Study Desk

Better a dry crust with peace than a house full of feasting with strife.^(a)

A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share an inheritance among brothers.

A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,^(b) and the Lord is the tester of hearts.^(c)

A wicked person listens to malicious talk;^[a] a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,^(d) and one who rejoices over calamity will not go unpunished.^(e)

Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly, and the pride of sons is their fathers.

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool's lips; how much worse are lies for a ruler.

A bribe^(f) seems like a magic stone to its owner; wherever he turns, he succeeds.^(g)

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,^(h) but whoever gossips about it separates friends.⁽ⁱ⁾

A rebuke cuts into a perceptive person more than a hundred lashes into a fool.

An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger^[b](j) will be sent against him.

Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs^(k) than a fool in his foolishness.

If anyone returns evil for good,^(l) evil will never depart from his house.^(m)

To start a conflict is to release a flood; stop the dispute before it breaks out.⁽ⁿ⁾

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just^(o)— both are detestable to the Lord .

Why does a fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?^(p)

A friend loves at all times,^(q) and a brother is born for a difficult time.

One without sense enters an agreement^[c] and puts up security for his friend.^(r)

One who loves to offend loves strife;^(s) one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

One with a twisted mind will not succeed, and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.^(t)

A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.^(u)

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.^(v)

A wicked man secretly takes a bribe^(w) to subvert the course of justice.^(x)

Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive, but a fool's eyes^(y) roam to the ends of the earth.

A foolish son is grief to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him.^(z)

It is certainly not good to fine an innocent person or to beat a noble for his honesty.^[d](aa)

The intelligent person restrains his words,^(ab) and one who keeps a cool head^[e] is a man of understanding.

Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent, discerning when he seals his lips.^(ac)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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