaithful leads to their destruction.[a]
\n16 All who are prudent act with[b] knowledge,
\nbut fools expose their folly.
\n17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,
\nbut a trustworthy envoy brings healing.
\n18 Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame,
\nbut whoever heeds correction is honored.
\n19 A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul,
\nbut fools detest turning from evil.
\n20 Walk with the wise and become wise,
\nfor a companion of fools suffers harm.
\n21 Trouble pursues the sinner,
\nbut the righteous are rewarded with good things.
\n22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children\u2019s children,
\nbut a sinner\u2019s wealth is stored up for the righteous.
\n23 An unplowed field produces food for the poor,
\nbut injustice sweeps it away.
\n24 Whoever spares the rod hates their children,
\nbut the one who loves their children is careful to disciplinethem.
\n25 The righteous eat to their hearts\u2019 content,
\nbut the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 14New International Version (NIV)
\n14 The wise woman builds her house,
\nbut with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.
\n2 Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly,
\nbut those who despise him are devious in their ways.
\n3 A fool\u2019s mouth lashes out with pride,
\nbut the lips of the wise protect them.
\n4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty,
\nbut from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests.
\n5 An honest witness does not deceive,
\nbut a false witness pours out lies.
\n6 The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none,
\nbut knowledge comes easily to the discerning.
\n7 Stay away from a fool,
\nfor you will not find knowledge on their lips.
\n8 The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways,
\nbut the folly of fools is deception.
\n9 Fools mock at making amends for sin,
\nbut goodwill is found among the upright.
\n10 Each heart knows its own bitterness,
\nand no one else can share its joy.
\n11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,
\nbut the tent of the upright will flourish.
\n12 There is a way that appears to be right,
\nbut in the end it leads to death.
\n13 Even in laughter the heart may ache,
\nand rejoicing may end in grief.
\n14 The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,
\nand the good rewarded for theirs.
\n15 The simple believe anything,
\nbut the prudent give thought to their steps.
\n16 The wise fear the LORD and shun evil,
\nbut a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure.
\n17 A quick-tempered person does foolish things,
\nand the one who devises evil schemes is hated.
\n18 The simple inherit folly,
\nbut the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
\n19 Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
\nand the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
\n20 The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
\nbut the rich have many friends.
\n21 It is a sin to despise one\u2019s neighbor,
\nbut blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.
\n22 Do not those who plot evil go astray?
\nBut those who plan what is good find[a] love and faithfulness.
\n23 All hard work brings a profit,
\nbut mere talk leads only to poverty.
\n24 The wealth of the wise is their crown,
\nbut the folly of fools yields folly.
\n25 A truthful witness saves lives,
\nbut a false witness is deceitful.
\n26 Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress,
\nand for their children it will be a refuge.
\n27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
\nturning a person from the snares of death.
\n28 A large population is a king\u2019s glory,
\nbut without subjects a prince is ruined.
\n29 Whoever is patient has great understanding,
\nbut one who is quick-tempered displays folly.
\n30 A heart at peace gives life to the body,
\nbut envy rots the bones.
\n31 Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
\nbut whoever is kind to the needy honors God.
\n32 When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
\nbut even in death the righteous seek refuge in God.
\n33 Wisdom reposes in the heart of the discerning
\nand even among fools she lets herself be known.[b]
\n34 Righteousness exalts a nation,
\nbut sin condemns any people.
\n35 A king delights in a wise servant,
\nbut a shameful servant arouses his fury.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 15New International Version (NIV)
\n15 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
\nbut a harsh word stirs up anger.
\n2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,
\nbut the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
\n3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere,
\nkeeping watch on the wicked and the good.
\n4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life,
\nbut a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
\n5 A fool spurns a parent\u2019s discipline,
\nbut whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
\n6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure,
\nbut the income of the wicked brings ruin.
\n7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
\nbut the hearts of fools are not upright.
\n8 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked,
\nbut the prayer of the upright pleases him.
\n9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked,
\nbut he loves those who pursue righteousness.
\n10 Stern discipline awaits anyone who leaves the path;
\nthe one who hates correction will die.
\n11 Death and Destruction[a] lie open before the LORD\u2014
\nhow much more do human hearts!
\n12 Mockers resent correction,
\nso they avoid the wise.
\n13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
\nbut heartache crushes the spirit.
\n14 The discerning heart seeks knowledge,
\nbut the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.
\n15 All the days of the oppressed are wretched,
\nbut the cheerful heart has a continual feast.
\n16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD
\nthan great wealth with turmoil.
\n17 Better a small serving of vegetables with love
\nthan a fattened calf with hatred.
\n18 A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict,
\nbut the one who is patient calms a quarrel.
\n19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
\nbut the path of the upright is a highway.
\n20 A wise son brings joy to his father,
\nbut a foolish man despises his mother.
\n21 Folly brings joy to one who has no sense,
\nbut whoever has understanding keeps a straight course.
\n22 Plans fail for lack of counsel,
\nbut with many advisers they succeed.
\n23 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply\u2014
\nand how good is a timely word!
\n24 The path of life leads upward for the prudent
\nto keep them from going down to the realm of the dead.
\n25 The LORD tears down the house of the proud,
\nbut he sets the widow\u2019s boundary stones in place.
\n26 The LORD detests the thoughts of the wicked,
\nbut gracious words are pure in his sight.
\n27 The greedy bring ruin to their households,
\nbut the one who hates bribes will live.
\n28 The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
\nbut the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
\n29 The LORD is far from the wicked,
\nbut he hears the prayer of the righteous.
\n30 Light in a messenger\u2019s eyes brings joy to the heart,
\nand good news gives health to the bones.
\n31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction
\nwill be at home among the wise.
\n32 Those who disregard discipline despise themselves,
\nbut the one who heeds correction gains understanding.
\n33 Wisdom\u2019s instruction is to fear the LORD,
\nand humility comes before honor.
\nProverbs 16New International Version (NIV)
\n16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
\nbut from the LORD comes the proper answer of the tongue.
\n2 All a person\u2019s ways seem pure to them,
\nbut motives are weighed by the LORD.
\n3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
\nand he will establish your plans.
\n4 The LORD works out everything to its proper end\u2014
\neven the wicked for a day of disaster.
\n5 The LORD detests all the proud of heart.
\nBe sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
\n6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
\nthrough the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.
\n7 When the LORD takes pleasure in anyone\u2019s way,
\nhe causes their enemies to make peace with them.
\n8 Better a little with righteousness
\nthan much gain with injustice.
\n9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
\nbut the LORD establishes their steps.
\n10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
\nand his mouth does not betray justice.
\n11 Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD;
\nall the weights in the bag are of his making.
\n12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
\nfor a throne is established through righteousness.
\n13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
\nthey value the one who speaks what is right.
\n14 A king\u2019s wrath is a messenger of death,
\nbut the wise will appease it.
\n15 When a king\u2019s face brightens, it means life;
\nhis favor is like a rain cloud in spring.
\n16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
\nto get insight rather than silver!
\n17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
\nthose who guard their ways preserve their lives.
\n18 Pride goes before destruction,
\na haughty spirit before a fall.
\n19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
\nthan to share plunder with the proud.
\n20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
\nand blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.
\n21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
\nand gracious words promote instruction.[b]
\n22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
\nbut folly brings punishment to fools.
\n23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
\nand their lips promote instruction.[c]
\n24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
\nsweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
\n25 There is a way that appears to be right,
\nbut in the end it leads to death.
\n26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
\ntheir hunger drives them on.
\n27 A scoundrel plots evil,
\nand on their lips it is like a scorching fire.
\n28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
\nand a gossip separates close friends.
\n29 A violent person entices their neighbor
\nand leads them down a path that is not good.
\n30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
\nwhoever purses their lips is bent on evil.
\n31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
\nit is attained in the way of righteousness.
\n32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
\none with self-control than one who takes a city.
\n33 The lot is cast into the lap,
\nbut its every decision is from the LORD.
\nProverbs 17New International Version (NIV)
\n17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
\nthan a house full of feasting, with strife.
\n2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
\nand will share the inheritance as one of the family.
\n3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
\nbut the LORD tests the heart.
\n4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
\na liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
\n5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
\nwhoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
\n6 Children\u2019s children are a crown to the aged,
\nand parents are the pride of their children.
\n7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool\u2014
\nhow much worse lying lips to a ruler!
\n8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
\nthey think success will come at every turn.
\n9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
\nbut whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
\n10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
\nmore than a hundred lashes a fool.
\n11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
\nthe messenger of death will be sent against them.
\n12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
\nthan a fool bent on folly.
\n13 Evil will never leave the house
\nof one who pays back evil for good.
\n14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
\nso drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
\n15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent\u2014
\nthe LORD detests them both.
\n16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
\nwhen they are not able to understand it?
\n17 A friend loves at all times,
\nand a brother is born for a time of adversity.
\n18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
\nand puts up security for a neighbor.
\n19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
\nwhoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
\n20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
\none whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
\n21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
\nthere is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
\n22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
\nbut a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
\n23 The wicked accept bribes in secret
\nto pervert the course of justice.
\n24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
\nbut a fool\u2019s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
\n25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
\nand bitterness to the mother who bore him.
\n26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
\nsurely to flog honest officials is not right.
\n27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
\nand whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
\n28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
\nand discerning if they hold their tongues.
\nProverbs 18New International Version (NIV)
\n18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
\nand against all sound judgment starts quarrels.
\n2 Fools find no pleasure in understanding
\nbut delight in airing their own opinions.
\n3 When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
\nand with shame comes reproach.
\n4 The words of the mouth are deep waters,
\nbut the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.
\n5 It is not good to be partial to the wicked
\nand so deprive the innocent of justice.
\n6 The lips of fools bring them strife,
\nand their mouths invite a beating.
\n7 The mouths of fools are their undoing,
\nand their lips are a snare to their very lives.
\n8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
\nthey go down to the inmost parts.
\n9 One who is slack in his work
\nis brother to one who destroys.
\n10 The name of the LORD is a fortified tower;
\nthe righteous run to it and are safe.
\n11 The wealth of the rich is their fortified city;
\nthey imagine it a wall too high to scale.
\n12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty,
\nbut humility comes before honor.
\n13 To answer before listening\u2014
\nthat is folly and shame.
\n14 The human spirit can endure in sickness,
\nbut a crushed spirit who can bear?
\n15 The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge,
\nfor the ears of the wise seek it out.
\n16 A gift opens the way
\nand ushers the giver into the presence of the great.
\n17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right,
\nuntil someone comes forward and cross-examines.
\n18 Casting the lot settles disputes
\nand keeps strong opponents apart.
\n19 A brother wronged is more unyielding than a fortified city;
\ndisputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
\n20 From the fruit of their mouth a person\u2019s stomach is filled;
\nwith the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
\n21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
\nand those who love it will eat its fruit.
\n22 He who finds a wife finds what is good
\nand receives favor from the LORD.
\n23 The poor plead for mercy,
\nbut the rich answer harshly.
\n24 One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin,
\nbut there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
\nProverbs 19New International Version (NIV)
\n19 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
\nthan a fool whose lips are perverse.
\n2 Desire without knowledge is not good\u2014
\nhow much more will hasty feet miss the way!
\n3 A person\u2019s own folly leads to their ruin,
\nyet their heart rages against the LORD.
\n4 Wealth attracts many friends,
\nbut even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them.
\n5 A false witness will not go unpunished,
\nand whoever pours out lies will not go free.
\n6 Many curry favor with a ruler,
\nand everyone is the friend of one who gives gifts.
\n7 The poor are shunned by all their relatives\u2014
\nhow much more do their friends avoid them!
\nThough the poor pursue them with pleading,
\nthey are nowhere to be found.[a]
\n8 The one who gets wisdom loves life;
\nthe one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.
\n9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
\nand whoever pours out lies will perish.
\n10 It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury\u2014
\nhow much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
\n11 A person\u2019s wisdom yields patience;
\nit is to one\u2019s glory to overlook an offense.
\n12 A king\u2019s rage is like the roar of a lion,
\nbut his favor is like dew on the grass.
\n13 A foolish child is a father\u2019s ruin,
\nand a quarrelsome wife is like
\nthe constant dripping of a leaky roof.
\n14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents,
\nbut a prudent wife is from the LORD.
\n15 Laziness brings on deep sleep,
\nand the shiftless go hungry.
\n16 Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life,
\nbut whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.
\n17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
\nand he will reward them for what they have done.
\n18 Discipline your children, for in that there is hope;
\ndo not be a willing party to their death.
\n19 A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty;
\nrescue them, and you will have to do it again.
\n20 Listen to advice and accept discipline,
\nand at the end you will be counted among the wise.
\n21 Many are the plans in a person\u2019s heart,
\nbut it is the LORD\u2019s purpose that prevails.
\n22 What a person desires is unfailing love[b];
\nbetter to be poor than a liar.
\n23 The fear of the LORD leads to life;
\nthen one rests content, untouched by trouble.
\n24 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
\nhe will not even bring it back to his mouth!
\n25 Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence;
\nrebuke the discerning, and they will gain knowledge.
\n26 Whoever robs their father and drives out their mother
\nis a child who brings shame and disgrace.
\n27 Stop listening to instruction, my son,
\nand you will stray from the words of knowledge.
\n28 A corrupt witness mocks at justice,
\nand the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
\n29 Penalties are prepared for mockers,
\nand beatings for the backs of fools.
\nProverbs 20New International Version (NIV)
\n20 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;
\nwhoever is led astray by them is not wise.
\n2 A king\u2019s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion;
\nthose who anger him forfeit their lives.
\n3 It is to one\u2019s honor to avoid strife,
\nbut every fool is quick to quarrel.
\n4 Sluggards do not plow in season;
\nso at harvest time they look but find nothing.
\n5 The purposes of a person\u2019s heart are deep waters,
\nbut one who has insight draws them out.
\n6 Many claim to have unfailing love,
\nbut a faithful person who can find?
\n7 The righteous lead blameless lives;
\nblessed are their children after them.
\n8 When a king sits on his throne to judge,
\nhe winnows out all evil with his eyes.
\n9 Who can say, \u201cI have kept my heart pure;
\nI am clean and without sin\u201d?
\n10 Differing weights and differing measures\u2014
\nthe LORD detests them both.
\n11 Even small children are known by their actions,
\nso is their conduct really pure and upright?
\n12 Ears that hear and eyes that see\u2014
\nthe LORD has made them both.
\n13 Do not love sleep or you will grow poor;
\nstay awake and you will have food to spare.
\n14 \u201cIt\u2019s no good, it\u2019s no good!\u201d says the buyer\u2014
\nthen goes off and boasts about the purchase.
\n15 Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
\nbut lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
\n16 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
\nhold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
\n17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet,
\nbut one ends up with a mouth full of gravel.
\n18 Plans are established by seeking advice;
\nso if you wage war, obtain guidance.
\n19 A gossip betrays a confidence;
\nso avoid anyone who talks too much.
\n20 If someone curses their father or mother,
\ntheir lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness.
\n21 An inheritance claimed too soon
\nwill not be blessed at the end.
\n22 Do not say, \u201cI\u2019ll pay you back for this wrong!\u201d
\nWait for the LORD, and he will avenge you.
\n23 The LORD detests differing weights,
\nand dishonest scales do not please him.
\n24 A person\u2019s steps are directed by the LORD.
\nHow then can anyone understand their own way?
\n25 It is a trap to dedicate something rashly
\nand only later to consider one\u2019s vows.
\n26 A wise king winnows out the wicked;
\nhe drives the threshing wheel over them.
\n27 The human spirit is[a] the lamp of the LORD
\nthat sheds light on one\u2019s inmost being.
\n28 Love and faithfulness keep a king safe;
\nthrough love his throne is made secure.
\n29 The glory of young men is their strength,
\ngray hair the splendor of the old.
\n30 Blows and wounds scrub away evil,
\nand beatings purge the inmost being.<\/p>\n
Proverbs 21New International Version (NIV)
\n21 In the LORD\u2019s hand the king\u2019s heart is a stream of water
\nthat he channels toward all who please him.
\n2 A person may think their own ways are right,
\nbut the LORD weighs the heart.
\n3 To do what is right and just
\nis more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
\n4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart\u2014
\nthe unplowed field of the wicked\u2014produce sin.
\n5 The plans of the diligent lead to profit
\nas surely as haste leads to poverty.
\n6 A fortune made by a lying tongue
\nis a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.[a]
\n7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
\nfor they refuse to do what is right.
\n8 The way of the guilty is devious,
\nbut the conduct of the innocent is upright.
\n9 Better to live on a corner of the roof
\nthan share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
\n10 The wicked crave evil;
\ntheir neighbors get no mercy from them.
\n11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
\nby paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.
\n12 The Righteous One[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
\nand brings the wicked to ruin.
\n13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
\nwill also cry out and not be answered.
\n14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,
\nand a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
\n15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
\nbut terror to evildoers.
\n16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence
\ncomes to rest in the company of the dead.
\n17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
\nwhoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
\n18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
\nand the unfaithful for the upright.
\n19 Better to live in a desert
\nthan with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
\n20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
\nbut fools gulp theirs down.
\n21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love
\nfinds life, prosperity[c] and honor.
\n22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
\nand pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
\n23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
\nkeep themselves from calamity.
\n24 The proud and arrogant person\u2014\u201cMocker\u201d is his name\u2014
\nbehaves with insolent fury.
\n25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
\nbecause his hands refuse to work.
\n26 All day long he craves for more,
\nbut the righteous give without sparing.
\n27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable\u2014
\nhow much more so when brought with evil intent!
\n28 A false witness will perish,
\nbut a careful listener will testify successfully.
\n29 The wicked put up a bold front,
\nbut the upright give thought to their ways.
\n30 There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
\nthat can succeed against the LORD.
\n31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
\nbut victory rests with the LORD.
\nProverbs 22New International Version (NIV)
\n22 A good name is more desirable than great riches;
\nto be esteemed is better than silver or gold.
\n2 Rich and poor have this in common:
\nThe LORD is the Maker of them all.
\n3 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
\nbut the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
\n4 Humility is the fear of the LORD;
\nits wages are riches and honor and life.
\n5 In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls,
\nbut those who would preserve their life stay far from them.
\n6 Start children off on the way they should go,
\nand even when they are old they will not turn from it.
\n7 The rich rule over the poor,
\nand the borrower is slave to the lender.
\n8 Whoever sows injustice reaps calamity,
\nand the rod they wield in fury will be broken.
\n9 The generous will themselves be blessed,
\nfor they share their food with the poor.
\n10 Drive out the mocker, and out goes strife;
\nquarrels and insults are ended.
\n11 One who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace
\nwill have the king for a friend.
\n12 The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
\nbut he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
\n13 The sluggard says, \u201cThere\u2019s a lion outside!
\nI\u2019ll be killed in the public square!\u201d
\n14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit;
\na man who is under the LORD\u2019s wrath falls into it.
\n15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
\nbut the rod of discipline will drive it far away.
\n16 One who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth
\nand one who gives gifts to the rich\u2014both come to poverty.
\nThirty Sayings of the Wise
\nSaying 1
\n17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise;
\napply your heart to what I teach,
\n18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart
\nand have all of them ready on your lips.
\n19 So that your trust may be in the LORD,
\nI teach you today, even you.
\n20 Have I not written thirty sayings for you,
\nsayings of counsel and knowledge,
\n21 teaching you to be honest and to speak the truth,
\nso that you bring back truthful reports
\nto those you serve?
\nSaying 2
\n22 Do not exploit the poor because they are poor
\nand do not crush the needy in court,
\n23 for the LORD will take up their case
\nand will exact life for life.
\nSaying 3
\n24 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered person,
\ndo not associate with one easily angered,
\n25 or you may learn their ways
\nand get yourself ensnared.
\nSaying 4
\n26 Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge
\nor puts up security for debts;
\n27 if you lack the means to pay,
\nyour very bed will be snatched from under you.
\nSaying 5
\n28 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
\nset up by your ancestors.
\nSaying 6
\n29 Do you see someone skilled in their work?
\nThey will serve before kings;
\nthey will not serve before officials of low rank.
\nProverbs 23New International Version (NIV)
\nSaying 7
\n23 When you sit to dine with a ruler,
\nnote well what[a] is before you,
\n2 and put a knife to your throat
\nif you are given to gluttony.
\n3 Do not crave his delicacies,
\nfor that food is deceptive.
\nSaying 8
\n4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
\ndo not trust your own cleverness.
\n5 Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,
\nfor they will surely sprout wings
\nand fly off to the sky like an eagle.
\nSaying 9
\n6 Do not eat the food of a begrudging host,
\ndo not crave his delicacies;
\n7 for he is the kind of person
\nwho is always thinking about the cost.[b]
\n\u201cEat and drink,\u201d he says to you,
\nbut his heart is not with you.
\n8 You will vomit up the little you have eaten
\nand will have wasted your compliments.
\nSaying 10
\n9 Do not speak to fools,
\nfor they will scorn your prudent words.
\nSaying 11
\n10 Do not move an ancient boundary stone
\nor encroach on the fields of the fatherless,
\n11 for their Defender is strong;
\nhe will take up their case against you.
\nSaying 12
\n12 Apply your heart to instruction
\nand your ears to words of knowledge.
\nSaying 13
\n13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
\nif you punish them with the rod, they will not die.
\n14 Punish them with the rod
\nand save them from death.
\nSaying 14
\n15 My son, if your heart is wise,
\nthen my heart will be glad indeed;
\n16 my inmost being will rejoice
\nwhen your lips speak what is right.
\nSaying 15
\n17 Do not let your heart envy sinners,
\nbut always be zealous for the fear of the LORD.
\n18 There is surely a future hope for you,
\nand your hope will not be cut off.
\nSaying 16
\n19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
\nand set your heart on the right path:
\n20 Do not join those who drink too much wine
\nor gorge themselves on meat,
\n21 for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
\nand drowsiness clothes them in rags.
\nSaying 17
\n22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
\nand do not despise your mother when she is old.
\n23 Buy the truth and do not sell it\u2014
\nwisdom, instruction and insight as well.
\n24 The father of a righteous child has great joy;
\na man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.
\n25 May your father and mother rejoice;
\nmay she who gave you birth be joyful!
\nSaying 18
\n26 My son, give me your heart
\nand let your eyes delight in my ways,
\n27 for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,
\nand a wayward wife is a narrow well.
\n28 Like a bandit she lies in wait
\nand multiplies the unfaithful among men.
\nSaying 19
\n29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
\nWho has strife? Who has complaints?
\nWho has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
\n30 Those who linger over wine,
\nwho go to sample bowls of mixed wine.
\n31 Do not gaze at wine when it is red,
\nwhen it sparkles in the cup,
\nwhen it goes down smoothly!
\n32 In the end it bites like a snake
\nand poisons like a viper.
\n33 Your eyes will see strange sights,
\nand your mind will imagine confusing things.
\n34 You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,
\nlying on top of the rigging.
\n35 \u201cThey hit me,\u201d you will say, \u201cbut I\u2019m not hurt!
\nThey beat me, but I don\u2019t feel it!
\nWhen will I wake up
\nso I can find another drink?\u201d
\nProverbs 24New International Version (NIV)
\nSaying 20
\n24 Do not envy the wicked,
\ndo not desire their company;
\n2 for their hearts plot violence,
\nand their lips talk about making trouble.
\nSaying 21
\n3 By wisdom a house is built,
\nand through understanding it is established;
\n4 through knowledge its rooms are filled
\nwith rare and beautiful treasures.
\nSaying 22
\n5 The wise prevail through great power,
\nand those who have knowledge muster their strength.
\n6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,
\nand victory is won through many advisers.
\nSaying 23
\n7 Wisdom is too high for fools;
\nin the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.
\nSaying 24
\n8 Whoever plots evil
\nwill be known as a schemer.
\n9 The schemes of folly are sin,
\nand people detest a mocker.
\nSaying 25
\n10 If you falter in a time of trouble,
\nhow small is your strength!
\n11 Rescue those being led away to death;
\nhold back those staggering toward slaughter.
\n12 If you say, \u201cBut we knew nothing about this,\u201d
\ndoes not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
\nDoes not he who guards your life know it?
\nWill he not repay everyone according to what they have done?
\nSaying 26
\n13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;
\nhoney from the comb is sweet to your taste.
\n14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:
\nIf you find it, there is a future hope for you,
\nand your hope will not be cut off.
\nSaying 27
\n15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,
\ndo not plunder their dwelling place;
\n16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,
\nbut the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.
\nSaying 28
\n17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;
\nwhen they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,
\n18 or the LORD will see and disapprove
\nand turn his wrath away from them.
\nSaying 29
\n19 Do not fret because of evildoers
\nor be envious of the wicked,
\n20 for the evildoer has no future hope,
\nand the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
\nSaying 30
\n21 Fear the LORD and the king, my son,
\nand do not join with rebellious officials,
\n22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them,
\nand who knows what calamities they can bring?
\nFurther Sayings of the Wise
\n23 These also are sayings of the wise:
\nTo show partiality in judging is not good:
\n24 Whoever says to the guilty, \u201cYou are innocent,\u201d
\nwill be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
\n25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
\nand rich blessing will come on them.
\n26 An honest answer
\nis like a kiss on the lips.
\n27 Put your outdoor work in order
\nand get your fields ready;
\nafter that, build your house.
\n28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause\u2014
\nwould you use your lips to mislead?
\n29 Do not say, \u201cI\u2019ll do to them as they have done to me;
\nI\u2019ll pay them back for what they did.\u201d
\n30 I went past the field of a sluggard,
\npast the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
\n31 thorns had come up everywhere,
\nthe ground was covered with weeds,
\nand the stone wall was in ruins.
\n32 I applied my heart to what I observed
\nand learned a lesson from what I saw:
\n33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
\na little folding of the hands to rest\u2014
\n34 and poverty will come on you like a thief
\nand scarcity like an armed man.
\nProverbs 25New International Version (NIV)
\nMore Proverbs of Solomon
\n25 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:
\n2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;
\nto search out a matter is the glory of kings.
\n3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,
\nso the hearts of kings are unsearchable.
\n4 Remove the dross from the silver,
\nand a silversmith can produce a vessel;
\n5 remove wicked officials from the king\u2019s presence,
\nand his throne will be established through righteousness.
\n6 Do not exalt yourself in the king\u2019s presence,
\nand do not claim a place among his great men;
\n7 it is better for him to say to you, \u201cCome up here,\u201d
\nthan for him to humiliate you before his nobles.
\nWhat you have seen with your eyes
\n8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,
\nfor what will you do in the end
\nif your neighbor puts you to shame?
\n9 If you take your neighbor to court,
\ndo not betray another\u2019s confidence,
\n10 or the one who hears it may shame you
\nand the charge against you will stand.
\n11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver
\nis a ruling rightly given.
\n12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold
\nis the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
\n13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time
\nis a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;
\nhe refreshes the spirit of his master.
\n14 Like clouds and wind without rain
\nis one who boasts of gifts never given.
\n15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
\nand a gentle tongue can break a bone.
\n16 If you find honey, eat just enough\u2014
\ntoo much of it, and you will vomit.
\n17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor\u2019s house\u2014
\ntoo much of you, and they will hate you.
\n18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow
\nis one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.
\n19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot
\nis reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.
\n20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,
\nor like vinegar poured on a wound,
\nis one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
\n21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;
\nif he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
\n22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,
\nand the LORD will reward you.
\n23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain
\nis a sly tongue\u2014which provokes a horrified look.
\n24 Better to live on a corner of the roof
\nthan share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
\n25 Like cold water to a weary soul
\nis good news from a distant land.
\n26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well
\nare the righteous who give way to the wicked.
\n27 It is not good to eat too much honey,
\nnor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.
\n28 Like a city whose walls are broken through
\nis a person who lacks self-control.
\nProverbs 26New International Version (NIV)
\n26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
\nhonor is not fitting for a fool.
\n2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,
\nan undeserved curse does not come to rest.
\n3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
\nand a rod for the backs of fools!
\n4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,
\nor you yourself will be just like him.
\n5 Answer a fool according to his folly,
\nor he will be wise in his own eyes.
\n6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool
\nis like cutting off one\u2019s feet or drinking poison.
\n7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame
\nis a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
\n8 Like tying a stone in a sling
\nis the giving of honor to a fool.
\n9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard\u2019s hand
\nis a proverb in the mouth of a fool.
\n10 Like an archer who wounds at random
\nis one who hires a fool or any passer-by.
\n11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
\nso fools repeat their folly.
\n12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?
\nThere is more hope for a fool than for them.
\n13 A sluggard says, \u201cThere\u2019s a lion in the road,
\na fierce lion roaming the streets!\u201d
\n14 As a door turns on its hinges,
\nso a sluggard turns on his bed.
\n15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
\nhe is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.
\n16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
\nthan seven people who answer discreetly.
\n17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
\nis someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.
\n18 Like a maniac shooting
\nflaming arrows of death
\n19 is one who deceives their neighbor
\nand says, \u201cI was only joking!\u201d
\n20 Without wood a fire goes out;
\nwithout a gossip a quarrel dies down.
\n21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
\nso is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
\n22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
\nthey go down to the inmost parts.
\n23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
\nare fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.
\n24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,
\nbut in their hearts they harbor deceit.
\n25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,
\nfor seven abominations fill their hearts.
\n26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
\nbut their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
\n27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;
\nif someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.
\n28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
\nand a flattering mouth works ruin.
\nProverbs 27New International Version (NIV)
\n27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
\nfor you do not know what a day may bring.
\n2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
\nan outsider, and not your own lips.
\n3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
\nbut a fool\u2019s provocation is heavier than both.
\n4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
\nbut who can stand before jealousy?
\n5 Better is open rebuke
\nthan hidden love.
\n6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
\nbut an enemy multiplies kisses.
\n7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
\nbut to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.
\n8 Like a bird that flees its nest
\nis anyone who flees from home.
\n9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
\nand the pleasantness of a friend
\nsprings from their heartfelt advice.
\n10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
\nand do not go to your relative\u2019s house when disaster strikes you\u2014
\nbetter a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.
\n11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;
\nthen I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.
\n12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,
\nbut the simple keep going and pay the penalty.
\n13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
\nhold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.
\n14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
\nit will be taken as a curse.
\n15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping
\nof a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
\n16 restraining her is like restraining the wind
\nor grasping oil with the hand.
\n17 As iron sharpens iron,
\nso one person sharpens another.
\n18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,
\nand whoever protects their master will be honored.
\n19 As water reflects the face,
\nso one\u2019s life reflects the heart.[a]
\n20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,
\nand neither are human eyes.
\n21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
\nbut people are tested by their praise.
\n22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
\ngrinding them like grain with a pestle,
\nyou will not remove their folly from them.
\n23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
\ngive careful attention to your herds;
\n24 for riches do not endure forever,
\nand a crown is not secure for all generations.
\n25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears
\nand the grass from the hills is gathered in,
\n26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,
\nand the goats with the price of a field.
\n27 You will have plenty of goats\u2019 milk to feed your family
\nand to nourish your female servants.
\nProverbs 28New International Version (NIV)
\n28 The wicked flee though no one pursues,
\nbut the righteous are as bold as a lion.
\n2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
\nbut a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.
\n3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor
\nis like a driving rain that leaves no crops.
\n4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
\nbut those who heed it resist them.
\n5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,
\nbut those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
\n6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless
\nthan the rich whose ways are perverse.
\n7 A discerning son heeds instruction,
\nbut a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
\n8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor
\namasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
\n9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
\neven their prayers are detestable.
\n10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
\nwill fall into their own trap,
\nbut the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
\n11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;
\none who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
\n12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;
\nbut when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
\n13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,
\nbut the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
\n14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
\nbut whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
\n15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
\nis a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
\n16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
\nbut one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
\n17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
\nwill seek refuge in the grave;
\nlet no one hold them back.
\n18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,
\nbut the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[b]
\n19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,
\nbut those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
\n20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,
\nbut one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
\n21 To show partiality is not good\u2014
\nyet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
\n22 The stingy are eager to get rich
\nand are unaware that poverty awaits them.
\n23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
\nrather than one who has a flattering tongue.
\n24 Whoever robs their father or mother
\nand says, \u201cIt\u2019s not wrong,\u201d
\nis partner to one who destroys.
\n25 The greedy stir up conflict,
\nbut those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
\n26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,
\nbut those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
\n27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,
\nbut those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.
\n28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;
\nbut when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
\nProverbs 29New International Version (NIV)
\n29 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
\nwill suddenly be destroyed\u2014without remedy.
\n2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
\nwhen the wicked rule, the people groan.
\n3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
\nbut a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
\n4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
\nbut those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.
\n5 Those who flatter their neighbors
\nare spreading nets for their feet.
\n6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
\nbut the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
\n7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,
\nbut the wicked have no such concern.
\n8 Mockers stir up a city,
\nbut the wise turn away anger.
\n9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
\nthe fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
\n10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
\nand seek to kill the upright.
\n11 Fools give full vent to their rage,
\nbut the wise bring calm in the end.
\n12 If a ruler listens to lies,
\nall his officials become wicked.
\n13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
\nThe LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
\n14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
\nhis throne will be established forever.
\n15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
\nbut a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
\n16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
\nbut the righteous will see their downfall.
\n17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
\nthey will bring you the delights you desire.
\n18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
\nbut blessed is the one who heeds wisdom\u2019s instruction.
\n19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
\nthough they understand, they will not respond.
\n20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
\nThere is more hope for a fool than for them.
\n21 A servant pampered from youth
\nwill turn out to be insolent.
\n22 An angry person stirs up conflict,
\nand a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
\n23 Pride brings a person low,
\nbut the lowly in spirit gain honor.
\n24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
\nthey are put under oath and dare not testify.
\n25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
\nbut whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
\n26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
\nbut it is from the LORD that one gets justice.
\n27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
\nthe wicked detest the upright.
\nProverbs 30New International Version (NIV)
\nSayings of Agur
\n30 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh\u2014an inspired utterance.
\nThis man\u2019s utterance to Ithiel:
\n\u201cI am weary, God,
\nbut I can prevail.[a]
\n2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
\nI do not have human understanding.
\n3 I have not learned wisdom,
\nnor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
\n4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
\nWhose hands have gathered up the wind?
\nWho has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?
\nWho has established all the ends of the earth?
\nWhat is his name, and what is the name of his son?
\nSurely you know!
\n5 \u201cEvery word of God is flawless;
\nhe is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
\n6 Do not add to his words,
\nor he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
\n7 \u201cTwo things I ask of you, LORD;
\ndo not refuse me before I die:
\n8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
\ngive me neither poverty nor riches,
\nbut give me only my daily bread.
\n9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
\nand say, \u2018Who is the LORD?\u2019
\nOr I may become poor and steal,
\nand so dishonor the name of my God.
\n10 \u201cDo not slander a servant to their master,
\nor they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
\n11 \u201cThere are those who curse their fathers
\nand do not bless their mothers;
\n12 those who are pure in their own eyes
\nand yet are not cleansed of their filth;
\n13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
\nwhose glances are so disdainful;
\n14 those whose teeth are swords
\nand whose jaws are set with knives
\nto devour the poor from the earth
\nand the needy from among mankind.
\n15 \u201cThe leech has two daughters.
\n\u2018Give! Give!\u2019 they cry.
\n\u201cThere are three things that are never satisfied,
\nfour that never say, \u2018Enough!\u2019:
\n16 the grave, the barren womb,
\nland, which is never satisfied with water,
\nand fire, which never says, \u2018Enough!\u2019
\n17 \u201cThe eye that mocks a father,
\nthat scorns an aged mother,
\nwill be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
\nwill be eaten by the vultures.
\n18 \u201cThere are three things that are too amazing for me,
\nfour that I do not understand:
\n19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
\nthe way of a snake on a rock,
\nthe way of a ship on the high seas,
\nand the way of a man with a young woman.
\n20 \u201cThis is the way of an adulterous woman:
\nShe eats and wipes her mouth
\nand says, \u2018I\u2019ve done nothing wrong.\u2019
\n21 \u201cUnder three things the earth trembles,
\nunder four it cannot bear up:
\n22 a servant who becomes king,
\na godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
\n23 a contemptible woman who gets married,
\nand a servant who displaces her mistress.
\n24 \u201cFour things on earth are small,
\nyet they are extremely wise:
\n25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
\nyet they store up their food in the summer;
\n26 hyraxes are creatures of little power,
\nyet they make their home in the crags;
\n27 locusts have no king,
\nyet they advance together in ranks;
\n28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
\nyet it is found in kings\u2019 palaces.
\n29 \u201cThere are three things that are stately in their stride,
\nfour that move with stately bearing:
\n30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
\nwho retreats before nothing;
\n31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
\nand a king secure against revolt.[b]
\n32 \u201cIf you play the fool and exalt yourself,
\nor if you plan evil,
\nclap your hand over your mouth!
\n33 For as churning cream produces butter,
\nand as twisting the nose produces blood,
\nso stirring up anger produces strife.\u201d
\nProverbs 31New International Version (NIV)
\nSayings of King Lemuel
\n31 The sayings of King Lemuel\u2014an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
\n2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
\nListen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
\n3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,
\nyour vigor on those who ruin kings.
\n4 It is not for kings, Lemuel\u2014
\nit is not for kings to drink wine,
\nnot for rulers to crave beer,
\n5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,
\nand deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
\n6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,
\nwine for those who are in anguish!
\n7 Let them drink and forget their poverty
\nand remember their misery no more.
\n8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
\nfor the rights of all who are destitute.
\n9 Speak up and judge fairly;
\ndefend the rights of the poor and needy.
\nEpilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
\n10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
\nShe is worth far more than rubies.
\n11 Her husband has full confidence in her
\nand lacks nothing of value.
\n12 She brings him good, not harm,
\nall the days of her life.
\n13 She selects wool and flax
\nand works with eager hands.
\n14 She is like the merchant ships,
\nbringing her food from afar.
\n15 She gets up while it is still night;
\nshe provides food for her family
\nand portions for her female servants.
\n16 She considers a field and buys it;
\nout of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
\n17 She sets about her work vigorously;
\nher arms are strong for her tasks.
\n18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
\nand her lamp does not go out at night.
\n19 In her hand she holds the distaff
\nand grasps the spindle with her fingers.
\n20 She opens her arms to the poor
\nand extends her hands to the needy.
\n21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
\nfor all of them are clothed in scarlet.
\n22 She makes coverings for her bed;
\nshe is clothed in fine linen and purple.
\n23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
\nwhere he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
\n24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
\nand supplies the merchants with sashes.
\n25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
\nshe can laugh at the days to come.
\n26 She speaks with wisdom,
\nand faithful instruction is on her tongue.
\n27 She watches over the affairs of her household
\nand does not eat the bread of idleness.
\n28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
\nher husband also, and he praises her:
\n29 \u201cMany women do noble things,
\nbut you surpass them all.\u201d
\n30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
\nbut a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
\n31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
\nand let her works bring her praise at the city gate.<\/p>\n
Wise Leadership
\nMost Christians have used the book of Proverbs as a point of reference for words of wisdom in a number of issues. But only a few tend to turn to the proverbs teaching on political matters. I believe they do, I have a good reason, however, the book of Proverbs is pertinent majorly on political subjects (Freeman, 2014).
\nOne leader who has borrowed so much from these teachings is President Barrack Obama. He has been urging his nation\u2019s citizens to uphold their righteousness. This is also present in the teachings of proverbs where people were advised that righteousness was for their own good. The President has also learned to be patient, gracious and tactful that has earned him a lot of influence in the government. He is also characterized as a good leader due to his wisdom that enable him to see farther than others. The teaching of proverbs also says that wisdom enables leaders to make good laws. His administration has been admired due to better policies they have been able to develop. The book of Proverbs also says that wise leaders should seek the counsel of those with experience. The president does not make all the decisions on his own, but rather with a team of experts with experience within his administration (Anderson, 2011).
\nOn the contrary the proverbs teaching warns leaders against associating themselves with those who are radical and their desire is to bring change through revolutionary means. But the President is one who borrows from the conservative ideas, hence attempts to bring all on board (Keller, 2010).<\/p>\n
References
\nAnderson, D. (2011). How to Lead by The Book: Proverbs, Parables, and Principles to Tackle Your Toughest Business Challenges. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
\nFreeman, I. A. (2014). Seeds of revolution: A collection of axioms, passages and proverbs Volume 2. Bloomington, IN: iUniverse; World Harvest.
\nKeller, M. (2010). The Unbearable Heaviness of Governing: The Obama Administration in Historical Perspective. Chicago: Hoover Institution Press.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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