Bible Reading Plan

¹ One who isolates himself pursues selfish desires;
he rebels against all sound judgment.

² A fool does not delight in understanding,
but only wants to show off his opinions.^[a](a)

³ When a wicked man comes, contempt also does,
and along with dishonor, disgrace.

⁴ The words of a man's mouth are deep waters,^(b)
a flowing river, a fountain of wisdom.^[b]

⁵ It is not good to show partiality to the guilty^(c)
by perverting the justice due the innocent.^(d)

⁶ A fool's lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.^(e)

⁷ A fool's mouth is his devastation,
and his lips are a trap for his life.^(f)

⁸ A gossip's words are like choice food
that goes down to one's innermost being.^[c](g)

⁹ The one who is truly lazy in his work
is brother to a vandal.^[d](h)

¹⁰ The name of Yahweh is a strong tower;⁽ⁱ⁾
the righteous run to it and are protected.^[e](j)

¹¹ A rich man's wealth is his fortified city;
in his imagination it is like a high wall.^(k)

¹² Before his downfall a man's heart is proud,^(l)
but humility comes before honor.^(m)

¹³ The one who gives an answer before he listens—
this is foolishness and disgrace for him.⁽ⁿ⁾

¹⁴ A man's spirit can endure sickness,
but who can survive a broken spirit?^(o)

¹⁵ The mind of the discerning acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks it.^(p)

¹⁶ A gift opens doors^[f] for a man
and brings him before the great.^(q)

¹⁷ The first to state his case seems right
until another comes and cross-examines him.^(r)

¹⁸ Casting the lot^(s) ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to reach^[g]
than a fortified city,
and quarrels are like the bars of a fortress.

²⁰ From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is satisfied;
he is filled with the product of his lips.^(t)

²¹ Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.^(u)

²² A man who finds a wife finds a good thing^(v)
and obtains favor from the Lord .^(w)

²³ The poor man pleads,^(x)
but the rich one answers roughly.^(y)

²⁴ A man with many friends may be harmed,^[h]
but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.^(z)

¹ Better a poor man who lives with integrity^(a)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

² Even zeal is not good without knowledge,^(b)
and the one who acts hastily^[a] sins.^(c)

³ A man's own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord .^(d)

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,^(e)
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,^(f)
and one who utters lies will not escape.^(g)

⁶ Many seek a ruler's favor,^(h)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.⁽ⁱ⁾

⁷ All the brothers of a poor man hate him;^(j)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,^(k)
but they are not there.^[b]

⁸ The one who acquires good sense^[c] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.^(l)

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.^(m)

¹⁰ Luxury is not appropriate for a fool⁽ⁿ⁾—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!^(o)

¹¹ A person's insight gives him patience,^(p)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.^(q)

¹² A king's rage is like the roaring of a lion,^(r)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.^(s)

¹³ A foolish son is his father's ruin,^(t)
and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping.^(u)

¹⁴ A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,^(v)
but a sensible wife is from the Lord .

¹⁵ Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.^(w)

¹⁶ The one who keeps commands preserves himself;^(x)
one who disregards^[d] his ways will die.^(y)

¹⁷ Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord ,^(z)
and He will give a reward to the lender.^[e](aa)

¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope;
don't be intent on killing him.^[f](ab)

¹⁹ A person with great anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again.^(ac)

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.^[g](ad)

²¹ Many plans are in a man's heart,
but the Lord 's decree will prevail.^(ae)

²² What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;
better to be a poor man than a liar.^(af)

²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night^[h] without danger.^(ag)

²⁴ The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth.^(ah)

²⁵ Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;^(ai)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.^(aj)

²⁶ The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷ If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.^(ak)

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.^(al)

¹ Wine is a mocker,^(a) beer is a brawler,
and whoever staggers because of them is not wise.

² A king's terrible wrath is like the roaring of a lion;
anyone who provokes him endangers himself.^(b)

³ It is honorable for a man to resolve a dispute,^(c)
but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.^(d)

⁴ The slacker does not plow during planting season;^[a]
at harvest time he looks,^[b] and there is nothing.^(e)

⁵ Counsel in a man's heart is deep water;^(f)
but a man of understanding draws it out.

⁶ Many a man proclaims his own loyalty,
but who can find a trustworthy man?^(g)

⁷ The one who lives with integrity is righteous;^(h)
his children^[c] who come after him will be happy.⁽ⁱ⁾

⁸ A king sitting on a throne to judge
sifts out all evil with his eyes.^(j)

⁹ Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure;
I am cleansed from my sin"?^(k)

¹⁰ Differing weights and varying measures^[d]—
both are detestable to the Lord .^(l)

¹¹ Even a young man is known by his actions—
if his behavior is pure and upright.^(m)

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye—
the Lord made them both.⁽ⁿ⁾

¹³ Don't love sleep, or you will become poor;
open your eyes, and you'll have enough to eat.^(o)

¹⁴ "It's worthless, it's worthless!" the buyer says,
but after he is on his way, he gloats.

¹⁵ There is gold and a multitude of jewels,
but knowledgeable lips are a rare treasure.^(p)

¹⁶ Take his garment,^[e]
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.^(q)

¹⁷ Food gained by fraud is sweet to a man,^(r)
but afterward his mouth is full of gravel.

¹⁸ Finalize plans with counsel,^(s)
and wage war with sound guidance.^(t)

¹⁹ The one who reveals secrets is a constant gossip;^(u)
avoid someone with a big mouth.^(v)

²⁰ Whoever curses his father or mother^(w)—
his lamp will go out in deep darkness.^(x)

²¹ An inheritance gained prematurely
will not be blessed ultimately.^(y)

²² Don't say, "I will avenge this evil!"^(z)
Wait on the Lord ,^(aa) and He will rescue you.^(ab)

²³ Differing weights^[f] are detestable to the Lord ,^(ac)
and dishonest scales^(ad) are unfair.

²⁴ A man's steps are determined by the Lord ,^(ae)
so how can anyone understand his own way?

²⁵ It is a trap for anyone to dedicate something rashly
and later to reconsider his vows.^(af)

²⁶ A wise king separates out the wicked^(ag)
and drives the threshing wheel^(ah) over them.

²⁷ The Lord 's lamp sheds light on a person's life,^[g]
searching the innermost parts.^[h](ai)

²⁸ Loyalty and faithfulness deliver a king;
through loyalty he maintains his throne.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength,
and the splendor of old men is gray hair.^(aj)

³⁰ Lashes and wounds purge away evil,^(ak)
and beatings cleanse the innermost parts.^[i]