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

THE WORDS OF LEMUEL

31 The words of King Lemuel,

a pronouncementD,t that his mother taught him:

2 What should I say, my son?

What, son of my womb?u

What, son of my vows?

3 Don’t spend your energyv on women

or your efforts on those who destroy kings.w

4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,

it is not for kingsx to drink winey

or for rulers to desire beer.

5 Otherwise, he will drink,

forget what is decreed,z

and pervert justice for all the oppressed.A,a

6 Give beer to one who is dying

and wine to one whose life is bitter.b

7 Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty

and remember his trouble no more.c

8 Speak up* for those who have no voice,C,d

for the justice of all who are dispossessed.D

9 Speak up, judge righteously,e

and defend the cause of the oppressed and needy.f

IN PRAISE OF A WIFE OF NOBLE CHARACTER

10 Who can find a wife of noble character?E,g

She is far more precious than jewels.*

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will not lack anything good.

12 She rewards him with good, not evil,

all the days of her life.

13 She selects wool and flax

and works with willing hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from far away.h

15 She rises while it is still nighti

and provides food for her household

and portionsG for her female servants.j

16 She evaluates a field and buys it;

she plants a vineyard with her earnings.H,k

17 She draws on her strengthI

and reveals that her arms are strong.l

18 She sees that her profits are good,

and her lamp never goes out at night.m

19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,

and her hands hold the spindle.n

20 Her hands reachJ out to the poor,

and she extends her hands to the needy.o

21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows,

for all in her household are doubly clothed.K

22 She makes her own bed coverings;p

her clothing is fine linenq and purple.r

23 Her husband is known at the city gates,

where he sits among the elders of the land.s

24 She makes and sells linen garments;

she delivers beltsA to the merchants.

25 Strengtht and honor are her clothing,u

and she can laugh at the time to come.v

26 Her mouth speaks wisdom,

and loving instructionB is on her tongue.

27 She watches over the activities of her householdw

and is never idle.C

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also praises her:

29 “Many womenD have done noble deeds,

but you surpass them all!”x

30 Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting,y

but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.

31 Give her the reward of her labor,E

and let her works praise her at the city gates.