Day 13 The Wisdom Books in a Month

Proverbs 24

1 [My] son, envy not bad men, nor desire to be with them. 2 For their heart meditates falsehoods, and their lips speak mischiefs. 3 A house is built by wisdom, and is set up by understanding. 4 By discretion the chambers are filled with all precious and excellent wealth. 5 A wise man is better than a strong man; and a man who has prudence than a large estate. 6 War is carried on with generalship, and aid is supplied to the heart of a counsellor. 7 Wisdom and good understanding are in the gates of the wise: the wise turn not aside from the mouth of the Lord, 8 but deliberate in council. Death befalls uninstructed [men]. 9 The fool also dies in sins; and uncleanness [attaches] to a pestilent man. 10 He shall be defiled in the evil day, and in the day of affliction, until he be utterly consumed. 11 Deliver them that are led away to death, and redeem them that are appointed to be slain; spare not [thy help]. 12 But if thou shouldest say, I know not this man; know that the Lord knows the hearts of all; and he that formed breath for all, he knows all things, who renders to every man according to his works. 13 [My] son, eat honey, for the honeycomb is good, that thy throat may be sweetened. 14 Thus shalt thou perceive wisdom in thy soul: for if thou find it, thine end shall be good, and hope shall not fail thee. 15 Bring not an ungodly man into the dwelling of the righteous: neither be deceived by the feeding of the belly. 16 For a righteous man will fall seven times, and rise [again]: but the ungodly shall be without strength in troubles. 17 If thine enemy should fall, rejoice not over him, neither be elated at his overthrow. 18 For the Lord will see [it], and it will not please him, and he will turn away his wrath from him. 19 Rejoice not in evil-doers, neither be envious of sinners. 20 For the evil man shall have no posterity: and the light of the wicked shall be put out. 21 [My] son, fear God and the king; and do not disobey either of them. 22 For they will suddenly punish the ungodly, and who can know the vengeance [inflicted] by both? 22a [A son that keeps the commandment shall escape destruction; for [such an one] has fully received it. 22b Let no falsehood be spoken by the king from the tongue; yea, let no falsehood proceed from his tongue. 22c The king's tongue is a sword, and not one of flesh; and whosoever shall be given up to [it] shall be destroyed: 22d for if his wrath should be provoked, he destroys men with cords, 22e and devours men's bones, and burns them up as a flame, so that they are not [even] fit to be eaten by the young eagles. 22f [My] son, reverence my words, and receive them, and repent.] These things says the man to them that trust in God; and I cease. 22g For I am the most simple of all men, and there is not in me the wisdom of men. 22h God has taught me wisdom, and I know the knowledge of the holy. 22i Who has gone up to heaven, and come down? who has gathered the winds in his bosom? who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? who has dominion of all the ends of the earth? what is his name? or what is the name of his children? 22k For all the words of God are tried in the fire, and he defends those that reverence him. 22l Add not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be made a liar. 22m Two things I ask of thee; take not favour from me before I die. 22n Remove far from me vanity and falsehood: and give me not wealth [or ] poverty; but appoint me what is needful and sufficient: 22o lest I be filled and become false, and say, Who sees me? or be poor and steal, and swear [vainly ] by the name of God. 22p Deliver not a servant into the hands of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be utterly destroyed. 22q A wicked generation curse their father, and do not bless their mother. 22r A wicked generation judge themselves to be just, but do not cleanse their way. 22s A wicked generation have lofty eyes, and exalt themselves with their eyelids. 22t A wicked generation have swords [for ] teeth and jaw-teeth [as ] knives, so as to destroy and devour the lowly from the earth, and the poor of them from among men. 23 And this thing I say to you that are wise [for you] to learn: It is not good to have respect of persons in judgment. 24 He that says of the ungodly, He is righteous, shall be cursed by peoples, and hateful among the nations. 25 But they that reprove [him] shall appear more excellent, and blessing shall come upon them; 26 and [men] will kiss lips that answer well. 27 Prepare thy works for [thy] going forth, and prepare thyself for the field; and come after me, and thou shalt rebuild thine house. 28 Be not a false witness against thy [fellow] citizen, neither exaggerate with thy lips. 29 Say not, As he has treated me, so will I treat him, and I will avenge myself on him for that wherein he has injured me. 30 A foolish man is like a farm, and a senseless man is like a vineyard. 31 If thou let him alone, he will altogether remain barren and covered with weeds; and he becomes destitute, and his stone walls are broken down. 32 Afterwards I reflected, I looked that I might receive instruction. 33 [The sluggard says], I slumber a little, and I sleep a little, and for a little while I fold my arms across [my] breast. 34 But if thou do this, thy poverty will come speedily; and thy want like a swift courier. 35 The horse-leech had three dearly-beloved daughters: and these three did not satisfy her; and the fourth was not contented so as to say, Enough. 36 The grave, and the love of a woman, and the earth not filled with water; water also and fire will not say, It is enough. 37 The eye that laughs to scorn a father, and dishonours the old age of a mother, let the ravens of the valleys pick it out, and let the young eagles devour it. 38 Moreover there are three things impossible for me to comprehend, and the fourth I know not: 39 the track of a flying eagle; and the ways of a serpent on a rock; and the paths of a ship passing through the sea; and the ways of a man in youth. 40 Such is the way of an adulterous woman, who having washed herself from what she has done, says she has done nothing amiss. 41 By three things the earth is troubled, and the fourth it cannot bear: 42 if a servant reign; or a fool be filled with food; 43 or if a maid-servant should cast out her own mistress; and if a hateful woman should marry a good man. 44 And [there are] four very little things upon the earth, but these are wiser than the wise: 45 the ants which are weak, and [yet ] prepare [their ] food in summer; 46 the rabbits also [are ] a feeble race, who make their houses in the rocks. 47 The locusts have no king, and [yet ] march orderly at one command. 48 And the eft, which supports itself by [its ] hands, and is easily taken, dwells in the fortresses of kings. 49 And there are three things which go well, and a fourth which passes along finely. 50 A lion's whelp, stronger than [all other] beasts, which turns not away, nor fears [any ] beast; 51 and a cock walking in boldly among the hens, and a goat leading the herd; and a king publicly speaking before a nation. 52 If thou abandon thyself to mirth, and stretch forth thine hand in a quarrel, thou shalt be disgraced. 53 Milk out milk, and there shall be butter, and if thou wring [one's ] nostrils there shall come out blood: so if thou extort words, there will come forth quarrels and strifes. 54 My words have been spoken by God—the oracular answer of a king, whom his mother instructed. 55 What wilt thou keep, my son, what? the words of God. My firstborn son, I speak to thee: what? son of my womb? what? son of my vows? 56 Give not thy wealth to women, nor thy mind and living to remorse. Do all things with counsel: drink wine with counsel. 57 Princes are prone to anger: let them then not drink wine: 58 lest they drink, and forget wisdom, and be not able to judge the poor rightly. 59 Give strong drink to those that are in sorrow, and the wine to drink to those in pain: 60 that they may forget their poverty, and may not remember their troubles any more. 61 Open thy mouth with the word of God, and judge all fairly. 62 Open thy mouth and judge justly, and plead the cause of the poor and weak.

Proverbs 25

1 These are the miscellaneous instructions of Solomon, which the friends of Ezekias king of Judea copied out. 2 The glory of God conceals a matter: but the glory of a king honours business. 3 Heaven is high, and earth is deep, and a king's heart is unsearchable. 4 Beat the drossy silver, and it shall be made entirely pure. 5 Slay the ungodly from before the king, and his throne shall prosper in righteousness. 6 Be not boastful in the presence of the king, and remain not in the places of princes; 7 for [it is] better for thee that it should be said, Come up to me, than that [one] should humble thee in the presence of the prince; speak of that which thine eyes have seen. 8 Get not suddenly into a quarrel, lest thou repent at last. 9 Whenever thy friend shall reproach thee, retreat backward, despise [him] not; 10 lest thy friend continue to reproach thee, so thy quarrel and enmity shall not depart, but shall be to thee like death. 10a Favour and friendship set [a man] free, which do thou keep for thyself, lest thou be made liable to reproach; but take heed to thy ways peaceably. 11 [As] a golden apple in a necklace of sardius, so [is it] to speak a [wise] word. 12 In an ear-ring of gold a precious sardius is also set; [so is] a wise word to an obedient ear. 13 As a fall of snow in the time of harvest is good against heat, so a faithful messenger [refreshes] those that send him; for he helps the souls of his employers. 14 As winds and clouds and rains are most evident [objects], so is he that boasts of a false gift. 15 In long-suffering is prosperity to kings, and a soft tongue breaks the bones. 16 Having found honey, eat [only] what is enough, lest haply thou be filled, and vomit it up. 17 Enter sparingly into thy friend's house, lest he be satiated with thy company, and hate thee. 18 [As] a club, and a dagger, and a pointed arrow, so also is a man who bears false witness against his friend. 19 The way of the wicked and the foot of the transgressor shall perish in an evil day. 20 As vinegar is bad for a sore, so trouble befalling the body afflicts the heart. 20a As a moth in a garment, and a worm in wood, so the grief of a man hurts the heart. 21 If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; 22 for so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord shall reward thee [with] good. 23 The north wind raises clouds; so an impudent face provokes the tongue. 24 [It is] better to dwell on a corner of the roof, than with a railing woman in an open house. 25 As cold water is agreeable to a thirsting soul, so is a good message from a land far off. 26 As if one should stop a well, and corrupt a spring of water, so [is it] unseemly for a righteous man to fall before an ungodly man. 27 [It is] not good to eat much honey; but it is right to honour venerable sayings. 28 As a city whose walls are broken down, and which is unfortified, so is a man who does anything without counsel.

Proverbs 26

1 As dew in harvest, and as rain in summer, so honour is not [seemly] for a fool. 2 As birds and sparrows fly, so a curse shall not come upon any one without a cause. 3 As a whip for a horse, and a goad for an ass, so [is] a rod for a simple nation. 4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou become like him. 5 Yet answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own conceit. 6 He that sends a message by a foolish messenger procures for himself a reproach from his own ways. 7 [As well] take away the motion of the legs, as transgression from the mouth of fools. 8 He that binds up a stone in a sling, is like one that gives glory to a fool. 9 Thorns grow in the hand of a drunkard, and servitude in the hand of fools. 10 All the flesh of fools endures much hardship; for their fury is brought to nought. 11 As when a dog goes to his own vomit, and becomes abominable, so is a fool who returns in his wickedness to his own sin. 11a [There is a shame that brings sin: and there is a shame [that is] glory and grace.] 12 I have seen a man who seemed to himself to be wise; but a fool had more hope than he. 13 A sluggard when sent on a journey says, [There is] a lion in the ways, and [there are] murderers in the streets. 14 As a door turns on the hinge, so does a sluggard on his bed. 15 A sluggard having hid his hand in his bosom, will not be able to bring it up to his mouth. 16 A sluggard seems to himself wiser than one who most satisfactorily brings back a message. 17 As he that lays hold of a dog's tail, so is he that makes himself the champion of another's cause. 18 As those who need correction put forth [fair] words to men, and he that first falls in with the proposal will be overthrown; 19 so are all that lay wait for their own friends, and when they are discovered, say, I did it in jest. 20 With much wood fire increases; but where there is not a double-minded man, strife ceases. 21 A hearth for coals, and wood for fire; and a railing man for the tumult of strife. 22 The words of cunning knaves are soft; but they smite [even] to the inmost parts of the bowels. 23 Silver dishonestly given is to be considered as a potsherd: smooth lips cover a grievous heart. 24 A weeping enemy promises all things with his lips, but in his heart he contrives deceit. 25 Though [thine] enemy intreat thee with a loud voice, consent not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 He that hides enmity frames deceit: but being easily discerned, exposes his own sins in the public assemblies. 27 He that digs a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it: and he that rolls a stone, rolls it upon himself. 28 A lying tongue hates the truth; and an unguarded mouth causes tumults.

Proverbs 27

1 Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day shall bring forth. 2 Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a stranger, and not thine own lips. 3 A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is heavier than both. 4 Wrath is merciless, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing. 5 Open reproofs are better than secret love. 6 The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous kisses of an enemy. 7 A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter things appear sweet. 8 As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place. 9 The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the soul is broken by calamities. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a friend [that is] near than a brother living far off. 11 Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from thyself reproachful words. 12 A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools pass on, and will be punished. 13 Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever lays waste another's goods. 14 Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice, shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses [him]. 15 On a stormy day drops [of rain] drive a man out of his house; so also does a railing woman [drive a man] out of his own house. 16 The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious. 17 Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's countenance. 18 He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that waits on his own master shall be honoured. 19 As faces are not like [other] faces, so neither are the thoughts of men. 20 Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men insatiable. 20a [He that fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their tongue.] 21 Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried by the mouth of them that praise him. 21a The heart of the transgressor seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge. 22 Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the council, thou wilt [still] in no wise remove his folly from him. 23 Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention to thine herds. 24 For a man [has] not strength and power for ever; neither does he transmit it from generation to generation. 25 Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass, and gather the mountain hay; 26 that thou mayest have [wool of] sheep for clothing: pay attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs. 27 [My] son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life, and for the life of thy servants.

Proverbs 28

1 The ungodly [man] flees when no one pursues: but the righteous is confident as a lion. 2 By reason of the sins of ungodly men quarrels arise; but a wise man will quell them. 3 A bold man oppresses the poor by ungodly deeds. As an impetuous and unprofitable rain, 4 so they that forsake the law praise ungodliness; but they that love the law fortify themselves with a wall. 5 Evil men will not understand judgment: but they that seek the Lord will understand everything. 6 A poor man walking in truth is better than a rich liar. 7 A wise son keeps the law: but he that keeps up debauchery dishonours his father. 8 He that increases his wealth by usuries and [unjust] gains, gathers it for him that pities the poor. 9 He that turns away his ear from hearing the law, even he has made his prayer abominable. 10 He that causes upright men to err in an evil way, himself shall fall into destruction: transgressors also shall pass by prosperity, but shall not enter into it. 11 A rich man is wise in his own conceit; but an intelligent poor man will condemn him. 12 By reason of the help of righteous men great glory arises: but in the places of the ungodly men are caught. 13 He that covers his own ungodliness shall not prosper: but he that blames [himself] shall be loved. 14 Blessed is the man who religiously fears always: but the hard of heart shall fall into mischiefs. 15 A hungry lion and a thirsty wolf [is he], who, being poor, rules over a poor nation. 16 A king in need of revenues is a great oppressor: but he that hates injustice shall live a long time. 17 He that becomes surety for a man charged with murder shall be an exile, and not in safety. 17a Chasten thy son, and he shall love thee, and give honour to thy soul: he shall not obey a sinful nation. 18 He that walks justly is assisted: but he that walks in crooked ways shall be entangled [therein]. 19 He that tills his own land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that follows idleness shall have plenty of poverty. 20 A man worthy of credit shall be much blessed: but the wicked shall not be unpunished. 21 He that reverences not the persons of the just is not good: such a one will sell a man for a morsel of bread. 22 An envious man makes haste to be rich, and knows not that the merciful man will have the mastery over him. 23 He that reproves a man's ways shall have more favour than he that flatters with the tongue. 24 He that casts off father or mother, and thinks he sins not; the same is partaker with an ungodly man. 25 An unbelieving man judges rashly: but he that trusts in the Lord will act carefully. 26 He that trusts to a bold heart, such an one is a fool: but he that walks in wisdom shall be safe. 27 He that gives to the poor shall not be in want: but he that turns away his eye [from him] shall be in great distress. 28 In the places of ungodly [men] the righteous mourn: but in their destruction the righteous shall be multiplied.