Study

21. Proverbs of Solomon

    ² A person may think their own ways are right,
   but the LORD weighs the heart.

    ³ To do what is right and just
   is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

    ⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
   the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

    ⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit
   as surely as haste leads to poverty.

    ⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
   is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death

    ⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
   for they refuse to do what is right.

    ⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,
   but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

    ⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
   than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

    ¹⁰ The wicked crave evil;
   their neighbors get no mercy from them.

    ¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
   by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.

    ¹² The Righteous One Or The righteous person takes note of the house of the wicked
   and brings the wicked to ruin.

    ¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
   will also cry out and not be answered.

    ¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
   and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

    ¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
   but terror to evildoers.

    ¹⁶ Whoever strays from the path of prudence
   comes to rest in the company of the dead.

    ¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
   whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.

    ¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
   and the unfaithful for the upright.

    ¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
   than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.

    ²⁰ The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
   but fools gulp theirs down.

    ²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and love
   finds life, prosperity Or righteousness and honor.

    ²² One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty
   and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

    ²³ Those who guard their mouths and their tongues
   keep themselves from calamity.

    ²⁴ The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—
   behaves with insolent fury.

    ²⁵ The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,
   because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
   but the righteous give without sparing.

    ²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
   how much more so when brought with evil intent!

    ²⁸ A false witness will perish,
   but a careful listener will testify successfully.

    ²⁹ The wicked put up a bold front,
   but the upright give thought to their ways.

    ³⁰ There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
   that can succeed against the LORD.

    ³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
   but victory rests with the LORD.