Bible Browser

¹⁷ The highway of the upright avoids evil;
   those who guard their way preserve their lives.
¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
   and a haughty spirit before a fall.
¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit among the poor
   than to divide the spoil with the proud.
²⁰ Those who are attentive to a matter will prosper,
   and happy are those who trust in the Lord.
²¹ The wise of heart is called perceptive,
   and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.
²² Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who has it,
   but folly is the punishment of fools.
²³ The mind of the wise makes their speech judicious,
   and adds persuasiveness to their lips.
²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
   sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
²⁵ Sometimes there is a way that seems to be right,
   but in the end it is the way to death.
²⁶ The appetite of workers works for them;
   their hunger urges them on.
²⁷ Scoundrels concoct evil,
   and their speech is like a scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse person spreads strife,
   and a whisperer separates close friends.
²⁹ The violent entice their neighbours,
   and lead them in a way that is not good.
³⁰ One who winks the eyes plans^* perverse things;
   one who compresses the lips brings evil to pass.
³¹ Grey hair is a crown of glory;
   it is gained in a righteous life.
³² One who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
   and one whose temper is controlled than one who captures a city.
³³ The lot is cast into the lap,
   but the decision is the Lord’s alone.

17Better is a dry morsel with quiet
   than a house full of feasting with strife.
² A slave who deals wisely will rule over a child who acts shamefully,
   and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
³ The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
   but the Lord tests the heart.
⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
   and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.
⁵ Those who mock the poor insult their Maker;
   those who are glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
   and the glory of children is their parents.
⁷ Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
   still less is false speech to a ruler.^*
8 A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of those who give it;
   wherever they turn they prosper.
⁹ One who forgives an affront fosters friendship,
   but one who dwells on disputes will alienate a friend.
¹⁰ A rebuke strikes deeper into a discerning person
   than a hundred blows into a fool.
¹¹ Evil people seek only rebellion,
   but a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
¹² Better to meet a she-bear robbed of its cubs
   than to confront a fool immersed in folly.
¹³ Evil will not depart from the house
   of one who returns evil for good.
¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water;
   so stop before the quarrel breaks out.
¹⁵ One who justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous
   are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
¹⁶ Why should fools have a price in hand
   to buy wisdom, when they have no mind to learn?
¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
   and kinsfolk are born to share adversity.