1Wisdom Calls in the Street
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
1These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel.
2To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;
2They are here to teach wisdom and discipline, and to help you recognize words that carry understanding;
3To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;
3to train you in wise living, in doing what is right, fair, and just;
4To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.
4to give good sense to the inexperienced, and knowledge and sound judgment to the young.
5A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:
5A wise person will listen and learn even more, and someone with understanding will gain the ability to give good advice.
6To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
6They help you make sense of a proverb and its meaning, the words of the wise and their puzzling sayings.
7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
7Reverence for the LORD is where knowledge begins, but fools have no use for wisdom or discipline.
8My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
8My son, listen to what your father teaches you, and do not throw away what your mother taught you.
9For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.
9Their teaching will be like a beautiful wreath on your head and a chain of honor around your neck.
10My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
10My son, if sinners try to draw you in, do not go along with them.
11If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:
11They may say, "Come with us. Let's hide and wait to kill someone; let's ambush an innocent person just for the fun of it.
12Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:
12Let's swallow them alive, the way the grave does, whole, like people going down into the pit.
13We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:
13We will get all kinds of valuable things and fill our houses with what we take.
14Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:
14Throw in your lot with us; we will all share one purse."
15My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:
15My son, do not go down the road with them; keep your feet off their path.
16For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.
16Their feet run toward evil, and they are in a hurry to shed blood.
17Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
17It does no good to spread a net while the bird is watching.
18And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.
18But these people are really lying in wait for their own blood; they are ambushing their own lives.
19So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.
19That is how it goes for everyone who is greedy for gain: it takes the life of the very person who holds it.
20Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
20Wisdom calls out in the open; she lifts her voice in the streets.
21She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
21She cries out where the crowds gather and at the entrances of the city gates; in the city she speaks her words, saying,
22How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
22"How long, you naive people, will you love being naive? How long will mockers enjoy their mocking and fools hate knowledge?
23Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
23Turn back when I correct you. Look, I will pour out my spirit on you and make my words known to you.
24Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
24But because I called and you refused, because I held out my hand and nobody paid attention,
25But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:
25because you ignored all my advice and wanted nothing to do with my correction,
26I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
26I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when what you dread arrives,
27When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
27when what you dread comes like a storm and your ruin sweeps in like a whirlwind, when trouble and anguish come down on you.
28Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
28Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will search for me eagerly, but they will not find me,
29For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
29because they hated knowledge and did not choose to revere the LORD.
30They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
30They wanted none of my advice; they scorned every correction I gave.
31Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
31So they will eat the fruit of the road they chose and be stuffed full of their own schemes.
32For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
32For the naive are killed by their own turning away, and the easy life of fools destroys them.
33But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
33But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at peace, with no fear of harm."
2Searching for Wisdom as for Silver
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
1My son, if you will take in my words and store up my commands inside you,
2So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
2tuning your ear to wisdom and setting your heart on understanding;
3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
3yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding;
4If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
4if you look for her as you would for silver and search for her like hidden treasure,
5Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
5then you will understand what it means to revere the LORD, and you will find the knowledge of God.
6For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
6For the LORD is the one who gives wisdom; knowledge and understanding come from his mouth.
7He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
7He stores up sound wisdom for those who do right; he is a shield to those who live with integrity.
8He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
8He guards the paths of justice and protects the way of those who are faithful to him.
9Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
9Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, every good path.
10When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
10When wisdom enters your heart and knowledge becomes a pleasure to your soul,
11Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
11good judgment will watch over you, and understanding will keep you safe.
12To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
12It will rescue you from the way of evil people, from anyone whose words are twisted,
13Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
13from those who abandon the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
14who enjoy doing evil and take delight in how twisted wickedness is,
15Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
15whose roads are crooked and whose paths wind off the straight way.
16To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
16It will also rescue you from the woman who is not your wife, from the outsider with her smooth, flattering words,
17Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
17who has left the partner of her youth and forgotten the covenant she made before her God.
18For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
18Her house slopes down toward death, and her paths lead to the dead.
19None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
19No one who goes in to her comes back again or finds the paths of life.
20That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
20So walk the road of good people and stay on the paths of those who do right.
21For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
21For the honest will live in the land, and those with integrity will remain in it;
22But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
22but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted from it.
3Trust the LORD with All Your Heart
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
1My son, do not forget my teaching; keep my commands in your heart,
2For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
2for they will add long life, many years, and peace to you.
3Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
3Never let kindness and truth leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
4Then you will find favor and a good reputation in the eyes of God and people.
5Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
5Trust in the LORD with your whole heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
6Acknowledge him in everything you do, and he will make your paths straight.
7Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
7Do not think of yourself as wise; revere the LORD and turn away from evil.
8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
8That will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
9Honor the LORD with what you own and with the first and best of everything you produce.
10So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
10Then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will burst with new wine.
11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
11My son, do not brush off the LORD's discipline, and do not get tired of his correction,
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
12because the LORD corrects the ones he loves, just as a father corrects the son he delights in.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
13Happy is the person who finds wisdom, the person who gains understanding,
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
14because what she brings in is better than silver, and her profit is better than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
15She is worth more than rubies; nothing you could ever want can compare with her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
16Long life is in her right hand; in her left are wealth and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
17Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and everyone who holds on to her is happy.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
19By wisdom the LORD laid the foundations of the earth; by understanding he set the heavens in place.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
20By his knowledge the deep waters broke open and the clouds dropped their dew.
21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
21My son, do not let these things out of your sight; hold on to sound wisdom and good judgment.
22So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.
22They will be life for your soul and an ornament of grace around your neck.
23Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
23Then you will walk your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
24When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid; you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet.
25Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.
25Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin that comes on the wicked when it arrives,
26For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
26for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.
27Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.
27Do not hold back good from the people who deserve it when it is in your power to act.
28Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
28Do not tell your neighbor, "Go away and come back; I'll give it to you tomorrow," when you have it right there.
29Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.
29Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives beside you trusting you.
30Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.
30Do not pick a fight with someone for no reason, when he has done you no harm.
31Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
31Do not envy a violent man, and do not choose any of his ways,
32For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.
32because the LORD detests the crooked person, but he shares his confidence with the upright.
33The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.
33The LORD's curse rests on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
34He certainly mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.
35The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
35The wise will inherit honor, but fools will be lifted up only to shame.
4A Father Passes On What He Was Taught
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
1Listen, my children, to a father's instruction, and pay attention so you can gain understanding,
2For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
2because what I am giving you is good teaching. Do not abandon what I tell you.
3For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
3I too was once my father's son, tender and my mother's one and only, dear to her.
4He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
4He taught me, and he said to me, "Hold on to my words with your heart; keep my commands and live.
5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
5Get wisdom, get understanding. Do not forget them, and do not turn away from the words I speak.
6Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
6Do not abandon wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will keep you safe.
7Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
7Wisdom is the most important thing, so get wisdom; and whatever else you get, get understanding.
8Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
8Prize her highly, and she will lift you up; she will bring you honor when you embrace her.
9She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
9She will set a beautiful wreath on your head; she will present you with a glorious crown."
10Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
10Listen, my son, and accept what I say, and you will live many years.
11I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
11I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you along straight paths.
12When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
12When you walk, nothing will hold back your steps, and when you run, you will not trip.
13Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
13Take a firm grip on instruction and do not let go. Guard it, for it is your life.
14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
14Do not set foot on the path of the wicked, and do not walk the road of evil people.
15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
15Avoid it; do not travel on it. Turn away from it and keep going.
16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
16For those people cannot sleep until they have done something wrong; they lose their sleep unless they make someone fall.
17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
17They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
18But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, shining brighter and brighter until the day is full.
19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
19The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not even know what they trip over.
20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
20My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
21Do not let them out of your sight; keep them deep within your heart,
22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
22for they are life to those who find them and health to their whole body.
23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
23Guard your heart above everything else, because everything in your life flows from it.
24Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
24Get rid of crooked talk, and put deceitful speech far away from you.
25Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
25Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly in front of you.
26Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
26Think carefully about the path your feet take, and all your ways will be steady.
27Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.
27Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot away from evil.
5Warning Against the Strange Woman
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
1My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding,
2That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.
2so that you will keep good judgment and your lips will hold on to knowledge.
3For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:
3For the lips of a woman who is not your wife drip like honey, and her talk is smoother than oil,
4But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.
4but in the end she is as bitter as poison and as sharp as a double-edged sword.
5Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
5Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave.
6Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.
6She gives no thought to the path of life; her ways wander so that you cannot tell where she is going.
7Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.
7So now, my children, listen to me, and do not turn away from what I say.
8Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:
8Keep your way far from her; do not go near the door of her house,
9Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:
9or you will hand your honor over to others and give your years to someone cruel;
10Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;
10strangers will feed on your wealth, and everything you worked for will end up in another man's house.
11And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,
11And at the end of your life you will groan, when your body and your strength are used up,
12And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;
12and you will say, "How I hated discipline! How my heart despised correction!
13And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!
13I would not listen to my teachers or turn my ear toward the people who taught me.
14I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.
14I came within a step of complete ruin, right in front of the whole gathered community."
15Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.
15Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well.
16Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.
16Should your springs be scattered out in the open, your streams of water poured into the public streets?
17Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.
17Let them belong to you alone, never shared with strangers.
18Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.
18May your fountain be blessed, and find your joy in the wife of your youth.
19Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.
19She is a loving deer, a graceful doe; let her love satisfy you at all times, and always be captivated by her affection.
20And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?
20Why, my son, would you be captivated by a woman who is not your wife, or embrace someone else's spouse?
21For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.
21For a person's ways are right in front of the LORD's eyes, and he examines every path a person takes.
22His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
22The wicked man's own wrongdoing will trap him; the ropes of his own sin will hold him fast.
23He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
23He will die for lack of discipline, and his great foolishness will lead him astray.
6Warnings on Pledges, Sloth, and Adultery
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,
1My son, if you have promised to pay a friend's debt, if you have shaken hands to guarantee a stranger's loan,
2Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.
2then you have been trapped by your own words; what your mouth said has caught you.
3Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.
3Then do this, my son, and get yourself free, since you have fallen into your friend's power: go, humble yourself, and press your friend until it is settled.
4Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.
4Do not let your eyes sleep or your eyelids close.
5Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
5Free yourself like a deer from the hunter's hand, like a bird from the hand of the trapper.
6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
6Go watch the ant, you lazy one; study how she works, and learn to be wise.
7Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,
7She has no leader, no supervisor, and no ruler,
8Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.
8yet she stores up her food in the summer and gathers what she needs at harvest time.
9How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?
9How long will you lie there, you lazy one? When will you get up from your sleep?
10Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
10A little more sleep, a little more dozing, a little more folding of the hands to rest,
11So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.
11and poverty will arrive like a traveler at your door, and need like a man with a weapon.
12A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.
12A worthless person, an evil man, goes around with lies in his mouth.
13He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;
13He winks his eyes, signals with his feet, and points with his fingers.
14Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.
14His heart is twisted; he is always plotting trouble, and he stirs up quarrels.
15Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.
15So disaster will strike him all at once; in a moment he will be broken, past any repair.
16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
16There are six things the LORD hates, seven that he finds disgusting:
17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
17proud eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill innocent people,
18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
18a heart that plans evil schemes, feet that run quickly to do wrong,
19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
19a false witness who pours out lies, and anyone who stirs up quarrels between brothers.
20My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
20My son, keep your father's commands, and do not abandon what your mother taught you.
21Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
21Tie them to your heart for good; fasten them around your neck.
22When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
22When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you wake, they will speak to you.
23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
23For the command is a lamp and the teaching is a light, and correction that trains you is the road to life.
24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
24They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth talk of another man's wife.
25Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.
25Do not crave her beauty in your heart, and do not let her capture you with her glances.
26For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.
26A woman who sells herself can reduce a man to a crust of bread, and another man's wife hunts down a life that is precious.
27Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
27Can a man carry fire against his chest without his clothes catching fire?
28Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
28Can someone walk on burning coals without scorching his feet?
29So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.
29That is how it is for the man who sleeps with his neighbor's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
30Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;
30People do not look down on a thief if he steals to feed himself when he is starving;
31But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
31yet if he is caught, he must pay back seven times over, even if it costs him everything in his house.
32But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.
32But the man who commits adultery has no sense; whoever does it destroys his own life.
33A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.
33He will get wounds and disgrace, and his shame will never be wiped away.
34For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.
34For jealousy makes a husband furious, and he will show no mercy when the day of revenge comes.
35He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.
35He will not accept any payment to make it right, and no matter how many gifts you offer, he will not be satisfied.
7The Young Man and the Woman at Dusk
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
1My son, keep my words, and store up my commands inside you.
2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.
2Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teaching like the pupil of your eye.
3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.
3Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:
4Say to wisdom, "You are my sister," and call understanding your close relative,
5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.
5so they can keep you from the woman who is not your wife, from the stranger with her smooth words.
6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,
6Once, at the window of my house, I was looking out through the lattice,
7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
7and among the naive I noticed, among the young men I picked out, a young man with no sense.
8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
8He was walking down the street near her corner, heading along the road to her house,
9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
9at dusk, as the evening came on, in the black darkness of the night.
10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
10And there a woman came to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with a cunning heart.
11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
11(She is loud and headstrong; her feet never stay at home.
12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
12Now she is outside, now in the streets, and she lurks at every corner.)
13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
13She grabbed him and kissed him, and with a bold face she said to him,
14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
14"I have peace offerings at home; today I paid my vows.
15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
15So I came out to meet you, looking eagerly for your face, and now I have found you.
16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
16I have spread my bed with colorful coverings, with fine embroidered linen from Egypt.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
18Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; let us enjoy ourselves with lovemaking.
19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
19For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
20He took a bag of money with him and will not be home until the appointed day."
21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
21With all her persuasive talk she wore him down; with her smooth lips she pushed him over the edge.
22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
22He follows her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter, or like a fool walking into the stocks to be punished,
23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
23until an arrow pierces his liver; like a bird rushing into a trap, he does not know it will cost him his life.
24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
24So now, my children, listen to me, and pay attention to the words I speak.
25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
25Do not let your heart wander onto her paths; do not stray onto her roads.
26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
26For she has brought down many victims; yes, many strong men have been killed by her.
27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
27Her house is the road to the grave, leading down to the rooms of death.
8Wisdom Calls Out in the Streets
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
1Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
2She takes her stand on the high ground beside the road, where the paths meet.
3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
3She cries out beside the gates, at the entrance to the city, at the doorways:
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
4"To you, people, I call; my voice goes out to all humanity.
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
5You naive ones, learn some sense; you fools, get an understanding heart.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
6Listen, for I have excellent things to say, and when I open my lips, what comes out is right.
7For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
7My mouth speaks the truth, and wickedness is disgusting to my lips.
8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
8Every word I say is honest; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
9They are all clear to the one who understands and right to those who have found knowledge.
10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
10Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than the finest gold.
11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
11For wisdom is better than rubies, and nothing you could want compares with her.
12I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
12I, wisdom, live together with good judgment, and I know how to find knowledge and careful planning.
13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
13To fear the LORD is to hate evil. Pride, arrogance, evil behavior, and a lying mouth: these I hate.
14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
14Good advice and sound wisdom are mine; I am understanding, and I have strength.
15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
15Through me kings reign, and rulers make just laws.
16By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
16Through me princes govern, and so do nobles, all the judges of the earth.
17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
17I love those who love me, and those who look for me early will find me.
18Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
18Riches and honor are with me, lasting wealth and righteousness.
19My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
19What I produce is better than gold, even pure gold, and what I bring in is better than the finest silver.
20I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
20I walk the road of righteousness, right down the middle of the paths of justice,
21That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
21so that I can give real wealth to those who love me and fill their storehouses.
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
22The LORD had me at the very start of his way, before his ancient works.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
23I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth existed.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
24When there were no ocean depths, I was born; when there were no springs overflowing with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
25Before the mountains were set in place, before the hills, I was born,
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
26while he had not yet made the earth or the fields or the first bit of soil in the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
27When he set the heavens in place, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep;
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
28when he fixed the clouds above; when he made the springs of the deep strong;
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
29when he gave the sea its limit so the waters would not go past his command; when he laid out the foundations of the earth,
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
30I was right beside him like a master craftsman, and I was his delight every day, always rejoicing in his presence,
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
31rejoicing in his inhabited world, and my delight was in the human race.
32Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
32So now, my children, listen to me, for those who keep my ways are blessed.
33Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
33Listen to instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.
34Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
34Blessed is the person who listens to me, watching at my gates every day, waiting beside my doorway.
35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
35For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.
36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
36But whoever sins against me harms his own soul; everyone who hates me loves death."
9Wisdom's Feast and Folly's Feast
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
1Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars.
2She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
2She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine, and set her table.
3She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
3She has sent out her servant girls, and she calls from the highest places of the city:
4Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
4"Whoever is naive, come in here!" To the one who has no sense, she says,
5Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
5"Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have mixed.
6Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
6Leave your foolish ways behind and live; walk the road of understanding."
7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
7Whoever corrects a mocker only earns himself an insult, and whoever rebukes a wicked man gets hurt for it.
8Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
8Do not correct a mocker, or he will hate you; correct a wise man, and he will love you.
9Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
9Instruct a wise man, and he will be wiser still; teach a good man, and he will keep on learning.
10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
10The fear of the LORD is where wisdom begins, and knowing the Holy One is understanding.
11For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
11For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.
12If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
12If you are wise, your wisdom is your own reward; but if you mock, you alone will pay for it.
13A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
13Folly is a loud woman; she is naive and knows nothing at all.
14For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
14She sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the highest places of the city,
15To call passengers who go right on their ways:
15calling out to those passing by, who are going straight along their way:
16Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
16"Whoever is naive, come in here!" And to the one who has no sense, she says,
17Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
17"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret tastes delicious."
18But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
18But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are down in the depths of the grave.
10Wise Sons, Diligent Hands, Guarded Lips
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.
1The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.
2Treasures gained by wickedness do no good, but doing right rescues from death.
3The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
3The LORD will not let the righteous go hungry, but he sweeps away what the wicked crave.
4He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
4Lazy hands make a person poor, but hard-working hands bring wealth.
5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.
5The son who gathers crops in summer is wise, but the son who sleeps through the harvest brings shame.
6Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
6Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but the mouth of the wicked hides violence.
7The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.
7The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot away.
8The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.
8The wise in heart accept commands, but a babbling fool will come to ruin.
9He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.
9Whoever walks honestly walks safely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.
10Whoever winks slyly causes pain, and a babbling fool will come to ruin.
11The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
11The mouth of a righteous person is a spring of life, but the mouth of the wicked hides violence.
12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
12Hatred stirs up fights, but love covers over every wrong.
13In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
13Wisdom is found on the lips of a person with understanding, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
14Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites disaster.
15The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
15A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; the poverty of the poor is their ruin.
16The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
16The wages of the righteous lead to life; the earnings of the wicked lead to sin.
17He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
17Whoever holds on to instruction is on the road to life, but whoever rejects correction goes astray.
18He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
18Whoever hides hatred behind lying lips, and whoever spreads slander, is a fool.
19In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
19Where there are many words, sin is never far away, but whoever holds his tongue is wise.
20The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
20The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth very little.
21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
21The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of good sense.
22The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
22It is the blessing of the LORD that makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow to it.
23It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
23Doing wrong is like a game to a fool, but a person of understanding takes pleasure in wisdom.
24The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
24What the wicked dread will come upon them, but what the righteous long for will be given to them.
25As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.
25When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand on a foundation that lasts forever.
26As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.
26Like vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes, so is a lazy person to those who send him on an errand.
27The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
27The fear of the LORD adds years to life, but the years of the wicked will be cut short.
28The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
28The hope of the righteous ends in joy, but what the wicked are counting on will come to nothing.
29The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
29The way of the LORD is a stronghold for the honest, but it means ruin for those who do evil.
30The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.
30The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.
31The mouth of the righteous produces wisdom, but a twisted tongue will be cut off.
32The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
32The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked speaks only what is twisted.
11Honest Scales and Open Hands
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.
1The LORD hates dishonest scales, but an honest weight makes him glad.
2When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
2When pride shows up, shame follows close behind; but wisdom lives with the humble.
3The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.
3The honesty of good people guides them, but the crookedness of wrongdoers wrecks them.
4Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
4Money is worthless on the day of judgment, but doing right rescues from death.
5The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.
5The goodness of a blameless person smooths his path, but the wicked trip over their own wickedness.
6The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.
6The goodness of the upright rescues them, but wrongdoers are trapped by their own greed.
7When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.
7When a wicked man dies, whatever he was counting on dies with him; the hope of unjust people comes to nothing.
8The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.
8The good person is pulled out of trouble, and the wicked one lands in it instead.
9An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.
9A hypocrite ruins his neighbor with his words, but the just are rescued by what they know.
10When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.
10When good people do well, the whole city celebrates; when the wicked die, there is cheering.
11By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
11A city rises through the blessing of good people, but it is torn down by the words of the wicked.
12He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
12Someone with no sense sneers at his neighbor, but a person of understanding keeps quiet.
13A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.
13A gossip gives away secrets, but someone with a faithful spirit keeps a secret safe.
14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
14Where there is no guidance, a people falls; but with many advisers there is safety.
15He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.
15Whoever guarantees a stranger's debt will pay for it, but the one who refuses to co-sign stays safe.
16A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.
16A gracious woman holds on to honor, and forceful men hold on to wealth.
17The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.
17A kind man does himself good, but a cruel man brings trouble on his own body.
18The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.
18The wicked earn wages that deceive, but whoever sows what is right gets a sure reward.
19As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.
19Just as doing right leads to life, the one who chases evil chases his own death.
20They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
20The LORD hates people with twisted hearts, but those who walk a straight path are his delight.
21Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
21Count on it: the wicked will not go unpunished, but the children of the righteous will be rescued.
22As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.
22A gold ring in a pig's nose: that is what a pretty woman is when she has no sense.
23The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
23What good people want turns out well, but what the wicked can expect is anger.
24There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.
24Some people give away plenty and still get richer; others hang on to more than they should and only get poorer.
25The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
25The generous soul grows rich, and whoever gives others a drink will get one himself.
26He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.
26People curse the man who hoards grain, but blessing rests on the one who sells it.
27He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.
27Whoever works hard at doing good wins favor, but trouble comes to the one who goes looking for it.
28He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
28Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green branch.
29He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
29Whoever brings trouble on his own family will inherit nothing but wind, and the fool will end up serving the wise.
30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
30What a good person produces is a tree of life, and whoever wins people over is wise.
31Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
31Look: if the righteous get what they deserve here on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!
12Rooted Households and Truthful Tongues
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.
1Whoever loves correction loves knowledge, but whoever hates being told off is as dull as an animal.
2A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.
2A good man wins the LORD's favor, but the LORD condemns a man full of wicked schemes.
3A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
3No one is made secure by wickedness, but the roots of the righteous will never be pulled up.
4A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.
4A good wife is a crown to her husband, but one who shames him is like rot in his bones.
5The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.
5The plans of the righteous are fair, but the advice of the wicked is trickery.
6The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
6The words of the wicked lie in ambush to spill blood, but the words of the upright rescue them.
7The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.
7The wicked are knocked down and gone, but the house of the righteous stands firm.
8A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
8A man is praised in proportion to his wisdom, but a man with a warped heart is looked down on.
9He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.
9Better to be a nobody who has a servant than to act important and have no bread.
10A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
10A good man cares about the life of his animals, but even the kindness of the wicked is cruel.
11He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
11Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat, but whoever runs after worthless people has no sense.
12The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.
12The wicked want what evil men have caught, but the roots of the righteous bear their own fruit.
13The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.
13The wicked are trapped by their own sinful talk, but the just get out of trouble.
14A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.
14A man is filled with good things by the fruit of his words, and the work of his hands comes back to reward him.
15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
15A fool thinks his own way is right, but a wise person takes advice.
16A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.
16A fool's anger shows at once, but a sensible man overlooks an insult.
17He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
17Whoever speaks the truth shows what is right, but a false witness shows only deceit.
18There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
18Some people's words cut like a sword, but the words of the wise heal.
19The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
19Words of truth stand forever; a lying tongue is gone in an instant.
20Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
20Deceit fills the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who counsel peace have joy.
21There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
21No real harm comes to the just, but the wicked have trouble to spare.
22Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
22The LORD hates lying lips, but people who deal honestly are his delight.
23A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
23A sensible man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of a fool blurts out folly.
24The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.
24Hard-working hands end up in charge, but lazy ones end up doing forced labor.
25Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.
25A heavy heart bows a man down, but one good word lifts it up.
26The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
26The righteous person is a better guide than his neighbor, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.
27The lazy man never roasts what he caught hunting, but a hard worker's possessions are precious to him.
28In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.
28On the road of righteousness there is life; along that path there is no death.
13Instruction, Wealth, and Deferred Hope
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.
1A wise son listens to his father's teaching, but a mocker will not hear a rebuke.
2A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.
2A man enjoys good things from the fruit of his words, but the appetite of wrongdoers is for violence.
3He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
3Whoever guards his mouth guards his life, but whoever talks too freely brings himself ruin.
4The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
4The lazy man craves and gets nothing, but the hard worker is fully satisfied.
5A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.
5A righteous man hates a lie, but a wicked man is disgusting and ends in shame.
6Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.
6Doing right protects the person whose path is honest, but wickedness brings the sinner down.
7There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
7One man pretends to be rich and has nothing; another pretends to be poor and has great wealth.
8The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.
8A rich man's wealth may ransom his life, but a poor man never even hears a threat.
9The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
9The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked goes out.
10Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
10Pride only produces quarrels, but wisdom is with those who take advice.
11Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.
11Wealth that comes easily dwindles away, but whoever gathers it by hard work sees it grow.
12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.
12Hope that keeps getting delayed makes the heart sick, but a dream that comes true is a tree of life.
13Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.
13Whoever despises instruction will pay for it, but whoever respects the command will be rewarded.
14The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning a person away from deadly traps.
15Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.
15Good sense wins favor, but the road of wrongdoers is hard going.
16Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.
16Every sensible man acts with knowledge, but a fool puts his foolishness on display.
17A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.
17A wicked messenger lands in trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.
18Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.
18Poverty and shame come to whoever ignores instruction, but whoever accepts correction is honored.
19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.
19A wish come true is sweet to the soul, but fools hate to turn away from evil.
20He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
20Whoever keeps company with the wise grows wise, but a friend of fools is ruined.
21Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.
21Trouble chases sinners, but the righteous are repaid with good.
22A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
22A good man leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
23Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.
23The poor man's field may grow plenty of food, but it can be swept away for lack of justice.
24He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
24Whoever holds back the rod hates his son, but whoever loves him disciplines him early.
25The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
25The righteous eat until they are satisfied, but the stomach of the wicked goes empty.
14Folly, Anger, and the Nation
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.
1A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.
2He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.
2Whoever walks honestly fears the LORD, but whoever takes crooked paths despises him.
3In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
3A fool's talk is a rod that beats his own proud back, but the words of the wise keep them safe.
4Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.
4Where there are no oxen, the stall stays clean; but a big harvest comes by the strength of the ox.
5A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.
5An honest witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.
6A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.
6A mocker looks for wisdom and never finds it, but knowledge comes easily to someone with understanding.
7Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
7Walk away from a foolish man, once you see there is no knowledge in his words.
8The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.
8The wisdom of a sensible person is to understand where he is going, but the folly of fools is self-deception.
9Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.
9Fools laugh at sin, but among the upright there is goodwill.
10The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.
10Only the heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger can join in its joy.
11The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.
11The house of the wicked will be torn down, but the tent of the upright will thrive.
12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
12There is a road that looks right to a man, but it ends in death.
13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
13Even while laughing the heart can ache, and joy can end in grief.
14The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.
14A person who turns away in his heart gets his fill of his own ways, and a good person is satisfied with his.
15The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.
15A naive person believes anything, but a sensible person watches every step.
16A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
16A wise man is careful and stays away from evil, but a fool blows up and thinks he is fine.
17He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
17A quick-tempered man does foolish things, and a scheming man is hated.
18The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
18The naive inherit foolishness, but the sensible are crowned with knowledge.
19The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
19Evil people will bow before the good, and the wicked will wait at the gates of the righteous.
20The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.
20Even his own neighbor dislikes the poor man, but the rich have plenty of friends.
21He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
21Whoever looks down on his neighbor sins, but happy is the one who is kind to the poor.
22Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.
22Don't those who plan evil lose their way? But those who plan good find mercy and truth.
23In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.
23Every kind of labor pays off, but talking about it only makes you poorer.
24The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.
24The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the foolishness of fools is only more folly.
25A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.
25A truthful witness saves lives, but a deceitful witness tells lies.
26In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
26Whoever fears the LORD has a strong, secure place, and his children will find shelter there.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.
27The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person away from deadly traps.
28In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
28A large population is a king's glory, but with no people a prince is finished.
29He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
29Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but a hot-tempered person shows off his foolishness.
30A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.
30A calm heart keeps the body alive, but jealousy is rot in the bones.
31He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.
31Whoever crushes the poor insults his Maker, but whoever honors God shows mercy to the poor.
32The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.
32The wicked are swept away by their own wickedness, but the righteous have hope even in death.
33Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.
33Wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a person with understanding, but what is inside fools gets broadcast.
34Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
34Doing right lifts a nation up, but sin is a disgrace to any people.
35The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.
35A king is pleased with a wise servant, but his anger falls on one who brings shame.
15Soft Answers and the Watching LORD
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
1A soft reply calms rage, but cutting words stir up anger.
2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
2The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools gushes foolishness.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
3The LORD's eyes are in every place, seeing both the evil and the good.
4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
4A healing tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted one crushes the spirit.
5A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.
5A fool despises his father's correction, but whoever takes a rebuke to heart is sensible.
6In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.
6The house of the righteous holds great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
7The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
7The lips of the wise spread knowledge; the hearts of fools do nothing of the kind.
8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
8The LORD hates the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright delights him.
9The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the LORD: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.
9The LORD hates the way of the wicked, but he loves the person who chases after what is right.
10Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.
10Whoever leaves the right path finds correction painful, and whoever hates being rebuked will die.
11Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?
11Death and destruction lie open before the LORD; how much more, then, the hearts of human beings?
12A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
12A mocker does not like being corrected, and he will not go to the wise.
13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.
13A glad heart shows in a cheerful face, but when the heart grieves, the spirit is broken.
14The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
14A heart with understanding hunts for knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.
15All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.
15Every day is hard for the one who is suffering, but a cheerful heart enjoys a nonstop feast.
16Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
16Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with trouble attached.
17Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
17Better a plate of vegetables where there is love than a fattened ox where there is hatred.
18A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.
18A hot-tempered man starts fights, but a patient man calms them down.
19The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.
19The lazy man's road is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a smooth highway.
20A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.
20A wise son makes his father glad, but a foolish man treats his mother with contempt.
21Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.
21Foolishness is fun to someone with no sense, but a man of understanding walks a straight line.
22Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
22Without advice, plans come to nothing; with plenty of advisers, they stand firm.
23A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
23A man finds joy in giving a good answer, and how good is a word spoken at the right time!
24The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.
24The path of life leads upward for the wise, keeping him away from the grave below.
25The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.
25The LORD tears down the house of the proud, but he protects the widow's property line.
26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.
26The LORD hates the schemes of the wicked, but the words of the pure are pleasant to him.
27He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.
27Whoever is greedy for gain brings trouble on his own family, but whoever hates bribes will live.
28The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.
28The heart of the righteous thinks before it answers, but the mouth of the wicked spews out evil.
29The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.
29The LORD keeps his distance from the wicked, but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.
30The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.
30A bright look in the eyes gladdens the heart, and good news puts strength in the bones.
31The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.
31Whoever listens to life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.
32He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.
32Whoever refuses instruction despises his own soul, but whoever listens to correction gains understanding.
33The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.
33The fear of the LORD teaches wisdom, and before honor must come humility.
16Man Plans, the LORD Directs
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
1People make plans in their hearts, but the answer that comes from the tongue is from the LORD.
2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.
2A man thinks every way he walks is clean, but the LORD weighs what is in the spirit.
3Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
3Hand over what you do to the LORD, and your plans will be made firm.
4The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
4The LORD made everything for his own purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
5Everyone with a proud heart is disgusting to the LORD; though they all join hands together, he will not go unpunished.
6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
6Through mercy and truth wrongdoing is cleansed away, and by fearing the LORD people turn from evil.
7When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
7When the LORD is pleased with how a man lives, he makes even that man's enemies live at peace with him.
8Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.
8Better a little, gained rightly, than a great income gained by wrong.
9A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
9A man's heart plans out his road, but the LORD is the one who guides each step.
10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.
10The king's lips carry a judgment from God; his mouth does not go wrong when he gives a ruling.
11A just weight and balance are the LORD’s: all the weights of the bag are his work.
11Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; every weight in the bag is his work.
12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.
12It is a disgusting thing for kings to do wickedness, for a throne is made secure by righteousness.
13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.
13Kings delight in honest lips, and they love the one who speaks what is right.
14The wrath of a king is as messengers of death: but a wise man will pacify it.
14A king's anger is like a messenger of death, but a wise man will calm it down.
15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain.
15When the king's face shines, there is life; his favor is like a cloud bringing the spring rain.
16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!
16How much better it is to gain wisdom than gold! And to gain understanding is to be chosen above silver!
17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
17The road of the upright turns away from evil; whoever guards his way protects his life.
18Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
18Pride walks ahead of destruction, and an arrogant spirit ahead of a fall.
19Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
19It is better to be humble in spirit among the lowly than to divide up loot with the proud.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
20Whoever handles a matter wisely will find good, and whoever trusts in the LORD is happy.
21The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.
21The wise in heart will be called sensible, and pleasant speech makes learning grow.
22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
22Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it, but what fools teach is foolishness.
23The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.
23The heart of a wise man teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips.
24Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.
24Kind words are like honey from the comb, sweet to the soul and healing to the body.
25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
25A road can look right to a man, and yet at its end lie the roads of death.
26He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him.
26The one who labors works for his own sake, because his hunger drives him on.
27An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.
27An ungodly man digs up evil, and his lips are like a scorching fire.
28A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.
28A twisted man plants quarrels, and a gossip splits up the closest of friends.
29A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good.
29A violent man lures his neighbor and leads him down a road that is not good.
30He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.
30He shuts his eyes to plot twisted schemes; he presses his lips and brings evil about.
31The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
31Gray hair is a crown of glory when it is found on the road of righteousness.
32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.
32One who is slow to anger is better than a mighty warrior, and one who rules his own spirit than one who captures a city.
33The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
33People toss the lot into the lap, but the way it falls is decided by the LORD.
17A Dry Crust and a Quarrel
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
1A dry piece of bread eaten in peace is better than a house crammed with feast food and fighting.
2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
2A wise servant will rule over a son who brings shame, and will share the inheritance along with the brothers.
3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
3A melting pot refines silver and a furnace refines gold, but it is the LORD who tests hearts.
4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
4An evildoer pays attention to lying lips, and a liar listens to a wicked tongue.
5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
5Anyone who makes fun of the poor is insulting the One who made them, and anyone who gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
6Old men wear their grandchildren like a crown, and children take glory in their fathers.
7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
7Fine speech does not suit a fool; even less do lying lips suit a ruler.
8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
8A bribe seems like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, it works for him.
9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
9Whoever covers over an offense is seeking love, but whoever keeps bringing it up drives close friends apart.
10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
10A wise man takes a single rebuke more to heart than a fool takes a hundred lashes.
11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
11An evil man wants nothing but rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in the middle of his foolishness.
13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
13Whoever pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
14Starting a quarrel is like opening a hole in a dam, so drop the argument before it breaks out.
15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
15Whoever clears the guilty and whoever condemns the innocent, both alike are disgusting to the LORD.
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no heart for it?
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
17A friend keeps loving through every season, and a brother is born for the day of trouble.
18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
18A man with no sense shakes hands on a deal and guarantees his neighbor's debt.
19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
19Whoever loves quarreling loves sin, and whoever builds his gate high is asking for ruin.
20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
20A twisted heart finds nothing good, and a crooked tongue falls into trouble.
21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
21Whoever fathers a fool does so to his own sorrow; the father of a fool has no joy.
22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
22A happy heart works like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones out.
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
23A wicked man takes a bribe from under the cloak to twist the course of justice.
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
24Wisdom is right in front of the one who has understanding, but a fool's eyes go roaming to the far corners of the world.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
25A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who gave him birth.
26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
26It is not good to punish the innocent, nor to beat leaders for doing what is right.
27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
27One who has knowledge holds back his words, and a man of understanding keeps a cool spirit.
28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
28Even a fool who keeps quiet is thought to be wise; when he closes his lips, he seems a man of understanding.
18The Tongue and the Strong Tower
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.
1Following his own desire, a man who separates himself goes looking and meddles in every kind of wisdom.
2A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.
2A fool has no interest in understanding; he only wants to spill out what is in his heart.
3When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.
3When a wicked man comes, contempt comes with him, and with dishonor comes disgrace.
4The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.
4The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream.
5It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
5It is not good to show favor to the wicked, or to push aside the righteous in court.
6A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
6A fool's lips walk into a quarrel, and his mouth invites a beating.
7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
7A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a trap for his own life.
8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
8The words of a gossip are like wounds; they sink down deep into the belly.
9He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
9Someone who slacks off at his work is close kin to someone who wrecks things.
10The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
10The name of the LORD is a tower of strength; the righteous run inside it and are kept safe.
11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit.
11A rich man's wealth is his fortified city; in his own mind it is a high wall.
12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.
12Before a man falls, his heart swells with pride, but a humble heart walks ahead of honor.
13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
13Whoever answers a matter before hearing it out shows his foolishness and shame.
14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?
14A man's spirit can carry him through sickness, but a wounded spirit, who can bear that?
15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.
15The heart of the sensible gains knowledge, and the ear of the wise goes looking for it.
16A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men.
16A man's gift opens the way for him and brings him in front of important people.
17He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him.
17Whoever tells his side first sounds like he is in the right, until his neighbor shows up and cross-examines him.
18The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty.
18Casting lots puts an end to arguments and settles matters between powerful rivals.
19A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.
19A brother who has been offended is harder to win back than a fortified city, and such quarrels are like the bars of a castle.
20A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
20A man's stomach will be filled by the fruit of his mouth; he will be satisfied by what his lips produce.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
21Death and life lie in what the tongue can do, and those who love talking will eat the fruit it grows.
22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.
22Whoever finds a wife has found a good thing and has won the LORD's favor.
23The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly.
23The poor man pleads for mercy, but the rich man answers harshly.
24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
24A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
19Poverty, Discipline, and the King's Wrath
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
1Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are crooked.
2Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.
2Also, it is not good for a soul to lack knowledge, and whoever hurries on his feet stumbles into sin.
3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.
3A man's own foolishness wrecks his way, and then his heart rages against the LORD.
4Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
4Wealth brings many friends, but the poor man is deserted even by his neighbor.
5A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.
5A witness who lies will not get off unpunished, and whoever speaks falsehoods will not slip away.
6Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
6Many beg for a ruler's favor, and everyone is a friend to the man who gives gifts.
7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him.
7All the brothers of a poor man dislike him; how much more do his friends keep their distance? He chases after them with pleas, but they are gone.
8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.
8Whoever gains wisdom loves his own soul; whoever holds on to understanding will find good.
9A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.
9A witness who lies will not get off unpunished, and whoever speaks falsehoods will be destroyed.
10Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
10Luxury does not suit a fool, much less does a servant ruling over princes.
11The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
11A man's good judgment holds back his anger, and it brings him honor to let an offense pass.
12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
12A king's anger is like a lion roaring, but his favor is like dew settling on the grass.
13A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.
13A foolish son is his father's ruin, and a nagging wife is like a constant drip of water.
14House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD.
14Houses and riches are handed down from fathers, but a sensible wife comes from the LORD.
15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.
15Laziness sinks a man into deep sleep, and an idle soul will go hungry.
16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.
16Whoever obeys the commandment protects his own life, but whoever treats his ways carelessly will die.
17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
17Whoever shows pity to the poor is lending to the LORD, and he will repay what was given.
18Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying.
18Discipline your son while there is still hope, and do not let your heart give in to his crying.
19A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again.
19A hot-tempered man will pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.
20Take in advice and accept correction, so that in your later years you will be wise.
21There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
21There are many plans in a man's heart, but the plan of the LORD is the one that lasts.
22The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar.
22What makes a man desirable is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.
23The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
23The fear of the LORD leads to life; whoever has it rests content and will not be visited by harm.
24A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
24A lazy man tucks his hand into his robe and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
25Strike a mocker, and the naive will learn caution; correct a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
26A son who ruins his father and chases his mother out of the house brings shame and disgrace.
27Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.
27My son, stop listening to teaching that leads you away from the words of knowledge.
28An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.
28A corrupt witness makes a joke of justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.
29Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
29Judgments are ready for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
20Wine, Weights, and the LORD's Lamp
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.
1Wine turns people into mockers and strong drink into brawlers; anyone fooled by them is not wise.
2The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
2The dread of a king is like the roar of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger risks his own life.
3It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
3It is an honor for a man to keep out of a fight, but every fool is quick to jump in.
4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.
4The lazy man will not plow because it is cold, so at harvest he begs and has nothing.
5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
5The advice inside a man's heart lies like deep water, but a man with understanding knows how to draw it up.
6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?
6Most men will announce their own goodness, but a faithful man, who can find one?
7The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
7A just man walks in his integrity, and his children are blessed after him.
8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.
8A king seated on the throne of judgment scatters all evil with a glance of his eyes.
9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?
9Who can claim, "I have cleaned up my heart; I am free from my sin"?
10Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD.
10Unequal weights and unequal measures, both alike are disgusting to the LORD.
11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.
11Even a child is known by what he does, whether his conduct is pure and whether it is right.
12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.
12Ears that hear and eyes that see, the LORD is the maker of both.
13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.
13Do not fall in love with sleep, or poverty will find you; keep your eyes open, and there will be bread enough.
14It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.
14"It's worthless, it's worthless," says the buyer; but once he walks away, he brags about his bargain.
15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
15There is gold, and there are plenty of rubies, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
16Take the coat of a man who guarantees a stranger's debt, and hold him to a pledge when he does it for a strange woman.
17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.
17Food won by cheating tastes sweet to a man, but later his mouth ends up packed with gravel.
18Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.
18Every plan is made firm by taking counsel, and with good advice go to war.
19He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.
19Whoever goes around as a gossip gives away secrets, so stay away from anyone who flatters with his lips.
20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness.
20Whoever curses his father or mother, his lamp will be snuffed out in deepest darkness.
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.
21An inheritance grabbed quickly at the start will not be blessed in the end.
22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.
22Never say, "I will get even for this wrong"; wait on the LORD, and he will save you.
23Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good.
23Unequal weights are disgusting to the LORD, and dishonest scales are not good.
24Man’s goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?
24It is the LORD who orders where a man goes; so how can a man make sense of his own path?
25It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry.
25It is a trap for a man to snatch up what is holy, and only after making his vows to think it over.
26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.
26A wise king scatters the wicked and drives the threshing wheel over them.
27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
27A man's spirit is the LORD's lamp, searching all the inner rooms of his being.
28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.
28Mercy and truth protect the king, and his throne is held up by mercy.
29The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the grey head.
29Young men take glory in their strength, and the beauty of old men is their gray hair.
30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.
30The bruises of a beating scrub away evil, and so do blows that reach deep inside a person.
21The King's Heart, the LORD's Hand
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
1The king's heart is in the LORD's hand like a stream of water; he steers it wherever he pleases.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
2Every path a person takes looks right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.
3To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
3Doing what is just and fair pleases the LORD more than a sacrifice does.
4An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.
4A haughty look, a proud heart, and even the plowing of the wicked, all of it is sin.
5The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
5The plans of the hard worker lead only to plenty, but everyone in a hurry ends up only with need.
6The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.
6Gaining treasure with a lying tongue is a passing puff of air, chased by people who are seeking death.
7The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.
7The violence of the wicked will drag them down, because they refuse to do what is right.
8The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.
8The way of a guilty person is crooked and strange, but the work of the pure is straight.
9It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.
9It is better to live in a corner of the roof than to share a spacious house with a quarrelsome wife.
10The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.
10The soul of the wicked craves evil; his neighbor finds no kindness in his eyes.
11When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.
11When the mocker is punished, the naive person grows wise; and when the wise are taught, they take in knowledge.
12The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.
12The righteous man looks carefully at the house of the wicked, but God throws the wicked down for their wickedness.
13Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.
13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will cry out himself one day, and no one will hear.
14A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
14A gift given in secret calms anger, and a present slipped into the pocket calms strong fury.
15It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
15Doing what is right brings joy to the just, but ruin to those who work evil.
16The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.
16The person who wanders off the path of understanding will come to rest in the company of the dead.
17He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
17Whoever loves pleasure will end up poor; whoever loves wine and fine oil will never be rich.
18The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.
18The wicked become the ransom for the righteous, and the traitor for the upright.
19It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.
19It is better to live in a desert than with a wife who is quarrelsome and quick to anger.
20There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.
20Precious treasure and fine oil are stored in the home of the wise, but a foolish man swallows it all up.
21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
21Whoever chases after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.
22A wise man climbs the walls of a city full of warriors and pulls down the stronghold they trusted in.
23Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.
23Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
24Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.
24"Proud," "arrogant," "mocker" are the names of the person who acts in proud fury.
25The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.
25The lazy man's craving kills him, because his hands refuse to work.
26He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
26All day long he is greedy for more, but the righteous give and never hold back.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?
27The sacrifice of the wicked is disgusting; how much more when he brings it with evil motives?
28A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.
28A false witness will perish, but the person who truly listens will speak and keep speaking.
29A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.
29A wicked man puts on a hard face, but the upright thinks carefully about his path.
30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
30No wisdom, no understanding, and no plan can stand against the LORD.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.
31The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.
22The Words of the Wise Begin
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1A GOOD name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
1A good name is worth more than great riches, and being well loved is better than silver and gold.
2The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
2Rich and poor have this in common: the LORD made them all.
3A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
3A sensible person sees trouble coming and takes cover, but the naive walk right into it and pay for it.
4By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
4The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is riches, honor, and life.
5Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them.
5Thorns and traps line the path of the crooked; whoever guards his soul stays far away from them.
6Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
6Start a child off on the path he should follow, and even when he is old he will not leave it.
7The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
7The rich rule over the poor, and whoever borrows becomes the lender's servant.
8He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
8Whoever sows injustice will harvest emptiness, and the rod of his anger will come to nothing.
9He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
9The generous person will be blessed, because he shares his bread with the poor.
10Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
10Throw out the mocker, and quarreling leaves with him; fighting and insults come to an end.
11He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
11Whoever loves a pure heart and speaks with grace will have the king as a friend.
12The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor.
12The eyes of the LORD watch over knowledge, but he overturns the words of the treacherous.
13The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
13The lazy man says, "There's a lion outside! I'll be killed in the streets!"
14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
14The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit; the man the LORD is angry with falls into it.
15Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
15Foolishness is tied up in a child's heart, but the rod of discipline drives it far away from him.
16He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want.
16Whoever crushes the poor to make himself rich, and whoever gives gifts to the rich, will surely end in poverty.
17Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.
17Lean in and listen to the words of the wise, and set your heart on what I know.
18For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips.
18It is a pleasant thing to keep them inside you, with all of them ready on your lips.
19That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee.
19So that your trust will rest in the LORD, I have taught you today, yes, you.
20Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
20Haven't I written excellent things for you, full of advice and knowledge,
21That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
21to teach you how certain the words of truth are, so you can bring a true answer back to those who send you?
22Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
22Do not rob the poor just because they are poor, and do not crush the needy in court,
23For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them.
23for the LORD will take up their case and will plunder the lives of those who plunder them.
24Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
24Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, and do not keep company with someone who flies into rages,
25Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
25or you will learn his ways and set a trap for your own soul.
26Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.
26Do not be one of those who shake hands on a deal, who put up security for someone else's debts.
27If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?
27If you have nothing to pay with, why let him take the very bed out from under you?
28Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.
28Do not move the ancient boundary stone that your ancestors set in place.
29Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.
29Do you see someone skilled at his work? He will serve in front of kings; he will not serve in front of nobodies.
23The Ruler's Table and the Drunkard
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:
1When you sit down to eat with a ruler, think carefully about what is in front of you,
2And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.
2and put a knife to your throat if you are a person with a big appetite.
3Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.
3Do not crave his fancy food, because it is a meal that deceives.
4Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.
4Do not wear yourself out trying to get rich; be wise enough to stop.
5Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
5Will you fix your eyes on something that is gone in a moment? Riches surely grow wings and fly off into the sky like an eagle.
6Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats:
6Do not eat the bread of a stingy man, and do not crave his fancy food,
7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
7because he is exactly what he is thinking in his heart. "Eat and drink," he tells you, but his heart is not with you.
8The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
8You will throw up the little bit you ate, and your kind words will have been wasted.
9Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.
9Do not talk in the hearing of a fool, because he will despise the wisdom in your words.
10Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless:
10Do not move the old boundary stone, and do not trespass on the fields of orphans,
11For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.
11for their Defender is mighty; he will take up their case against you.
12Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge.
12Set your heart on instruction and your ears on words of knowledge.
13Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.
13Do not hold back discipline from a child; if you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
14Punish him with the rod, and you will rescue his soul from the grave.
15My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.
15My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart will be glad, yes, mine.
16Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.
16Everything inside me will rejoice when your lips say what is right.
17Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
17Do not let your heart envy sinners; instead, live in the fear of the LORD all day long.
18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.
18For surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
19Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
19Listen, my son, and be wise, and steer your heart along the right path.
20Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh:
20Do not hang around with heavy drinkers or with people who stuff themselves with meat,
21For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
21because the drunk and the glutton end up poor, and sleepiness dresses a man in rags.
22Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.
22Listen to the father who gave you life, and do not look down on your mother when she is old.
23Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
23Buy the truth and never sell it, along with wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
24The father of a righteous child will be overjoyed; whoever has a wise child will delight in him.
25Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice.
25May your father and mother be glad; may the one who gave birth to you rejoice.
26My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways.
26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes keep watch on my ways.
27For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit.
27For a prostitute is a deep ditch, and an immoral woman is a narrow pit.
28She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.
28She lies in wait like a robber, and she adds to the number of unfaithful men.
29Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?
29Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has fights? Who has complaints? Who has bruises for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.
30Those who linger over wine, those who go looking for mixed drinks.
31Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.
31Do not stare at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down so smoothly.
32At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.
32In the end it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.
33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.
33Your eyes will see strange things, and your heart will say twisted things.
34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.
34You will be like someone lying down in the middle of the sea, or sprawled at the top of a ship's mast.
35They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
35"They hit me," you will say, "but I wasn't hurt; they beat me, but I didn't feel it. When will I wake up? I'll go looking for another drink."
24Wisdom's House and the Sluggard's Field
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Be not thou envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them.
1Do not envy evil people, and do not wish to spend time with them,
2For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief.
2because their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about making trouble.
3Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established:
3By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is made secure;
4And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
4by knowledge its rooms are filled with every kind of precious and pleasant treasure.
5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
5A wise man is strong; yes, a man of knowledge grows stronger still.
6For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
6For you need wise guidance to wage war, and there is safety in having many advisers.
7Wisdom is too high for a fool: he openeth not his mouth in the gate.
7Wisdom is out of a fool's reach; he does not open his mouth at the city gate.
8He that deviseth to do evil shall be called a mischievous person.
8Whoever plots to do evil will be known as a schemer.
9The thought of foolishness is sin: and the scorner is an abomination to men.
9Scheming foolishness is sin, and people despise a mocker.
10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.
10If you give up in the day of trouble, your strength is small.
11If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain;
11Rescue those being dragged off to death, and hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
12If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works?
12If you say, "Look, we didn't know about this," doesn't the One who weighs hearts see it? Doesn't the One who guards your soul know it? Won't he repay each person for what he has done?
13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
13My son, eat honey, because it is good; the honeycomb is sweet to your taste.
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.
14Know that wisdom is like that for your soul: if you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
15Lay not wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous; spoil not his resting place:
15Do not lie in ambush, you wicked man, outside the home of the righteous; do not raid the place where he rests.
16For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
16For a righteous man may fall seven times and get back up, but the wicked stumble into disaster.
17Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:
17Do not celebrate when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
18or the LORD will see it and be displeased, and he will turn his anger away from him.
19Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;
19Do not fume over evil people, and do not envy the wicked,
20For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
20because there is no future for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be snuffed out.
21My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
21My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not get involved with those who are eager to rebel,
22For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
22because disaster will strike them suddenly, and who knows what ruin both can bring?
23These things also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment.
23These sayings also belong to the wise. It is not good to show favoritism when judging a case.
24He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:
24Whoever tells the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by the people and denounced by nations,
25But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them.
25but those who convict the guilty will be glad, and a rich blessing will come to them.
26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
26An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
27Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
27Finish your work outside and get your fields ready; after that, build your house.
28Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.
28Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, and do not use your lips to deceive.
29Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.
29Do not say, "I'll do to him what he did to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did."
30I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;
30I walked past the field of a lazy man, past the vineyard of a man with no sense,
31And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof was broken down.
31and look, it was completely overgrown with thorns, weeds covered the ground, and its stone wall had fallen down.
32Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction.
32I looked at it and thought it over; I saw it and took a lesson from it.
33Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:
33A little sleep, a little dozing, a little folding of the hands to rest,
34So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
34and poverty will come at you like a robber, and need like an armed man.
25Proverbs Copied Out by Hezekiah's Men
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.
1These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied out by the officials of Hezekiah, king of Judah.
2It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
2It is the glory of God to keep a matter hidden, but the glory of kings is to search a matter out.
3The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
3As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings cannot be searched out.
4Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.
4Take the impurities out of the silver, and the silversmith has material for a fine vessel.
5Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness.
5Take the wicked away from the king's presence, and his throne will be made secure by righteousness.
6Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
6Do not push yourself forward in the king's presence, and do not stand in the place reserved for great men.
7For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
7It is better to be told, "Come up here," than to be sent down lower in front of the prince you have been looking at.
8Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.
8Do not rush into a lawsuit, or you may not know what to do at the end of it when your neighbor puts you to shame.
9Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:
9Argue your case with your neighbor directly, and do not give away someone else's secret,
10Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.
10or whoever hears it will shame you, and your bad reputation will never go away.
11A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
11A word spoken at the right time is like golden apples in a setting of silver.
12As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.
12Like a gold earring or an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuke to an ear that listens.
13As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.
13Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes his masters' spirits.
14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.
14Whoever brags about a gift he never gives is like clouds and wind that bring no rain.
15By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.
15Patience can win over a ruler, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
16Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.
16Found some honey? Eat only as much as you need, or you will get too full and throw it up.
17Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour’s house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
17Do not set foot in your neighbor's house too often, or he will get tired of you and come to hate you.
18A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.
18A man who gives false testimony against his neighbor is a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.
19Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
19Trusting an unreliable man in a time of trouble is like a broken tooth or a foot that has slipped out of joint.
20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
20Like someone who takes away a coat on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is someone who sings cheerful songs to a heavy heart.
21If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.
22For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee.
22In doing so you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
23The north wind driveth away rain: so doth an angry countenance a backbiting tongue.
23The north wind brings rain, and a tongue that gossips behind people's backs brings angry faces.
24It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.
24It is better to live in a corner of the roof than to share a spacious house with a quarrelsome wife.
25As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
25Like cold water to a thirsty soul is good news from a faraway land.
26A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.
26A righteous man who gives way before the wicked is like a muddied spring or a polluted well.
27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.
27It is not good to eat too much honey, and it is no honor to go hunting for your own honor.
28He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
28A man with no control over his own spirit is like a city broken open and left without walls.
26The Fool and the Sluggard
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool.
1Like snow in summer or rain at harvest time, honor does not fit a fool.
2As the bird by wandering, as the swallow by flying, so the curse causeless shall not come.
2Like a bird flitting about or a swallow darting through the air, a curse that has no cause will not land.
3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the fool’s back.
3A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of a fool.
4Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
4Do not answer a fool in the same foolish way he talks, or you will end up just like him.
5Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
5Answer a fool the way his foolishness deserves, or he will think he is wise.
6He that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage.
6Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool cuts off his own feet and drinks down trouble.
7The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
7The legs of a lame man hang useless, and so does a wise saying in the mouth of fools.
8As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honour to a fool.
8Giving honor to a fool is like tying a stone into a sling.
9As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
9A wise saying in the mouth of fools is like a thorn stuck in the hand of a drunk.
10The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
10The great God who made everything gives the fool his reward, and gives wrongdoers theirs too.
11As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.
11As a dog goes back to its own vomit, so a fool goes back to his foolishness.
12Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
12Do you see a man who thinks he is wise? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.
13The lazy man says, "There is a lion on the road! A lion is loose in the streets!"
14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.
14As a door swings on its hinges, so the lazy man turns over in his bed.
15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.
15The lazy man buries his hand in his bowl; it wears him out to lift it back to his mouth.
16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
16The lazy man thinks he is wiser than seven men who can give a sensible answer.
17He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.
17Whoever walks by and jumps into a quarrel that is not his is like someone who grabs a dog by the ears.
18As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death,
18Like a madman throwing flaming torches, arrows, and death,
19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
19so is the man who tricks his neighbor and then says, "I was only joking!"
20Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
20Without wood, a fire goes out; without a gossip, a quarrel dies down.
21As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
21As charcoal is to hot coals and wood is to fire, so a quarrelsome man is to stirring up a fight.
22The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
22The words of a gossip are like tasty bites; they slide all the way down into the belly.
23Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.
23Warm words from a wicked heart are like a clay pot glazed with a thin coat of silver.
24He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
24A person full of hate disguises it with his lips while storing up deceit inside.
25When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.
25When he speaks kindly, do not believe him, because seven hateful things fill his heart.
26Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation.
26His hatred may be hidden by tricks, but his wickedness will be exposed in front of the whole assembly.
27Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolleth a stone, it will return upon him.
27Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone will have it roll back on him.
28A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
28A lying tongue hates the people it has hurt, and a flattering mouth brings ruin.
27Faithful Wounds and Well-Kept Flocks
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
1Do not brag about tomorrow, because you do not know what a single day may bring.
2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
2Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
3A stone is heavy and sand weighs a lot, but a fool's anger is heavier than both.
4Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
4Anger is cruel and rage sweeps everything away, but who can stand up against jealousy?
5Open rebuke is better than secret love.
5A rebuke out in the open is better than love that stays hidden.
6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
6The wounds a friend gives can be trusted, but the kisses of an enemy are full of deceit.
7The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
7A person who is full turns up his nose at honey, but to someone hungry, even bitter food tastes sweet.
8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
8Like a bird that wanders away from its nest is a man who wanders away from his home.
9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel.
9Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and so does the sweetness of a friend's honest advice.
10Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
10Do not abandon your own friend or your father's friend, and do not run to your brother's house when disaster strikes; a neighbor close by is better than a brother far away.
11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
11My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I will have an answer for anyone who taunts me.
12A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.
12A sensible person sees trouble coming and takes cover, but the naive keep walking and pay for it.
13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.
13Take the coat of a man who guarantees a stranger's debt; hold it as security when he does it for a wayward woman.
14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
14If someone loudly blesses his friend early in the morning, it will be counted as a curse.
15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike.
15A constant dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are just alike.
16Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself.
16Trying to hold her back is like trying to hold back the wind, or to grip oil in your right hand.
17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
17Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens the face of his friend.
18Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
18Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever looks after his master will be honored.
19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
19As water reflects a face, so one person's heart reflects another's.
20Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
20Hell and destruction are never full, and a person's eyes are never satisfied either.
21As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
21A crucible tests silver and a furnace tests gold, and a man is tested by the praise he receives.
22Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
22Even if you ground a fool in a mortar with a pestle, like grain, his foolishness would not leave him.
23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
23Be careful to know the condition of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds,
24For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?
24because riches do not last forever, and does a crown pass down to every generation?
25The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
25When the hay is cut and the new grass appears and the plants of the hills are gathered in,
26The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
26the lambs will provide your clothing and the goats will pay for the field.
27And thou shalt have goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
27You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed yourself and your household, and to support your servant girls.
28Rulers, Riches, and the Law
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
1The wicked run when no one is chasing them, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2For the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof: but by a man of understanding and knowledge the state thereof shall be prolonged.
2When a land is full of rebellion it has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge keeps it stable a long time.
3A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.
3A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no food behind.
4They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
4Those who abandon the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law stand up against them.
5Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.
5Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
6Better to be poor and walk honestly than to be crooked in your ways, even if you are rich.
7Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
7Whoever keeps the law is a wise son, but one who runs with wild companions shames his father.
8He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
8Whoever piles up wealth by charging interest and unfair profit is gathering it for someone who will be kind to the poor.
9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
9If a man turns his ear away from hearing the law, even his prayer is detestable.
10Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.
10Whoever leads the righteous down an evil path will fall into his own pit, but the upright will come into good things.
11The rich man is wise in his own conceit; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.
11The rich man thinks he is wise, but a poor man with understanding sees right through him.
12When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.
12When the righteous celebrate, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.
13Whoever hides his sins will not succeed, but whoever confesses and gives them up will find mercy.
14Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
14Happy is the man who always stays reverent, but the one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
15As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people.
15A wicked ruler over helpless people is like a roaring lion or a prowling bear.
16The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor: but he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.
16A ruler who lacks understanding is a heavy oppressor, but one who hates dishonest gain will live a long life.
17A man that doeth violence to the blood of any person shall flee to the pit; let no man stay him.
17A man weighed down by the guilt of murder will be on the run until he dies; let no one help him.
18Whoso walketh uprightly shall be saved: but he that is perverse in his ways shall fall at once.
18Whoever walks honestly will be kept safe, but whoever takes crooked paths will suddenly fall.
19He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
19Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but whoever chases empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
20A faithful man will overflow with blessings, but one who rushes to get rich will not go unpunished.
21To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
21Showing favoritism is not good, yet a man will do wrong for a mere piece of bread.
22He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth not that poverty shall come upon him.
22A man in a hurry to get rich has a greedy eye and never realizes that poverty is on its way to him.
23He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
23Whoever corrects a man will find more favor in the end than one who flatters with his tongue.
24Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer.
24Whoever robs his father or mother and says, "It is not wrong," is partner to a destroyer.
25He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.
25A proud heart stirs up conflict, but whoever trusts in the LORD will prosper.
26He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
26Whoever trusts his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be kept safe.
27He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
27Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.
28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
28When the wicked rise to power, people hide themselves; but when the wicked perish, the righteous multiply.
29Rulers, Correction, and Pride
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
1A man who is corrected again and again but keeps stiffening his neck will suddenly be broken, beyond any cure.
2When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
2When the righteous are in charge, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance.
3Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever keeps company with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4The king by judgment establisheth the land: but he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.
4A king gives a land stability through justice, but one who takes bribes tears it down.
5A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.
5A man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.
6In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare: but the righteous doth sing and rejoice.
6An evil man's wrongdoing is a trap for him, but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7The righteous considereth the cause of the poor: but the wicked regardeth not to know it.
7The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked do not even want to know about it.
8Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.
8Mockers set a whole city on fire, but wise men turn anger away.
9If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.
9When a wise man takes a fool to court, the fool rages or laughs, and there is no peace.
10The bloodthirsty hate the upright: but the just seek his soul.
10Bloodthirsty men hate the honest, but the upright want to protect his life.
11A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
11A fool lets out everything on his mind, but a wise man holds it back until later.
12If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13The poor and the deceitful man meet together: the LORD lighteneth both their eyes.
13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
14The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.
14A king who judges the poor with fairness will have his throne secured forever.
15The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
15The rod and correction give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
16When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
16When the wicked multiply, wrongdoing multiplies too, but the righteous will watch them fall.
17Correct thy son, and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul.
17Discipline your son and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.
18Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
18Where there is no vision from God, the people run wild; but whoever keeps the law is happy.
19A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
19A servant will not be corrected by words alone; even if he understands, he will not respond.
20Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
20Do you see a man who is quick to speak? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
21A servant who is pampered from childhood will end up claiming to be a son.
22An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.
22An angry man stirs up fights, and a hot-tempered man piles up wrongs.
23A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
23A man's pride will bring him low, but honor will hold up the humble in spirit.
24Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.
24Whoever partners with a thief hates his own life; he hears the oath demanding the truth but says nothing.
25The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
25Fear of people is a trap, but whoever trusts in the LORD will be safe.
26Many seek the ruler’s favour; but every man’s judgment cometh from the LORD.
26Many people seek a ruler's favor, but every person's justice comes from the LORD.
27An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
27An unjust man is detestable to the righteous, and a man who walks the straight path is detestable to the wicked.
30Agur and His Numbered Sayings
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,
1The words of Agur son of Jakeh, the message he spoke to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:
2Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.
2Surely I am more of a brute than any man; I do not have the understanding of a human being.
3I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.
3I have not learned wisdom, and I do not have knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
4Who has gone up to heaven and come back down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has set all the ends of the earth in place? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you can tell me?
5Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
5Every word of God is pure; he is a shield to those who put their trust in him.
6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.
6Do not add to his words, or he will correct you and you will be shown to be a liar.
7Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:
7Two things I ask of you; do not refuse them before I die:
8Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:
8Keep falseness and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food I need,
9Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.
9so that I will not be so full that I deny you and say, "Who is the LORD?" or so poor that I steal and dishonor the name of my God.
10Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
10Do not slander a servant to his master, or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
11There is a generation that curses its father and does not bless its mother.
12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
12There is a generation that is clean in its own eyes but has not been washed from its filth.
13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
13There is a generation whose eyes are so proud, whose glances are so lofty!
14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
14There is a generation whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are knives, to devour the poor from the earth and the needy from among people.
15The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:
15The leech has two daughters who cry, "Give! Give!" There are three things that are never satisfied, four that never say, "That is enough":
16The grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.
16the grave, the womb that cannot bear a child, the land that never has enough water, and the fire that never says, "That is enough."
17The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.
17The eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by young eagles.
18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
18There are three things too amazing for me, four that I cannot understand:
19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
19the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a snake on a rock, the way of a ship on the open sea, and the way of a man with a young woman.
20Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
20This is the way of a woman who commits adultery: she eats, wipes her mouth, and says, "I have done nothing wrong."
21For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
21Under three things the earth trembles, under four it cannot hold up:
22For a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;
22a servant who becomes king, a fool who is stuffed with food,
23For an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
23an unloved woman who finally gets a husband, and a maid who takes the place of her mistress.
24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
24There are four things on earth that are small, yet they are extremely wise:
25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
25ants are not a strong people, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
26rock badgers are not a mighty people, yet they make their homes in the cliffs;
27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
27locusts have no king, yet all of them march out in formation;
28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.
28a spider can be caught in your hands, yet it lives in kings' palaces.
29There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:
29There are three things that move with grace, four that carry themselves well as they go:
30A lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;
30a lion, the mightiest of animals, which backs away from nothing;
31A greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.
31a strutting greyhound, a male goat, and a king whom no one dares to rise against.
32If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.
32If you have been foolish enough to exalt yourself, or if you have been plotting evil, put your hand over your mouth.
33Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
33Just as churning milk produces butter and twisting a nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces a fight.
31Lemuel's Mother and the Capable Wife
📜 The old Bible words
💬 In today’s words
1The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.
1These are the words of King Lemuel, the message his mother taught him.
2What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?
2What shall I say to you, my son? What shall I say, son of my own body, son I promised to God?
3Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.
3Do not spend your strength on women, or give your life to the things that ruin kings.
4It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:
4It is not for kings, Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to crave strong drink,
5Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.
5or else they will drink, forget the law, and twist justice for people who are already suffering.
6Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.
6Give strong drink to someone who is dying, and wine to those whose hearts are heavy.
7Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.
7Let them drink and forget their poverty, and remember their misery no more.
8Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are headed for ruin.
9Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the cause of the poor and the needy.
10Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
10Who can find a wife of true worth? She is worth far more than rubies.
11The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
11Her husband trusts her with all his heart, and he will never lack anything of value.
12She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
12She does him good and not harm all the days of her life.
13She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
13She looks for wool and flax and gladly works with her hands.
14She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
14She is like a merchant's ship, bringing her food from far away.
15She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
15She gets up while it is still night to give food to her family and a share of work to her servant girls.
16She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
16She looks over a field and buys it; with what she has earned she plants a vineyard.
17She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
17She sets to work with strength and makes her arms strong.
18She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
18She sees that her trading brings a good profit; her lamp does not go out at night.
19She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
19She puts her hands to the spindle, and her fingers hold the distaff.
20She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
20She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
21She has no fear of snow for her family, for everyone in her house is dressed in scarlet.
22She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
22She makes her own woven coverings; her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
23Her husband is well known at the city gates, where he sits among the leaders of the land.
24She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
24She makes fine linen garments and sells them, and she supplies the merchants with sashes.
25Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
25Strength and honor are the clothes she wears, and she can laugh at the days to come.
26She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
26When she speaks, she speaks with wisdom, and kind instruction is on her tongue.
27She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
27She keeps a careful eye on everything in her household and never eats the bread of laziness.
28Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
28Her children stand up and call her blessed; her husband, too, sings her praises.
29Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
29"Many women have done well, but you outshine them all."
30Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.
30Charm can fool you, and beauty fades, but a woman who fears the LORD deserves to be praised.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.
31Give her the reward her hands have earned, and let her own work praise her at the city gates.