Study Desk

^(C1)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, So that I may ^(C2)reply to one who taunts me.

A prudent person sees evil and hides himself; But the naive proceed, and pay the penalty.

^(C1)Take his garment when he becomes a guarantor for a stranger; And for a foreign woman seize a pledge from him.

^(C1)One who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be considered a curse to him.

A ^(C1)constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike;

He who would ^(F1)restrain her ^(F1)restrains the wind, And ^(F2)grasps oil with his right hand.

As iron sharpens iron, So one person sharpens another.

One who tends the ^(C1)fig tree will eat its fruit, And one who ^(C2)cares for his master will be honored.

As in water a face reflects the face, So the heart of a person reflects the person.

^(F1)(C1)Sheol and ^(F2)Abaddon are ^(C2)never satisfied, Nor are the ^(C3)eyes of a person ever satisfied.

The ^(C1)crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each ^(C2)is tested by the praise accorded him.

Though you ^(C1)pound the fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, His foolishness still will not leave him.

^(C1)Know well the ^(F1)condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;

For riches are not forever, Nor does a ^(C1)crown endure to all generations.

When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are ^(C1)gathered in,

The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field,

And there will be enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your attendants.

The wicked ^(C1)flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are ^(F1)bold as a lion.

Due to a ^(F1)wrongdoing of ^(F2)a land its leaders are ^(C1)many, But ^(C2)by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

A ^(C1)poor man who oppresses the helpless Is like a driving rain ^(F1)which leaves no food.

Those who abandon the Law ^(C1)praise the wicked, But those who keep the Law ^(C2)strive against them.

Evil people ^(C1)do not understand justice, But those who seek the LORD ^(C2)understand everything.

^(C1)Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity, Than a person who is ^(F1)crooked, though he is rich.

He who keeps the Law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of ^(C1)gluttons humiliates his father.

One who increases his wealth by ^(F1)(C1)interest of any kind, Collects it ^(C2)for one who is gracious to the poor.

One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law, Even his ^(C1)prayer is an abomination.

One who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will ^(C1)himself fall into his own pit, But the ^(C2)blameless will inherit good.

The rich person is ^(C1)wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding ^(F1)sees through him.

When the ^(C1)righteous triumph, there is great glory, But ^(C2)when the wicked rise, people ^(F1)hide themselves.

One who ^(C1)conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper, But one who ^(C2)confesses and abandons them will find compassion.

How blessed is the person who ^(C1)fears always, But one who ^(C2)hardens his heart will fall into disaster.

Like a ^(C1)roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a ^(C2)wicked ruler over a poor people.

A ^(C1)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

A person who is ^(C1)burdened with the guilt of human blood Will ^(F1)be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!

One who walks blamelessly will receive help, But one who is ^(F1)(C1)crooked will fall all at once.

^(C1)One who works his land will ^(C2)have plenty of food, But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

A ^(C1)faithful person will abound with blessings, But one who ^(C2)hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.

To ^(F1)(C1)show partiality is not good, ^(C2)Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

A person with an ^(C1)evil eye ^(C2)hurries after wealth And does not know that poverty will come upon him.

One who ^(C1)rebukes a person will afterward find more favor Than one who ^(C2)flatters with the tongue.

He who ^(C1)robs his father or his mother And says, "There is no wrong done," Is the ^(C2)companion of a person who destroys.

An ^(F1)arrogant person ^(C1)stirs up strife, But one who ^(C2)trusts in the LORD ^(C3)will ^(F2)prosper.

One who ^(C1)trusts in his own heart is a fool, But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.

One who ^(C1)gives to the poor will never lack anything, But one who ^(F1)shuts his eyes will have many curses.

When the wicked rise, people hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

A person ^(F1)often ^(C1)rebuked who ^(F2)becomes obstinate Will ^(C2)suddenly be broken ^(F3)beyond remedy.

When the ^(C1)righteous ^(F1)increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked person rules, people groan.

A man who ^(C1)loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who ^(C2)involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

The ^(C1)king gives stability to the land by justice, But a person who takes bribes ruins it.

A man who ^(C1)flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps.

By wrongdoing an evil person is ^(C1)ensnared, But the righteous ^(C2)sings and rejoices.

The ^(C1)righteous ^(F1)is concerned for the rights of the poor; The wicked does not understand such ^(F2)concern.

Arrogant people ^(C1)inflame a city, But ^(C2)wise people turn away anger.

When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person, ^(F1)The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

People of ^(C1)bloodshed hate the blameless person, But the upright ^(F1)are concerned for his life.

A ^(C1)fool ^(F1)always loses his temper, But a ^(C2)wise person holds it back.

If a ^(C1)ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked.

The ^(C1)poor person and the oppressor ^(F1)have this in common: The LORD gives ^(C2)light to the eyes of both.

If a ^(C1)king judges the poor with truth, His ^(C2)throne will be established forever.

The ^(C1)rod and a rebuke give wisdom, But a child ^(F1)who gets his own way ^(C2)brings shame to his mother.

When the wicked ^(F1)increase, wrongdoing increases; But the ^(C1)righteous will see their downfall.

^(C1)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also ^(F1)(C2)delight your soul.

Where there is ^(C1)no ^(F1)vision, the people ^(C2)are unrestrained, But ^(C3)happy is one who keeps the Law.

A slave will not be instructed by words alone; For though he understands, there will be no response.

Do you see a person who is ^(C1)hasty with his words? There is ^(C2)more hope for a fool than for him.

One who pampers his slave from childhood Will in the end find him to be rebellious.

An ^(C1)angry person stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.

A person's ^(C1)pride will bring him low, But a ^(C2)humble spirit will obtain honor.

One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He ^(C1)hears the oath but tells nothing.

The ^(C1)fear of man ^(F1)brings a snare, But one who ^(C2)trusts in the LORD will be protected.

^(C1)Many seek the ruler's ^(F1)favor, But ^(C2)justice for mankind comes from the LORD.

An ^(C1)unjust person is an abomination to the righteous, And one who is ^(C2)upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the pronouncement. The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

I am certainly more ^(C1)stupid than any man, And I do not have the understanding of a man;

Nor have I learned wisdom, Nor do I have the ^(C1)knowledge of the Holy One.

Who has ^(C1)ascended into heaven and descended? Who has gathered the ^(C2)wind in His fists? Who has ^(C3)wrapped the waters in ^(F1)His garment? Who has ^(C4)established all the ends of the earth? What is His ^(C5)name or His ^(F2)Son's name? Surely you know!

Every ^(C1)word of God is ^(F1)pure; He is a ^(C2)shield to those who take refuge in Him.

^(C1)Do not add to His words Or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.

Two things I have asked of You; Do not refuse me before I die:

Keep deception and ^(F1)lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the ^(C1)food that is my portion,

So that I will not be ^(C1)full and deny ^(C2)You and say, "Who is the LORD?" And that I will not become ^(C3)impoverished and steal, And ^(C4)profane the name of my God.

Do not slander a slave to his master, Or he will ^(C1)curse you and you will be found guilty.

There is a ^(F1)kind of person who ^(C1)curses his father And does not bless his mother.

There is a ^(F1)kind who is ^(C1)pure in his own eyes, Yet is not washed from his filthiness.

There is a ^(F1)kind—oh how ^(C1)lofty are his eyes! And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.

There is a ^(F1)kind of person whose ^(C1)teeth are like swords And his ^(C2)jaw teeth like knives, To ^(C3)devour the poor from the earth And the needy from among mankind.

The leech has two daughters: "Give" and "Give." There are three things that will not be satisfied, Four that will not say, "Enough":

^(F1)(C1)Sheol, the ^(C2)infertile womb, Earth that is never satisfied with water, And fire that never says, "Enough."

The eye that ^(C1)mocks a father And ^(F1)(C2)scorns a mother, The ^(C3)ravens of the valley will pick it out, And the young ^(C3)eagles will eat it.

There are three things which are too wonderful for me, Four which I do not understand:

The way of the ^(C1)eagle in the sky, The way of a snake on a rock, The way of a ship in the middle of the sea, And the way of a man with a ^(F1)virgin.

This is the way of an ^(C1)adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wrong."

Under three things the earth quakes, And under four, it cannot endure:

Under a ^(C1)slave when he becomes king, And a fool when he is satisfied with food,

Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband, And a female servant when she dispossesses her mistress.

Four things are small on the earth, But they are exceedingly wise:

The ^(C1)ants are not a strong people, But they prepare their food in the summer;

The ^(C1)rock hyraxes are not a mighty people, Yet they make their houses in the rocks;

The locusts have no king, Yet all of them go out in ^(C1)ranks;

The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings' palaces.

There are three things which are stately in their march, Even four which are stately when they walk:

The lion, which is ^(C1)mighty among animals And does not ^(F1)(C2)retreat from anything,

The ^(F1)strutting rooster or the male goat, And a king when his army is with him.

If you have been foolish in exalting yourself, Or if you have plotted evil, ^(C1)put your hand on your mouth.

For the ^(F1)churning of milk produces butter, And pressing the nose produces blood; So the ^(F1)churning of ^(C1)anger produces strife.