26 Like snow in summer and rain at harvest,m

honor is inappropriate for a fool.n

2 Like a flitting sparrow or a fluttering swallow,o

an undeserved curse goes nowhere.p

3 A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,q

and a rod for the backs of fools.r

4 Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishnesss

or you’ll be like him yourself.

5 Answer a fool according to his foolishnesst

or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.u

6 The one who sends a message by a fool’s handv

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.w

7 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like lame legs that hang limp.

8 Giving honor to a fool

is like binding a stone in a sling.

9 A proverb in the mouth of a fool

is like a stick with thorns,

brandished byB the hand of a drunkard.

10 The one who hires a fool or who hires those passing by

is like an archer who wounds everyone indiscriminately.

11 As a dog returns to its vomit,

so also a fool repeats his foolishness.x

12 Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes?y

There is more hope for a fool than for him.z

13 The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—

a lion in the public square!”aa

14 A door turns on its hinges,

and a slacker, on his bed.ab

15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;

he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!ac

16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiserad

than seven who can answer sensibly.

17 A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his

is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.

18 Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,ae

19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor

and says, “I was only joking!”

20 Without wood, fire goes out;

without a gossip, conflict dies down.af

21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.ag

22 A gossip’s words are like choice food

that goes down to one’s innermost being.A,a

23 SmoothB lips with an evil heart

are like glaze on an earthen vessel.b

24 A hateful person disguises himself with his speech

and harbors deceit within.

25 When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him,

for there are seven detestable things in his heart.c

26 Though his hatred is concealed by deception,

his evil will be revealed in the assembly.

27 The one who digs a pit will fall into it,

and whoever rolls a stone—

it will come back on him.d

28 A lying tongue hates those it crushes,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

27 Don’t boast about tomorrow,

for you don’t know what a day might bring.e

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—

a stranger, and not your own lips.f

3 A stone is heavy, and sand a burden,

but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

4 Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,

but who can withstand jealousy?g

5 Better an open reprimand

than concealed love.h

6 The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,i

but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.j

7 A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,k

but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

8 Anyone wandering from his home

is like a bird wandering from its nest.l

9 Oilm and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.C

10 Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,n

and don’t go to your brother’s house

in your time of calamity;

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.o

11 Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,p

so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.q

12 A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;

the inexperienced keep going and are punished.r

13 Take his garment,

for he has put up security for a stranger;

get collateral if it is for foreigners.A,s

14 If one blesses his neighbor

with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

15 An endless dripping on a rainy day

and a nagging wife are alike;t

16 the one who controls her controls the wind

and grasps oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron,

and one person sharpens another.B

18 Whoever tends a fig treeu will eat its fruit,v

and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

19 As water reflects the face,

so the heart reflects the person.

20 Sheol and Abaddonw are never satisfied,x

and people’s eyes are never satisfied.y

21 As a crucible refines silver,

and a smelter refines gold,

so a person should refine his praise.a

22 Though you grind a fool

in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,

you will not separate his foolishness from him.b

23 Know well the condition of your flock,c

and pay attention to your herds,

24 for wealth is not forever;d

not even a crown lasts for all time.

25 When hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grain from the hills is gathered in,

26 lambs will provide your clothing,

and goats, the price of a field;

27 there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—

food for your household

and nourishment for your female servants.e

28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,f

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.g

2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,h

but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

3 A destitute leaderC who oppresses the poor

is like a driving rain that leaves no food.i

4 Those who reject the law praise the wicked,j

but those who keep the law pit themselves against them.k

5 The evil do not understand justice,l

but those who seek the Lord understand everything.m

6 Better the poor person who lives with integrityn

than the rich one who distorts right and wrong.A,o

7 A discerning son keeps the law,

but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.p

8 Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interestq

collects it for one who is kind to the poor.r

9 Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—

even his prayer is detestable.s

10 The one who leads the upright into an evil way

will fall into his own pit,t

but the blameless will inherit what is good.u

11 A rich person is wise in his own eyes,

but a poor one who has discernment sees through him.

12 When the righteous triumph,

there is great rejoicing,B

but when the wicked come to power,

people hide.v

13 The one who conceals his sins

will not prosper,w

but whoever confesses and renounces them

will find mercy.x

14 Happy is the one who is always reverent,y

but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.z

15 A wicked ruler over a helpless peopleaa

is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.ab

16 A leader who lacks understanding

is very oppressive,

but one who hates dishonest profit

prolongs his life.ac

17 Someone burdened by bloodguiltC

will be a fugitive until death.ad

Let no one help him.ae

18 The one who lives with integrity will be helped,

but one who distorts right and wrongD

will suddenly fall.a

19 The one who works his land

will have plenty of food,b

but whoever chases fantasies

will have his fill of poverty.c

20 A faithful person will have many blessings,d

but one in a hurry to get riche

will not go unpunished.

21 It is not good to show partialityf —

yet even a courageous person may sin for a piece of bread.g

22 A greedy oneA is in a hurry for wealth;

he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.h

23 One who rebukes a person will later find more favori

than one who flatters with his tongue.j

24 The one who robs his father or motherk

and says, “That’s no sin,”l

is a companion to a person who destroys.m

25 A greedy person stirs up conflict,n

but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.o

26 The one who trusts in himselfB is a fool,

but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.p

27 The one who gives to the poor

will not be in need,

but one who turns his eyes awayC

will receive many curses.q

28 When the wicked come to power,

people hide,

but when they are destroyed,

the righteous flourish.r

29 One who becomes stiff-necked,

after many reprimands

will be shattered instantly—

beyond recovery.s

2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,

but when the wicked rule, people groan.t

3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,u

but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.v

4 By justice a king brings stability to a land,w

but a person who demands “contributions”D

demolishes it.x

5 A person who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.y

6 An evil person is caught by sin,z

but the righteous one sings and rejoices.aa

7 The righteous person knows the rightsE of the poor,ab

but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

8 Mockers inflame a city,ac

but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise person goes to court with a fool,

there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.A,ad

10 Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person,ae

but the upright care about him.B

11 A fool gives full vent to his anger,C,af

but a wise person holds it in check.ag

12 If a ruler listens to lies,ah

all his officials will be wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:D

the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.ai

14 A king who judges the poor with fairness—

his throne will be established forever.a

15 A rod of correction imparts wisdom,b

but a youth left to himselfE

is a disgrace to his mother.c

16 When the wicked increase, rebellion increases,

but the righteous will see their downfall.d

17 Discipline your child,e and it will bring you peace of mind

and give you delight.

18 Without revelationF,f people run wild,g

but one who follows divine instruction will be happy.h

19 A servant cannot be disciplined by words;

though he understands, he doesn’t respond.i

20 Do you see someone who speaks too soon?j

There is more hope for a fool than for him.k

21 A servant pampered from his youth

will become arrogantG later on.

22 An angry person stirs up conflict,

and a hot-tempered oneH increases rebellion.l

23 A person’s pride will humble him,m

but a humble spirit will gain honor.n

24 To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself;

he hears the curse but will not testify.o

25 The fear of mankind is a snare,p

but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.I,q

26 Many desire a ruler’s favor,r

but a person receives justice from the Lord.s

27 An unjust person is detestable to the righteous,

and one whose way is upright

is detestable to the wicked.t

THE WORDS OF AGUR

30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The pronouncement.* u

The man’s oration to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:B

2 I am more stupid than any other person,C

and I lack a human’s ability to understand.v

3 I have not gained wisdom,

and I have no knowledge of the Holy One.w

4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?x

Who has gathered the wind in his hands?

Who has bound up the waters in a cloak?y

Who has established all the ends of the earth?z

What is his name,

and what is the name of his son—

if you know?aa

5 Every word of God is pure;D,ab

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.ac

6 Don’t add to his words,ad

or he will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.ae

7 Two things I ask of you;

don’t deny them to me before I die:

8 Keep falsehood and deceitful words far from me.

Give me neither poverty nor wealth;

feed me with the food I need.af

9 Otherwise, I might have too muchag

and deny you,ah saying, “Who is the Lord?”ai

or I might have nothing and steal,aj

profaningE the name of my God.ak

10 Don’t slander a servant to his master

or he will curse you,a and you will become guilty.

11 There is a generation that curses its father

and does not bless its mother.b

12 There is a generation that is pure in its own eyes,c

yet is not washed from its filth.

13 There is a generation—how haughty its eyes

and pretentious its looks.F

14 There is a generation whose teeth are swords,d

whose fangs are knives,e

devouring the oppressed from the landf

and the needy from among mankind.

15 The leech has two daughters: “Give, Give!”

Three thingsg are never satisfied;

four never say, “Enough!”:

16 Sheol;h a childless womb;i

earth, which is never satisfied with water;

and fire, which never says, “Enough!”

17 As for the eye that ridicules a fatherj

and despises obedience to a mother,

may ravens of the valley pluck it out

and young vultures eat it.k

18 Three things are too wondrous for me;*

four I can’t understand:

19 the way of an eagle in the sky,

the way of a snake on a rock,

the way of a ship at sea,

and the way of a man with a young woman.

20 This is the way of an adulteress:

she eats and wipes her mouth

and says, “I’ve done nothing wrong.”l

21 The earth trembles under three things;

it cannot bear up under four:

22 a servant when he becomes king,m

a fool when he is stuffed with food,

23 an unloved woman when she marries,n

and a servant girl when she ousts her queen.

24 Four things on earth are small,

yet they are extremely wise:

25 ants are not a strong people,

yet they store up their food in the summer;o

26 hyraxes are not a mighty people,

yet they make their homes in the cliffs;p

27 locusts have no king,

yet all of them march in ranks;q

28 a lizardA can be caught in your hands,

yet it lives in kings’ palaces.

29 Three things are stately in their stride;

four are stately in their walk:

30 a lion, which is mightiest among beasts

and doesn’t retreat before anything;

31 a strutting rooster;B a goat;

and a king at the head of his army.C

32 If you have been foolish by exalting yourself

or if you’ve been scheming,

put your hand over your mouth.r

33 For the churning of milk produces butter,

and twisting a nose draws blood,

and stirring up anger produces strife.s