7:1 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

7:2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

7:3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

7:4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman: 7:5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

7:6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, 7:7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, 7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house, 7:9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night: 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

7:11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 7:12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) 7:13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him, 7:14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

7:16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

7:17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

7:18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

7:19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: 7:20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

7:21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

7:22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks; 7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

7:25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

7:26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

10:3 The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

10:5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

10:6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

10:7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

10:8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

10:9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10:10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

10:12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

10:15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

10:16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

10:17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

10:19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

10:20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

10:21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

10:22 The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

10:23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

10:24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

10:25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

10:26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

10:28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

10:29 The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

10:30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

10:31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

10:32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

11:4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

11:5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

11:7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

11:8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

11:9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

11:10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11:11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

11:12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

11:14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

11:15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

11:16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

11:17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

11:19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

11:20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

11:21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

11:22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

11:23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

11:24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

11:25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

11:26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

11:27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

11:28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

11:29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

11:31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

12:2 A good man obtaineth favour of the LORD: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

12:3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

12:4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

12:5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

12:6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

12:7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

12:8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

12:9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

12:10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

12:11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

12:12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

12:13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

12:14 A 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.

12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

12:16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

12:17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

12:18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

12:19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

12:21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

12:24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

12:25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

12:26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

12:27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

12:28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

13:1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

13:2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

13:5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

13:6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

13:7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

13:8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

13:9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13:13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

13:14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

13:15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

13:16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

13:17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

13:18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

13:19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

13:21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

13:23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

14:1 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

14:2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

14:4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

14:5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

14:6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

14:7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

14:9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

14:10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

14:11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

14:13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14:14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

14:15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

14:16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

14:18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

14:19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

14:20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

14:22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

14:23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

14:24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

14:25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

14:28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

14:30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

14:31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

14:33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

14:35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.