Proverbs Chapter 9 to 11 : English Standard Version   | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

Other Versions9  The Way of Wisdom

9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5“Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6Leave your simple ways,[1] and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

7Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9Give instruction[2] to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive[3] and knows nothing. 14She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!  And to him who lacks sense she says, 17“Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18But he does not know that the dead[4] are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

[1] Or Leave the company of the simple  [2] Hebrew lacks instruction  [3] Or full of simpleness  [4] Hebrew Rephaim


10 The Proverbs of Solomon

10:1 The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 2Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death. 3The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame. 6Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot. 8The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 9Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out. 10Whoever winks the eye causes trouble, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. 11The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. 12Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. 13On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. 14The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near. 15A rich man’s wealth is his strong city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin. 16The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin. 17Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. 18The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. 19When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 20The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. 21The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. 22The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.[5] 23Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. 24What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted. 25When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever. 26Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. 27The fear of the Lord prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. 28The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 29The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the blameless, but destruction to evildoers. 30The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not dwell in the land. 31The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. 32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse.

[5] Or and toil adds nothing to it


11  11:1 A false balance is an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is his delight. 2When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. 3The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. 4Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5The righteousness of the blameless keeps his way straight, but the wicked falls by his own wickedness. 6The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust. 7When the wicked dies, his hope will perish, and the expectation of wealth[6] perishes too. 8The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead. 9With his mouth the godless man would destroy his neighbor, but by knowledge the righteous are delivered. 10When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there are shouts of gladness. 11By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown. 12Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent. 13Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. 14Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. 15Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure. 16A gracious woman gets honor, and violent men get riches. 17A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself. 18The wicked earns deceptive wages, but one who sows righteousness gets a sure reward. 19Whoever is steadfast in righteousness will live, but he who pursues evil will die. 20Those of crooked heart are an abomination to the Lord, but those of blameless ways are his delight. 21Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered. 22Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman without discretion. 23The desire of the righteous ends only in good; the expectation of the wicked in wrath. 24One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. 25Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered. 26The people curse him who holds back grain, but a blessing is on the head of him who sells it. 27Whoever diligently seeks good seeks favor,[7] but evil comes to him who searches for it. 28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. 29Whoever troubles his own household will inherit the wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise of heart. 30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and whoever captures souls is wise. 31If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!

[6] Or of his strength, or of iniquity  [7] Or acceptance

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