The Proverbs of Solomon
1
Better a is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2
Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.
3
The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.
4
b Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
5
A c false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.
6
Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
7
d All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go e far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
8
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding f will find good.
9
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.
10
Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less g for a servant to rule over princes.
11
h The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
i And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
12
j The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is k like dew on the grass.
13
l A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
m And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
14
n Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But o a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15
p Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will q suffer hunger.
16
r He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of his ways will die.
17
s He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.
18
t Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.
19
A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
20
Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise u in your latter days.
21
There are many plans in a man's heart,
v Nevertheless the LORD's counsel - that will stand.
22
What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.
23
w The fear of the LORD leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
24
x A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25
Strike a scoffer, and the simple y will become wary;
z Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
26
He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27
Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28
A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And b the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29
Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
c And beatings for the backs of fools.
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Cross References
Proverbs 28:6
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.
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Cross References
Proverbs 14:20
The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.
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Cross References
Exodus 23:1
You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
Deuteronomy 19:16 - 19
If a false witness rises against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing.
Proverbs 6:19
A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.
Proverbs 21:28
A false witness shall perish, But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.
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Cross References
Proverbs 14:20
The poor man is hated even by his own neighbor, But the rich has many friends.
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Cross References
Psalms 38:11
My loved ones and my friends stand aloof from my plague, And my relatives stand afar off.
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Cross References
Proverbs 16:20
He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.
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Cross References
Proverbs 30:21
For three things the earth is perturbed, Yes, for four it cannot bear up:
Proverbs 30:22
For a servant when he reigns, A fool when he is filled with food.
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Cross References
James 1:19
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
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Cross References
Proverbs 16:32
He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Ephesians 4:32
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
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Cross References
Proverbs 16:14
As messengers of death is the king's wrath, But a wise man will appease it.
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Cross References
Genesis 27:28
Therefore may God give you Of the dew of heaven, Of the fatness of the earth, And plenty of grain and wine.
Deuteronomy 33:28
Then Israel shall dwell in safety, The fountain of Jacob alone, In a land of grain and new wine; His heavens shall also drop dew.
Psalms 133:3
It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the LORD commanded the blessing - Life forevermore.
Hosea 14:5
I will be like the dew to Israel; He shall grow like the lily, And lengthen his roots like Lebanon.
Micah 5:7
Then the remnant of Jacob Shall be in the midst of many peoples, Like dew from the LORD, Like showers on the grass, That tarry for no man Nor wait for the sons of men.
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Cross References
Proverbs 10:1
The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son makes a glad father, But a foolish son is the grief of his mother.
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Cross References
Proverbs 21:9
Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop, Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
Proverbs 21:19
Better to dwell in the wilderness, Than with a contentious and angry woman.
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Cross References
2 Corinthians 12:14
Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children.
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Cross References
Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a wife finds a good thing, And obtains favor from the LORD.
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Cross References
Proverbs 6:9
How long will you slumber, O sluggard? When will you rise from your sleep?
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Cross References
Proverbs 10:4
He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.
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Cross References
Proverbs 13:13
He who despises the word will be destroyed, But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.
Proverbs 16:17
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
Luke 10:28
And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.
Luke 11:28
But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 15:7
If there is among you a poor man of your brethr...
Deuteronomy 15:8
But you shall open your hand wide to him and wi...
Job 23:12
I have not departed from the commandment of His...
Job 23:13
But He is unique, and who can make Him change? ...
Proverbs 28:27
He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he ...
Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast your bread upon the waters, For you will f...
Matthew 10:42
"And whoever gives one of these little ones onl...
Matthew 25:40
"And the King will answer and say to them, 'Ass...
2 Corinthians 9:6 - 8
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also...
Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust to forget your work and l...
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Cross References
Proverbs 13:24
He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
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Cross References
Psalms 37:37
Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright; For the future of that man is peace.
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Cross References
Psalms 33:10
The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.
Psalms 33:11
The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.
Proverbs 16:9
A man's heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, 'My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.
Hebrews 6:17
Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath.
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Cross References
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, To turn one away from the snares of death.
1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.
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Cross References
Proverbs 15:19
The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, But the way of the upright is a highway.
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Cross References
Deuteronomy 13:11
So all Israel shall hear and fear, and not again do such wickedness as this among you.
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Cross References
Proverbs 9:8
Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
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Cross References
Proverbs 17:2
A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
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Cross References
Job 15:16
How much less man, who is abominable and filthy, Who drinks iniquity like water!
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Cross References
Proverbs 26:3
A whip for the horse, A bridle for the donkey, And a rod for the fool's back.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.