31 The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.

2 Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!

Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!

3 Do not spend your strength[a] on women,

your vigor on those who ruin kings.

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel—

it is not for kings to drink wine,

not for rulers to crave beer,

5 lest they drink and forget what has been decreed,

and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

6 Let beer be for those who are perishing,

wine for those who are in anguish!

7 Let them drink and forget their poverty

and remember their misery no more.

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,

for the rights of all who are destitute.

9 Speak up and judge fairly;

defend the rights of the poor and needy.

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

11 Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

12 She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

15 She gets up while it is still night;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her female servants.

16 She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

19 In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.

21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

26 She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

30 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance.

This man’s utterance to Ithiel:

“I am weary, God,

but I can prevail.[a]

2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;

I do not have human understanding.

3 I have not learned wisdom,

nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Whose hands have gathered up the wind?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and what is the name of his son?

Surely you know!

5 “Every word of God is flawless;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

6 Do not add to his words,

or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

7 “Two things I ask of you, Lord;

do not refuse me before I die:

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God.

10 “Do not slander a servant to their master,

or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

11 “There are those who curse their fathers

and do not bless their mothers;

12 those who are pure in their own eyes

and yet are not cleansed of their filth;

13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,

whose glances are so disdainful;

14 those whose teeth are swords

and whose jaws are set with knives

to devour the poor from the earth

and the needy from among mankind.

15 “The leech has two daughters.

‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,

four that never say, ‘Enough!’:

16 the grave, the barren womb,

land, which is never satisfied with water,

and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

17 “The eye that mocks a father,

that scorns an aged mother,

will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,

will be eaten by the vultures.

18 “There are three things that are too amazing for me,

four that I do not understand:

19 the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship on the high seas,

and the way of a man with a young woman.

20 “This is the way of an adulterous woman:

She eats and wipes her mouth

and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’

21 “Under three things the earth trembles,

under four it cannot bear up:

22 a servant who becomes king,

a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,

23 a contemptible woman who gets married,

and a servant who displaces her mistress.

24 “Four things on earth are small,

yet they are extremely wise:

25 Ants are creatures of little strength,

yet they store up their food in the summer;

26 hyraxes are creatures of little power,

yet they make their home in the crags;

27 locusts have no king,

yet they advance together in ranks;

28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,

yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

29 “There are three things that are stately in their stride,

four that move with stately bearing:

30 a lion, mighty among beasts,

who retreats before nothing;

31 a strutting rooster, a he-goat,

and a king secure against revolt.[b]

32 “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,

or if you plan evil,

clap your hand over your mouth!

33 For as churning cream produces butter,

and as twisting the nose produces blood,

so stirring up anger produces strife.”

29 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4 By justice a king gives a country stability,

but those who are greedy for[a] bribes tear it down.

5 Those who flatter their neighbors

are spreading nets for their feet.

6 Evildoers are snared by their own sin,

but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked have no such concern.

8 Mockers stir up a city,

but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity

and seek to kill the upright.

11 Fools give full vent to their rage,

but the wise bring calm in the end.

12 If a ruler listens to lies,

all his officials become wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.

14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,

his throne will be established forever.

15 A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,

but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.

16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,

but the righteous will see their downfall.

17 Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;

they will bring you the delights you desire.

18 Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;

but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.

19 Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;

though they understand, they will not respond.

20 Do you see someone who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.

21 A servant pampered from youth

will turn out to be insolent.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

23 Pride brings a person low,

but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

24 The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;

they are put under oath and dare not testify.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright.

28 The wicked flee though no one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

2 When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

3 A ruler[a] who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

4 Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,

but those who heed it resist them.

5 Evildoers do not understand what is right,

but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

6 Better the poor whose walk is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.

7 A discerning son heeds instruction,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

8 Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

9 If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

even their prayers are detestable.

10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into their own trap,

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

11 The rich are wise in their own eyes;

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

12 When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;

but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

13 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

16 A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,

but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

17 Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder

will seek refuge in the grave;

let no one hold them back.

18 The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,

but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.[b]

19 Those who work their land will have abundant food,

but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good—

yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

22 The stingy are eager to get rich

and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

23 Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor

rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever robs their father or mother

and says, “It’s not wrong,”

is partner to one who destroys.

25 The greedy stir up conflict,

but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

26 Those who trust in themselves are fools,

but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

27 Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,

but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

28 When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;

but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

27 Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;

an outsider, and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,

but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,

but an enemy multiplies kisses.

7 One who is full loathes honey from the comb,

but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

8 Like a bird that flees its nest

is anyone who flees from home.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of a friend

springs from their heartfelt advice.

10 Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,

and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you—

better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12 The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.

14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

15 A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping

of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;

16 restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

18 The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and whoever protects their master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,

so one’s life reflects the heart.[a]

20 Death and Destruction[b] are never satisfied,

and neither are human eyes.

21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but people are tested by their praise.

22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar,

grinding them like grain with a pestle,

you will not remove their folly from them.

23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds;

24 for riches do not endure forever,

and a crown is not secure for all generations.

25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26 the lambs will provide you with clothing,

and the goats with the price of a field.

27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family

and to nourish your female servants.

26 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

honor is not fitting for a fool.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow,

an undeserved curse does not come to rest.

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,

and a rod for the backs of fools!

4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you yourself will be just like him.

5 Answer a fool according to his folly,

or he will be wise in his own eyes.

6 Sending a message by the hands of a fool

is like cutting off one’s feet or drinking poison.

7 Like the useless legs of one who is lame

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like tying a stone in a sling

is the giving of honor to a fool.

9 Like a thornbush in a drunkard’s hand

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10 Like an archer who wounds at random

is one who hires a fool or any passer-by.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,

so fools repeat their folly.

12 Do you see a person wise in their own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for them.

13 A sluggard says, “There’s a lion in the road,

a fierce lion roaming the streets!”

14 As a door turns on its hinges,

so a sluggard turns on his bed.

15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;

he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.

16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes

than seven people who answer discreetly.

17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears

is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

18 Like a maniac shooting

flaming arrows of death

19 is one who deceives their neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood a fire goes out;

without a gossip a quarrel dies down.

21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;

they go down to the inmost parts.

23 Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware

are fervent[a] lips with an evil heart.

24 Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,

but in their hearts they harbor deceit.

25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them,

for seven abominations fill their hearts.

26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,

but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it;

if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.

28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,

and a flattering mouth works ruin.

25 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah:

2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter;

to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

3 As the heavens are high and the earth is deep,

so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

4 Remove the dross from the silver,

and a silversmith can produce a vessel;

5 remove wicked officials from the king’s presence,

and his throne will be established through righteousness.

6 Do not exalt yourself in the king’s presence,

and do not claim a place among his great men;

7 it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,”

than for him to humiliate you before his nobles.

What you have seen with your eyes

8 do not bring[a] hastily to court,

for what will you do in the end

if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 If you take your neighbor to court,

do not betray another’s confidence,

10 or the one who hears it may shame you

and the charge against you will stand.

11 Like apples[b] of gold in settings of silver

is a ruling rightly given.

12 Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold

is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.

13 Like a snow-cooled drink at harvest time

is a trustworthy messenger to the one who sends him;

he refreshes the spirit of his master.

14 Like clouds and wind without rain

is one who boasts of gifts never given.

15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,

and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

16 If you find honey, eat just enough—

too much of it, and you will vomit.

17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house—

too much of you, and they will hate you.

18 Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow

is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

19 Like a broken tooth or a lame foot

is reliance on the unfaithful in a time of trouble.

20 Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day,

or like vinegar poured on a wound,

is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat;

if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head,

and the Lord will reward you.

23 Like a north wind that brings unexpected rain

is a sly tongue—which provokes a horrified look.

24 Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

25 Like cold water to a weary soul

is good news from a distant land.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

are the righteous who give way to the wicked.

27 It is not good to eat too much honey,

nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep.

28 Like a city whose walls are broken through

is a person who lacks self-control.

24 Do not envy the wicked,

do not desire their company;

2 for their hearts plot violence,

and their lips talk about making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,

and through understanding it is established;

4 through knowledge its rooms are filled

with rare and beautiful treasures.

5 The wise prevail through great power,

and those who have knowledge muster their strength.

6 Surely you need guidance to wage war,

and victory is won through many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too high for fools;

in the assembly at the gate they must not open their mouths.

8 Whoever plots evil

will be known as a schemer.

9 The schemes of folly are sin,

and people detest a mocker.

10 If you falter in a time of trouble,

how small is your strength!

11 Rescue those being led away to death;

hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

12 If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,”

does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?

Does not he who guards your life know it?

Will he not repay everyone according to what they have done?

13 Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

14 Know also that wisdom is like honey for you:

If you find it, there is a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

15 Do not lurk like a thief near the house of the righteous,

do not plunder their dwelling place;

16 for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again,

but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

17 Do not gloat when your enemy falls;

when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice,

18 or the Lord will see and disapprove

and turn his wrath away from them.

19 Do not fret because of evildoers

or be envious of the wicked,

20 for the evildoer has no future hope,

and the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.

21 Fear the Lord and the king, my son,

and do not join with rebellious officials,

22 for those two will send sudden destruction on them,

and who knows what calamities they can bring?

23 These also are sayings of the wise:

To show partiality in judging is not good:

24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”

will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

25 But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,

and rich blessing will come on them.

26 An honest answer

is like a kiss on the lips.

27 Put your outdoor work in order

and get your fields ready;

after that, build your house.

28 Do not testify against your neighbor without cause—

would you use your lips to mislead?

29 Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;

I’ll pay them back for what they did.”

30 I went past the field of a sluggard,

past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;

31 thorns had come up everywhere,

the ground was covered with weeds,

and the stone wall was in ruins.

32 I applied my heart to what I observed

and learned a lesson from what I saw:

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

34 and poverty will come on you like a thief

and scarcity like an armed man.