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Proverbs 29
He that being often reproved hardens his neck
Shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
2 When the righteous are, increased, the people rejoice;
But when a wicked man bears rule, the people sigh.
3 Whoever loves wisdom rejoices his father;
But he that keeps company with harlots wastes his substance.
4 The king by justice establishes the land;
But he that exacts gifts overthrows it.
5 A man that flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his steps.
6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare;
But the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous takes knowledge of the cause of the poor;
The wicked has not understanding to know it.
8 Scoffers set a city in a flame;
But wise men turn away wrath.
9 If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man,
Whether he is angry or laugh, there will be no rest.
10 The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect;
And as for the upright, they seek his life.
11 A fool utters all his anger;
But a wise man keeps it back and stills it.
12 If a ruler listens to falsehood,
All his servants are wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor meet together;
Yahweh lightens the eyes of them both.
14 The king that faithfully judges the poor,
His throne shall be established forever.
15 The rod and reproof give wisdom;
But a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked are increased, transgression increases;
But the righteous shall look upon their fall.
17 Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
But he that keeps the law, happy is he.
19 A servant will not be corrected by words;
For though he understands, he will not give heed.
20 Do you see a man that is hasty in his words?
There is more hope of a fool than of him.
21 He that delicately brings up his servant from a child
Shall have him become a son at the last.
22 An angry man stirs up strife,
And a wrathful man increases in transgression.
23 A man’s pride shall bring him low;
But he that is of a lowly spirit shall obtain honor.
24 Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own soul;
He hears the adjuration and utters nothing.
25 The fear of man brings a snare;
But whoever puts his trust in Yahweh shall be safe.
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor;
But a man’s judgment comes from Yahweh.
27 An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous;
And he that is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.
Proverbs 30
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the oracle.
The man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am more brutish than any man,
And have not the understanding of a man;
3 And I have not learned wisdom,
Neither have I the knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended up into heaven, and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in his fists?
Who has bound the waters in his garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?
5 Every word of Eloah is tried;
He is a shield to them that take refuge in him.
6 Add you not to his words,
Lest he reproves you, and you be found a liar.
7 Two things have I asked of you;
Deny me them not before I die:
8 Remove far from me falsehood and lies;
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is needful for me:
9 Lest I am full, and deny you, and say, Who is Yahweh?
Or lest I am poor, and steal,
And use profanely the name of my Elohim.
10 Slander not a servant to his master,
Lest he curses you, and you be held guilty.
11 There is a generation that curses their father,
And bless not their mother.
12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes,
And yet are not washed from their filthiness.
13 There is a generation, oh how lofty are their eyes!
And their eyelids are lifted up.
14 There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives,
To devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.
15 The horseleach has two daughters, crying, Give, give.
There are three things that are never satisfied,
Four that say not, Enough:
16 Sheol; and the barren womb;
The earth that is not satisfied with water;
And the fire that says not, Enough.
17 The eye that mocks at his father,
And despises to obey his mother,
The ravens of the valley shall pick it out,
And the young eagles shall eat it.
18 There are three things which are too wonderful for me,
Yes, four which I know not:
19 The way of an eagle in the air;
The way of a serpent upon a rock;
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea;
And the way of a man with a maiden.
20 So is the way of an adulterous woman;
She eats, and wipes her mouth,
And says, I have done no wickedness.
21 For three things does the earth tremble.
And for four, which it cannot bear:
22 For a servant when he is king;
And a fool when he is filled with food;
23 For an odious woman when she is married;
And a handmaid that is heir to her mistress.
24 There are four things which are little upon the earth,
But they are very wise:
25 The ants are a people not strong,
Yet they provide their food in the summer;
26 The conies are but a feeble folk,
Yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27 The locusts have no king,
Yet they go forth all of them by bands;
28 The lizard takes hold with her hands,
yet is she in kings’ palaces.
29 There are three things which are stately in their march,
Yes, four which are stately in going:
30 The lion, which is mightiest among beasts,
And turns not away for any;
31 The greyhound; the he-goat also;
And the king against whom there is no rising up.
32 If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself,
Or if you have thought evil,
Lay your hand upon your mouth.
33 For the churning of milk brings forth butter,
And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood;
So the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.
Proverbs 31
The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2 What, my son? And what, O son of my womb?
And what, O son of my vows?
3 Give not your strength to women,
Nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine;
Nor for princes to say, Where is strong drink?
5 Lest they drink, and forget the law,
And pervert the justice due to any that is afflicted.
6 Give strong drink to him that is ready to perish,
And wine to the bitter in soul:
7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty,
And remember his misery no more.
8 Open your mouth for the dumb,
In the cause of all such as are left desolate.
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And minister justice to the poor and needy.
10 A worthy woman who can find?
For her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he shall have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
13 She seeks wool and flax,
And works willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchant-ships;
She brings her bread from afar.
15 She rises also while it is yet night,
And gives food to her household,
And their task to her maidens.
16 She considers a field, and buys it;
With the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds her loins with strength,
And makes strong her arms.
18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable:
Her lamp goes not out by night.
19 She lays her hands to the distaff,
And her hands hold the spindle.
20 She stretches out her hand to the poor;
Yes, she reaches forth 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 for herself coverings of tapestry;
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 delivers girdles to the merchant.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing;
And she laughs at the time to come.
26 She opens her mouth with wisdom;
And the law of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household,
And eats not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
29 Many daughters have done worthily,
But you excell them all.
30 Grace is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
But a woman that fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands;
And let her works praise her in the gates.
