- Scripture
Proverbs 28:1-31:31 NASB
28 1The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are bold as a lion.
2 Due to a wrongdoing of a land its leaders are many,
But by a person of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.
3 A poor man who oppresses the helpless
Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.
4 Those who abandon the Law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the Law strive against them.
5 Evil people do not understand justice,
But those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity,
Than a person who is crooked, though he is rich.
7 He who keeps the Law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.
8 One who increases his wealth by interest of any kind,
Collects it for one who is gracious to the poor.
9 One who turns his ear away from listening to the Law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
10 One who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will himself fall into his own pit,
But the blameless will inherit good.
11 The rich person is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding sees through him.
12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But when the wicked rise, people hide themselves.
13 One who conceals his wrongdoings will not prosper,
But one who confesses and abandons them will find compassion.
14 How blessed is the person who fears always,
But one who hardens his heart will fall into disaster.
15 Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But a person who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 A person who is burdened with the guilt of human blood
Will be a fugitive until death; no one is to support him!
18 One who walks blamelessly will receive help,
But one who is crooked will fall all at once.
19 One who works his land will have plenty of food,
But one who follows empty pursuits will have plenty of poverty.
20 A faithful person will abound with blessings,
But one who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.
22 A person with an evil eye hurries after wealth
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
23 One who rebukes a person will afterward find more favor
Than one who flatters with the tongue.
24 He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “There is no wrong done,”
Is the companion of a person who destroys.
25 An arrogant person stirs up strife,
But one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 One who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But one who walks wisely will flee to safety.
27 One who gives to the poor will never lack anything,
But one who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.
29 1A person often rebuked who becomes obstinate
Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.
2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
But when a wicked person rules, people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who involves himself with prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 The king gives stability to the land by justice,
But a person who takes bribes ruins it.
5 A man who flatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
6 By wrongdoing an evil person is ensnared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.
7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor;
The wicked does not understand such concern.
8 Arrogant people inflame a city,
But wise people turn away anger.
9 When a wise person has a controversy with a foolish person,
The foolish person either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.
10 People of bloodshed hate the blameless person,
But the upright are concerned for his life.
11 A fool always loses his temper,
But a wise person holds it back.
12 If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The poor person and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.
15 The rod and a rebuke give wisdom,
But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, wrongdoing increases;
But the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;
He will also delight your soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,
But happy is one who keeps the Law.
19 A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
20 Do you see a person who is hasty with his words?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 One who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be rebellious.
22 An angry person stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered person abounds in wrongdoing.
23 A person’s pride will bring him low,
But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
24 One who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
He hears the oath but tells nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a snare,
But one who trusts in the Lord will be protected.
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
But justice for mankind comes from the Lord.
27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
And one who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
30 1The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the pronouncement.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 I am certainly more stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man;
3 Nor have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His Son’s name?
Surely you know!
5 Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words
Or He will rebuke you, and you will be proved a liar.
7 Two things I have asked of You;
Do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
9 So that I will not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the Lord?”
And that I will not become impoverished and steal,
And profane the name of my God.
10 Do not slander a slave to his master,
Or he will curse you and you will be found guilty.
11 There is a kind of person who curses his father
And does not bless his mother.
12 There is a kind who is pure in his own eyes,
Yet is not washed from his filthiness.
13 There is a kind—oh how lofty are his eyes!
And his eyelids are raised in arrogance.
14 There is a kind of person whose teeth are like swords
And his jaw teeth like knives,
To devour the poor from the earth
And the needy from among mankind.
15 The leech has two daughters:
“Give” and “Give.”
There are three things that will not be satisfied,
Four that will not say, “Enough”:
16 Sheol, the infertile womb,
Earth that is never satisfied with water,
And fire that never says, “Enough.”
17 The eye that mocks a father
And scorns a mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young eagles will eat it.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Four which I do not understand:
19 The way of the eagle in the sky,
The way of a snake on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a virgin.
20 This is the way of an adulterous woman:
She eats and wipes her mouth,
And says, “I have done no wrong.”
21 Under three things the earth quakes,
And under four, it cannot endure:
22 Under a slave when he becomes king,
And a fool when he is satisfied with food,
23 Under an unloved woman when she gets a husband,
And a female servant when she dispossesses her mistress.
24 Four things are small on the earth,
But they are exceedingly wise:
25 The ants are not a strong people,
But they prepare their food in the summer;
26 The rock hyraxes are not a mighty people,
Yet they make their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet all of them go out in ranks;
28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands,
Yet it is in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things which are stately in their march,
Even four which are stately when they walk:
30 The lion, which is mighty among animals
And does not retreat from anything,
31 The strutting rooster or the male goat,
And a king when his army is with him.
32 If you have been foolish in exalting yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.
33 For the churning of milk produces butter,
And pressing the nose produces blood;
So the churning of anger produces strife.
31 1The words of King Lemuel, the pronouncement which his mother taught him:
2 What, my son?
And what, son of my womb?
And what, son of my vows?
3 Do not give your strength to women,
Or your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, Lemuel,
It is not for kings to drink wine,
Or for rulers to desire intoxicating drink,
5 Otherwise they will drink and forget what is decreed,
And pervert the rights of all the needy.
6 Give intoxicating drink to one who is perishing,
And wine to one whose life is bitter.
7 Let him drink and forget his poverty,
And remember his trouble no more.
8 Open your mouth for the people who cannot speak,
For the rights of all the unfortunate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And defend the rights of the poor and needy.
10 An excellent wife, who can find her?
For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
15 And she rises while it is still night
And gives food to her household,
And portions to her attendants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She surrounds her waist with strength
And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the activities of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 “Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates.
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