Proverbs - The Old Testament

¹ Whoever is stiff-necked under reproof will be suddenly and irremediably broken.

² When the upright are on the increase, the people rejoice; when the wicked are in power, the people groan.

³ The lover of Wisdom makes his father glad, but the patron of prostitutes fritters his wealth away.

⁴ A king gives a country stability by justice, an extortioner brings it to ruin.

⁵ Whoever flatters his companion spreads a net for his feet.

⁶ In the sin of the wicked lies a snare, but the upright exults and rejoices.

⁷ The upright understands the cause of the weak, the wicked has not the wit to understand it.

⁸ Scoffers set a city in ferment, but the wise moderate anger.

⁹ Let someone wise argue with a fool, anger and good humour alike will be wasted.

¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate the honest, but the upright seek them out.

¹¹ The fool blurts out every angry feeling, but the wise subdues and restrains them.

¹² When a ruler listens to false reports, all his ministers will be scoundrels.

¹³ Poor and oppressor are found together, Yahweh gives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴ The king who judges the weak with equity sees his throne set firm for ever.

¹⁵ The stick and the reprimand bestow wisdom, a young man left to himself brings shame on his mother.

¹⁶ When the wicked are on the increase, sin multiplies, but the upright will witness their downfall.

¹⁷ Correct your child, and he will give you peace of mind; he will delight your soul.

¹⁸ Where there is no vision the people get out of hand; happy are they who keep the law.

¹⁹ Not by words is a slave corrected: even if he understands, he will take no notice.

²⁰ You see someone too ready of speech? There is more to be hoped for from a fool!

²¹ If a slave is pampered from childhood, he will prove ungrateful in the end.

²² The hot-head provokes disputes, someone in a rage commits all sorts of sins.

²³ Pride brings humiliation, whoever humbles himself will win honour.

²⁴ To hear the curse and disclose nothing is to share with the thief and to hate oneself.

²⁵ To be afraid of human beings is a snare, whoever trusts in Yahweh is secure.

²⁶ Many people seek a ruler's favour, but the rights of each come from Yahweh.

²⁷ Abhorrent to the upright is the sinful, abhorrent to the wicked is one whose way is straight.