1 A false balance
is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is
wisdom.
3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness
of transgressors shall destroy them.
4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth
from death.
5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but
the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors
shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and
the hope of unjust men perisheth.
8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked
cometh in his stead.
9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but
through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth:
and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it
is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a
man of understanding holdeth his peace.
13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful
spirit concealeth the matter.
14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude
of counsellers there is safety.
15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and
he that hateth suretiship is sure.
16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain
riches.
17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that
is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth
righteousness shall be a sure reward.
19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil
pursueth it to his own death.
20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD:
but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished:
but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
22 As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman
which is without discretion.
23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation
of the wicked is wrath.
24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is
that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth
shall be watered also himself.
26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but
blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he
that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous
shall flourish as a branch.
29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and
the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that
winneth souls is wise.
31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth:
much more the wicked and the sinner.
Chapter 12
1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth
knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked
devices will he condemn.
3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root
of the righteous shall not be moved.
4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh
ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels
of the wicked are deceit.
6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but
the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the
righteous shall stand.
8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that
is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he
that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the
tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but
he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of
the righteous yieldeth fruit.
13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but
the just shall come out of trouble.
14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth:
and the recompence of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.
15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth
unto counsel is wise.
16 A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth
shame.
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a
false witness deceit.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but
the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying
tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to
the counsellers of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall
be filled with mischief.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal
truly are his delight.
23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools
proclaimeth foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful
shall be under tribute.
25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good
word maketh it glad.
26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the
way of the wicked seduceth them.
27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting:
but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
28 In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof
there is no death.
Chapter 13
1 A wise son heareth
his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul
of the transgressors shall eat violence.
3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth
wide his lips shall have destruction.
4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the
soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome,
and cometh to shame.
6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but
wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there
is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
8 The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth
not rebuke.
9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the
wicked shall be put out.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised
is wisdom.
11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that
gathereth by labour shall increase.
12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire
cometh, it is a tree of life.
13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that
feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from
the snares of death.
15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors
is hard.
16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth
open his folly.
17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful
ambassador is health.
18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction:
but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination
to fools to depart from evil.
20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion
of fools shall be destroyed.
21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be
repayed.
22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children:
and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that
is destroyed for want of judgment.
24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth
him chasteneth him betimes.
25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the
belly of the wicked shall want. |