Proverbs 16 – Proverbs 20


Proverbs has 31 Chapters.

Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21 – Chapter 25
Chapter 26 – Chapter 30
Chapter 31 – Chapter 31

Proverbs 16

1The plans of the heart belong to man; But the answer of the tongue is from Jehovah. 2All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the spirits. 3Commit thy works unto Jehovah, And thy purposes shall be established. 4Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. 5Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to Jehovah: [Though] hand [join] in hand, he shall not be unpunished. 6By mercy and truth iniquity is atoned for; And by the fear of Jehovah men depart from evil. 7When a man’s ways please Jehovah, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8Better is a little, with righteousness, Than great revenues with injustice. 9A man’s heart deviseth his way; But Jehovah directeth his steps. 10A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; His mouth shall not transgress in judgment. 11A just balance and scales are Jehovah’s; All the weights of the bag are his work. 12It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness; For the throne is established by righteousness. 13Righteous lips are the delight of kings; And they love him that speaketh right. 14The wrath of a king is [as] messengers of death; But a wise man will pacify it. 15In the light of the king’s countenance is life; And his favor is as a cloud of the latter rain. 16How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! Yea, to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver. 17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: He that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. 18Pride [goeth] before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. 19Better it is to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, Than to divide the spoil with the proud. 20He that giveth heed unto the word shall find good; And whoso trusteth in Jehovah, happy is he. 21The wise in heart shall be called prudent; And the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning. 22Understanding is a well-spring of life unto him that hath it; But the correction of fools is [their] folly. 23The heart of the wise instructeth his mouth, And addeth learning to his lips. 24Pleasant words are [as] a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, But the end thereof are the ways of death. 26The appetite of the laboring man laboreth for him; For his mouth urgeth him [thereto]. 27A worthless man deviseth mischief; And in his lips there is as a scorching fire. 28A perverse man scattereth abroad strife; And a whisperer separateth chief friends. 29A man of violence enticeth his neighbor, And leadeth him in a way that is not good. 30He that shutteth his eyes, [it is] to devise perverse things: He that compresseth his lips bringeth evil to pass. 31The hoary head is a crown of glory; It shall be found in the way of righteousness. 32He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; And he that ruleth his spirit, than he that taketh a city. 33The lot is cast into the lap; But the whole disposing thereof is of Jehovah.

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Proverbs 17

1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife. 2A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren. 3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts. 4An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue. 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. 6Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers. 7Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince. 8A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends. 10A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool. 11An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. 13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. 14The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling. 15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. 16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding? 17A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity. 18A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor. 19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction. 20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy. 22A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones. 23A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice. 24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him. 26Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness. 27He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.

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Proverbs 18

1He that separateth himself seeketh [his own] desire, And rageth against all sound wisdom. 2A fool hath no delight in understanding, But only that his heart may reveal itself. 3When the wicked cometh, there cometh also contempt, And with ignominy [cometh] reproach. 4The words of a man’s mouth are [as] deep waters; The wellspring of wisdom is [as] a flowing brook. 5To respect the person of the wicked is not good, [Nor] to turn aside the righteous in judgment. 6A fool’s lips enter into contention, And his mouth calleth for stripes. 7A fool’s mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 8The words of a whisperer are as dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts. 9He also that is slack in his work Is brother to him that is a destroyer. 10The name of Jehovah is a strong tower; The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 11The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And as a high wall in his own imagination. 12Before destruction the heart of man is haughty; And before honor [goeth] humility. 13He that giveth answer before he heareth, It is folly and shame unto him. 14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; But a broken spirit who can bear? 15The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 16A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men. 17He that pleadeth his cause first [seemeth] just; But his neighbor cometh and searcheth him out. 18The lot causeth contentions to cease, And parteth between the mighty. 19A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city; And [such] contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20A man’s belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; With the increase of his lips shall he be satisfied. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, And obtaineth favor of Jehovah. 23The poor useth entreaties; But the rich answereth roughly. 24He that maketh many friends [doeth it] to his own destruction; But there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

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Proverbs 19

1Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah. 4Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend. 5A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape. 6Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone. 8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish. 10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass. 13A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah. 15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is careless of his ways shall die. 17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again. 18Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; nd set not thy heart on his destruction. 19A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver [him], thou must do it yet again. 20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. 22That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar. 23The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. 24The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge. 26He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach. 27Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge. 28A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity. 29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.

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Proverbs 20

1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. 2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth [against] his own life. 3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling. 4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5Counsel in the heart of man is [like] deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? 7A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. 8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. 11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. 13Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge [that is surety] for foreigners. 17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war. 19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips. 20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. 21An inheritance [may be] gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee. 23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good. 24A man’s goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way? 25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, [It is] holy, And after vows to make inquiry. 26A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the [threshing] -wheel over them. 27The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts. 28Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness. 29The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head. 30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes [reach] the innermost parts.

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