Proverbs 12 20-28

Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil,
but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
No harm befalls the just,
but the wicked have their fill of trouble.
Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but they that deal truly are his delight.
A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the hearts of fools proclaim foolishness.
The hand of the diligent shall bear rule,
but the slothful shall be under tribute.
Heaviness in the heart of man makes it stoop,
but a good word makes it glad.
A righteous man is cautious in friendship,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
The lazy man does not roast his game,
but the diligent man prizes his possessions.
In the way of righteousness there is life;
along that path is immortality.

Proverbs Chapter 12 10-19

A righteous man regards the life of his beast:
but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread:
but he that chases fantasies lacks judgement.
The wicked desire the plunder of evil men:
but the root of the righteous flourishes.
An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk:
but a righteous man escapes trouble.
From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things
as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.
The way of a fool seems right to him,
but a wise man listens to advice.
A fool shows his annoyance at once,
but a prudent man overlooks an insult.
A truthful witness gives honest testimony,
but a false witness tells lies.
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise is health.
The lips of truth shall be established forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs Chapter 12 1-9

Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
A good man obtains favour from the LORD:
but a man of wicked devices is condemned.
A man shall not be established by wickedness:
but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.
A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband:
but she that makes ashamed is as rottenness to his bones.
The thoughts of the righteous are right:
but the counsels of the wicked is deceit.
The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood:
but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.
The wicked are overthrown and are no more:
but the house of the upright shall stand.
A man shall be commended according to his wisdom:
but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.
Better to be a nobody and have a servant,
than to pretend to be somebody and have no food.

Proverbs Chapter 11 25-31

A generous man will prosper;
he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
People curse the man who hoards grain,
but blessings crown him who is willing to sell.
He who seeks good finds goodwill,
but evil comes to him who searches for it.
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall.
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind,
and the fool will be servant to the wise.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he who wins souls is wise.
If the righteous receive their due on earth,
how much more the ungodly and the sinner!

Proverbs Chapter 11 18-24

The wicked work a deceitful work,
but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward.
As righteousness tends to life,
so he that pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
They that are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD;
but such as are upright in their way are his delight.
Though hand in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished,
but those who are righteous will go free.
Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
is a beautiful woman who is without discretion
the desire of the righteous ends only in good,
but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.
There are those that give freely and yet increase,
and there are those who withhold more than is meet,
but it comes to poverty.

Proverbs Chapter 11 11-17

By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted,
but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
He that is void of wisdom despises his neighbour,
but a man of understanding holds his peace.
A talebearer reveals secrets,
but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter.
Where no counsel is the people fall,
but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
He who puts up security for another will surely suffer,
but whoever refuses to strike hands in pledge is safe.
A gracious woman retains honour,
and a strong man retains riches.
The merciful man does good to his own soul,
but he that is cruel troubles his own flesh.

Proverbs Chapter 11 1-10

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD,
but a just weight is his delight.
When pride comes, then comes shame,
but with humility comes wisdom.
The integrity of the upright shall guide them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.
Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath,
but righteousness delivers from death.
The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,
but the wicked shall fall by their own wickedness.
The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;
all he expected from his power comes to nothing.
The righteous man is rescued from trouble,
and it comes on the wicked instead.
With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbour,
but through knowledge the righteous escape.
When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;
when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

Proverbs Chapter 10 21-32

The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die from lack of judgement.
The blessing of the LORD brings wealth,
and he adds no sorrow with it.
It is as a sport to a fool to do mischief,
but a man of understanding has wisdom.
What the wicked fear shall come upon him,
but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.
As the whirlwind passes, so the wicked are no more,
but the righteous stand firm forever.
As vinegar to the teeth, as smoke to the eyes,
so is the sluggard to those that send him.
The fear of the LORD adds length to life,
but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
The hope of the righteous shall be gladness,
but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.
The way of the LORD is strength to the upright,
but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
The righteous shall never be removed,
but the wicked will not remain in the land.
The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue shall be cut out.
The lips of the righteous know what is fitting,
but the mouth of the wicked speaks what is perverse.

Proverbs Chapter 10 11-20

The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Hatred stirs up strife,
but love covers all sins.
Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of him that lacks judgement.
Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
The wealth of a city is their fortified city,
but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
The labour of the righteous brings them life,
but the fruit of the wicked brings them punishment.
He is in the way of life that keeps instruction,
but he that refuses reproof errs.
He that hides hatred with lying lips,
and he that utters slander is a fool.
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.
The tongue of the righteous is like choice silver,
but the heart of the wicked is of little value.

Proverbs Chapter 10 1-10

The proverbs of Solomon.
A wise son brings makes a glad father:
but a foolish son grief to his mother.
Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
but righteousness delivers from death.
The LORD will not let the righteous go hungry,
but he casts away the substance of the wicked.
Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
He who gathers in summer is a wise son,
but he that sleeps in harvest
is a son that causes shame.
Blessings are upon the head of the just,
but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
The memory of the just is blessed,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
The wise in heart will receive commandments,
but a prating fool shall fall.
He that walks uprightly walks securely,
but he that perverts his ways shall be found out.
He that winks maliciously causes sorrow,
and a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Proverbs Chapter 9 13-18

The woman Folly is loud;

she is undisciplined and without knowledge.

She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat in the high places of the city,

calling out to those that pass by:

whoever is simple, let him turn here:

and says to those that lack judgement,

Stolen waters are sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But little do they know that the dead are there,

and that her guests are in the depths of the hell.

Proverbs Chapter 9 7-12

Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
and he that rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man and he will be wiser;
teach a just man and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days shall be multiplied,
and the years of your life shall increase.
If you are wise your wisdom shall reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone shall suffer.

Proverbs Chapter 9 1- 6

Wisdom has built her home;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mingled her wine;
she has also prepared her table.
She has sent forth her maidens,
and she calls from the highest places of the city.
"Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgement,
"Come, eat of my bread,
and drink of the wine that I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding."

Proverbs Chapter 8 22-36

The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning,
before the world began.
When there were no depths,
I was brought forth,
when there were no springs abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills was I brought forth:
before he made the earth or its fields
or the highest part of the dust of the world.
When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
when he established the clouds above:
when he strengthened the foundations of the deep:
when he gave the sea his decree,
that the waters should not pass his commandment:
when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Then I was by him,
as one brought up with him;
and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him;
rejoicing in his whole earth
and delighting in mankind.

Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are they that keep my ways.
Listen to my instructions and be wise;
do not ignore it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life
and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
But he that sins against me
wrongs his own soul:
all that hate me love death.

Proverbs Chapter 8 12-21

I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil:
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behaviour and perverse speech.
Counsel is mine, and sound judgement,
I am understanding;
I have strength.
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
By me princes rule,
and nobles,
even all the judges of the earth.
I love them that love me;
and those that seek me early shall find me.
Riches and honour are with me;
enduring wealth and prosperity.
My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
I lead in the way of righteousness,
in the midst of the paths of justice,
bestowing wealth on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

Proverbs Chapter 8 1-11

Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
She stands in the top of high places,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
she cries at the gates,
at the entry of the city,
at the entrances,
she cries aloud:
Unto you, O men, I call;
and my voice is to the sons of man.
O you simple,
understand wisdom;
and you fools,
be you of an understanding heart.
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things;
I open up my lips to speak what is right.
For my mouth shall speak truth;
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him that understands,
and right to them that find knowledge.
Receive my instructions,
and not silver;
and knowledge
rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs Chapter 7 6-27

At the window of my house
I looked out through the lattice.
I saw among the simple,
I noticed among the youths,
a young man devoid of understanding.
He was going down the street near her corner;
and he went the way to her house
in the twilight,
in the evening,
in the black and dark night.
And, behold, there met him a woman,
dressed as a harlot,
and subtle of heart.
(She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
now she is outside,
now in the streets,
and lies in wait at every corner.)
So she caught him
and kissed him
and with a brazen face she said:
I have peace offerings with me;
this day I have prayed my vows.
So I have come out to meet you;
I have looked for you and found you.
I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry,
with carved works,
with fine linen of Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon.
Come, let us drink deep of love until the morning;
let's enjoy ourselves with love!
My husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey.
He took his purse filled with money
and will not be home until full moon.
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield,
with the flattering of her lips she seduced him.
At once he followed her
like an ox going to the slaughter,
like a deer stepping into a noose
till an arrow pierces his liver,
like a bird darting into a snare,
little knowing it will cost him his life.
Now then my sons,
listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.
Many are the victims she has brought down;
many strong men have been slain by her.
her house is the way to hell,
going sown into the chambers of death.

Proverbs Chapter 7 1-5

My son, keep my words
and store up my commands with you.
Keep my commands and you will live;
and my law as the apple of your eye.
Bind them upon your fingers,
write them upon the table of your heart.
Say unto wisdom, "You are my sister,"
and call understanding your kinsman;
they will keep you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife and her seductive words.

Proverbs Chapter 6 20-35

My son, keep your father's commands,
and forsake not your mother's teaching.
Bind them continually upon you heart
and tie them about your neck.
When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep they will keep you;
when you wake, they will speak to you.
For these commands are a lamp;
and the law is light;
and the reproofs of instruction are the way of life,
to keep you from the evil woman,
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
Lust not after her beauty in our heart;
neither let her captivate you with her eyes,
for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and the adulteress hunts for your very life.
Can a man scoop fire into his lap,
and his clothes not be burned?
Can a man walk on hot coals,
ans his feet not be burned?
So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Men do not despise a thief,
if he steals to satisfy his hunger when he is starving;
but if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs the wealth of his house.
But a man who commits adultery lacks judgement;
whoever does so destroys his own soul.
A wound and dishonour shall he get;
and his shame shall never be wiped away.
For jealousy is the rage of a man;
and he shall show no mercy when he takes revenge.
He will not accept any compensation;
neither will he rest content,
though you give him many gifts.

Proverbs Chapter 6 16- 19

There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
a proud look,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that be swift in running to mischief,
a false witness who pours out lies,
and a man that sows discord among brethren.

Proverbs Chapter 6 6-15

Go to the ant, you sluggard;
consider her ways and be wise.
Which having no guide, overseer or ruler,
provides her meat in the summer,
and gathers her food in the harvest.
How long will you sleep, O sluggard?
When will you arise from your sleep?
A little sleep,  little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to sleep;
so shall a little poverty come upon you
like a bandit
and want like an armed man.
A naughty person,
a wicked man,
who walks with a corrupt mouth.
He winks with his eyes,
he signals with his feet,
he motions with his fingers.
Corruption is in his heart,
he devises mischief continually;
he sows discord.
Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly;
suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

Proverbs Chapter 6 1- 5

My son, if you have out up security for your neighbour,
if you have struck hands in pledge for another,
if you have been trapped by what you have said,
ensnared by the words of your mouth,
then do this, my son, and deliver yourself,
since you have fallen into your neighbour's hands:
Go and humble yourself
press your plea with your neighbour!
Allow no sleep to your eyes,
nor slumber to your eyelids.
Deliver yourself as a roe from the hands of a hunter,
as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

Proverbs Chapter 5 15-23

Drink water from your own cistern,
running water from your own well.
Should your springs overflow in the streets
your streams of water in the public squares?
Let them be yours alone,
never to be shared with strangers.
May your fountain be blessed:
and rejoice with the wife of your youth.
A loving doe,
a graceful deer-
let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
and be you ravished always with her love.
Why be captivated, my son,
with an adulteress
and embrace the bosom of another man's wife?
For the ways of man are before the LORD,
and he examines all his goings.
The evil ways of a man ensnare him,
and he shall be held by the cords of his sins.
He shall die without instruction;
and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Proverbs Chapter 5 1-14

My son, attend to my wisdom,
and bow your ear to my understanding;
that you may maintain discretion,
and your lips may keep knowledge.
For the lips of an adulteress drip honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil;
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps take hold on hell.
She gives no thought to the way of life;
her paths are crooked but she knows it not.
Hear me now therefore, O you children,
and depart not from the words of my mouth.
Remove your way far from her,
and come not near the door of her house,
lest you give your best strength to others,
and your years unto the cruel:
Lest strangers be filled with your wealth;
and your labours be in the house of a stranger;
And you mourn at the last,
when your flesh and body are consumed.
You will say  "How I hated instruction,
and my heart despised reproof;
I would not obey my teachers
or listen to my instructors!
I have come to the brink of utter ruin
in the midst of the whole assembly."

Proverbs Chapter 4 20-27

My son, attend to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
Let them not depart from your eyes;
keep them in the midst of your heart.
For they are life to those who find them,
and health to all their flesh.
Above all else, guard your heart,
for out of it are the issues of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
fix your gaze directly before you.
Ponder the path of your feet,
and let all your ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left;
remove your foot from evil.

Proverbs Chapter 4 10-19

Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings,
and the years of your life will be many.
I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
when you go, your steps will not be hampered;
and when you run, you shall not stumble.
Take fast hold of instruction;
do not let her go;
keep her; for she is your life.
Enter not into the path of the wicked,
and go not in the way of wicked men.
Avoid it, do not pass by it,
turn from it, and pass away.
For they  cannot sleep until they do evil,
and their sleep is taken away,
unless they cause someone to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness,
and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know what makes them stumble.

Proverbs Chapter 4 1-9

Hear, you children, the instruction of a father,
and pay attention to gain understanding.
For I give good advice,
do not forsake my teaching.
For I was my father's son,
tender and an only child of my mother.
He taught me also, and said to me,
"Let your heart retain my words:
keep my commandments, and live.'
Get wisdom, get understanding:
forget it not;
neither swerve from the words of my mouth.
Forsake her not,
and she shall preserve you;
love her and she shall keep you.
Wisdom is the principal thing;
therefore get wisdom:
and with all your getting get understanding.
Exalt her, and she shall watch over you;
she will bring you honour when you embrace her.
She shall give to your head an ornament of grace:
and present you with a crown of splendour."

Proverbs Chapter 3 27-35

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbour,
"Come back later, I will give it to you tomorrow" -
when you now have it with you.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour,
who lives trustfully with you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason
if he has done no harm to you.
Do not envy the oppressor,
and choose none of his ways,
for the LORD detests a perverse man,
but takes the upright into his confidence.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked:
but he blesses the habitation of the just.
Surely he scorns the scorners;
but he gives grace to the lowly.
The wise shall inherit glory;
but fools he holds up to shame.

Proverbs Chapter 3 13- 26

Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
and the man that gets understanding.
For it is more profitable than silver,
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
and in her left hand riches and honour.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that embrace her;
and happy is every one that retains her.
The LORD by wisdom has founded the earth;
by understanding has he established the heavens.
By his knowledge the depths are broken up,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
My son, let not them depart from your eyes;
keep sound wisdom and discretion;
So shall they be life unto your soul,
and grace to your neck.
Then shall you walk in your way safely,
and your foot shall not stumble.
When you lie down,
you shall not be afraid,
yes, you shall lie down,
and your sleep shall be sweet.
Be not afraid of sudden disaster,
neither of the desolation of the wicked,
when it comes.
For the LORD shall be your confidence,
and shall keep your foot from being snared.

Proverbs Chapter 3 1-12

My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments:
For length of days,
and long life,
and peace,
shall they add to you.
Let not mercy and truth forsake you,
bind them about your neck;
write them upon the table of your heart:
So shall you find favour and good understanding
in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he shall direct your paths.
Be not wise in your own eyes:
fear the LORD , and depart from evil.
It shall be health to your navel,
and marrow to your bones.
Honour the LORD with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your presses shall burst out with new wine.
My son, despise not the LORD's discipline;
neither be weary of his correction:
For the LORD disciplines those he loves,
even as a father the son in whom he delights.

Proverbs Chapter 2 12-22

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who leave the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
It will save you from the adulteress,
from the wayward wife and her seductive words,
who has left the partner of her youth
and ignored the covenant she made before God.
For her house leads down to death
and her paths to the spirits of the dead.
None who go to her return
or attain the paths of life.
That you may walk in the ways of good men,
and keep the paths of the righteous.
For the upright shall dwell in the land,
and the perfect shall remain in it.
But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth,
and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

proverbs Chapter 2 1-11

My son, if you will receive my words,
and hide my commands within you,
so that you incline your ear to wisdom,
and apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry after knowledge,
and lift up your voice for understanding;
if you seek her as silver,
and search for her as for hidden treasure;
Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD,
and find the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom:
out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
He lays up sound wisdom for the righteous:
he is a shield to them that walk uprightly.
He keeps the paths of judgement,
and preserves the way of his saints.
Then will you understand
righteousness, and judgement, and equity;
yes, every good path.
For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge is pleasant to your soul;
discretion will preserve you,
understanding shall keep you.

Proverbs Chapter 1 20-33

Wisdom cries outside;
she cries aloud in the streets:
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,
in the openings of the gates:
in the city she utters her words, saying,
How long you simple ones,
will you love simplicity?
and the scorners delight in their scorning,
and fools hate knowledge?
Turn at my reproof:
behold,
I will pour out my spirit unto you,
I will make known my words unto you.
Because I have called and you refused;
I have stretched out my hand,
and no man heeded;
But you have set at nought all my counsel,
and would none of my reproof:
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your fear comes;
When your fear comes as desolation,
and your destruction comes as a whirlwind;
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then shall they call upon me,
but I will not answer;
they shall seek me early,
but they shall not find me:
For that they hated knowledge,
and they did not choose the fear of the LORD;
They would none of my counsel:
they despised all my reproof.
Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way,
and be filled with their own devices.
For the waywardness of the simple shall slay them,
and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.
But whoever listens to me shall dwell safely,
and shall be at ease from the fear of evil.

Proverbs Chapter 1 7-19

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction
and forsake not the teaching of your mother.
They will be a garland to grace your head
and a chain to adorn your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give into them.
If they say, "Come along with us;
let us lay wait for blood,
let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause;
Let us swallow them up alive as the grave;
and whole as those that go down into the pit;
We shall find all precious things
and fill our houses with plunder;
throw your lot in with us,
let us all share a common purse" -
my son, do not go along with them,
refrain your foot from their path:
For their feet run to evil,
they are swift to shed blood.
How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!
These men lie in wait for their own blood;
they waylay only themselves!
Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain.

Proverbs Chapter 1 1-7

The proverbs of Solomon son of David, King of Israel:
for attaining wisdom and discipline;
for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life,
doing what is right and just and fair;
for giving subtilty to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young-
let the wise listen and add to their learning,
let the discerning get guidance-
for understanding proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise and their dark sayings.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.