Proverbs - The Old Testament

¹ Like flowing water is a king's heart in Yahweh's hand; he directs it wherever he pleases.

² All actions are straight in the doer's own eyes, but it is Yahweh who weighs hearts.

³ To do what is upright and just is more pleasing to Yahweh than sacrifice.

⁴ Haughty eye, proud heart, lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.

⁵ The hardworking is thoughtful, and all is gain; too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.

⁶ To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue: such is the idle fantasy of those who look for death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked proves their ruin, for they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ The way of the felon is devious, the conduct of the innocent straight.

⁹ Better the corner of a roof to live on than a house shared with a quarrelsome woman.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked is intent on evil, to such a person no neighbour can ever do right.

¹¹ When a cynic is punished, simpletons grow wiser, but someone of understanding acquires knowledge by instruction.

¹² The Upright One watches the house of the wicked; he hurls the wicked to destruction.

¹³ Whoever refuses to listen to the cry of the weak, will in turn plead and not be heard.

¹⁴ Anger is mollified by a covert gift, raging fury by a present under cover of the cloak.

¹⁵ Doing what is right fills the upright with joy, but evil-doers with terror.

¹⁶ Whoever strays far from the way of prudence will rest in the assembly of shadows.

¹⁷ Pleasure-lovers stay poor, no one will grow rich who loves wine and good living.

¹⁸ The wicked is a ransom for the upright; and the law-breaker for the honest.

¹⁹ Better to live in a desert land than with a quarrelsome and irritable woman.

²⁰ The wise has valuables and oil at home, but a fool soon runs through both.

²¹ Whoever pursues uprightness and faithful love will find life, uprightness and honour.

²² A sage can scale a garrisoned city and shatter the rampart on which it relied.

²³ Watch kept over mouth and tongue keeps the watcher safe from disaster.

²⁴ Insolent, haughty -- the name is 'Cynic'; overweening pride marks such behaviour.

²⁵ The idler's desires are the death of him, since his hands will do no work.

²⁶ All day long the godless is racked by desire, the upright gives without ever refusing.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is abhorrent, above all if it is offered for bad motives.

²⁸ The false witness will perish, but no one who knows how to listen will ever be silenced.

²⁹ The wicked man's strength shows on his face, but the honest it is whose steps are firm.

³⁰ No wisdom, no understanding, no advice is worth anything before Yahweh.

³¹ Fit out the cavalry for the day of battle, but the victory is Yahweh's.