Proverbs 29-31 (New International Version)
Proverbs 29
1 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3 A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4 By justice a king gives a country stability,
but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.
5 Whoever flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for his feet.
is spreading a net for his feet.
6 An evil man is snared by his own sin,
but a righteous one can sing and be glad.
but a righteous one can sing and be glad.
7 The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
but the wicked have no such concern.
8 Mockers stir up a city,
but wise men turn away anger.
but wise men turn away anger.
9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10 Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.
and seek to kill the upright.
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger,
but a wise man keeps himself under control.
but a wise man keeps himself under control.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.
all his officials become wicked.
13 The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14 If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will always be secure.
his throne will always be secure.
15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
16 When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.
but the righteous will see their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;
he will bring delight to your soul.
he will bring delight to your soul.
18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
but blessed is he who keeps the law.
19 A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;
though he understands, he will not respond.
though he understands, he will not respond.
20 Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
22 An angry man stirs up dissension,
and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
23 A man's pride brings him low,
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.
24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;
he is put under oath and dare not testify.
he is put under oath and dare not testify.
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.
but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.
27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.
the wicked detest the upright.
Proverbs 30
Sayings of Agur
1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an oracle [b] :This man declared to Ithiel,
to Ithiel and to Ucal: [c]
2 "I am the most ignorant of men;
I do not have a man's understanding.
I do not have a man's understanding.
3 I have not learned wisdom,
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!
Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?
Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and the name of his son?
Tell me if you know!
5 "Every word of God is flawless;
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words,
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God.
10 "Do not slander a servant to his master,
or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.
or he will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11 "There are those who curse their fathers
and do not bless their mothers;
and do not bless their mothers;
12 those who are pure in their own eyes
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,
whose glances are so disdainful;
whose glances are so disdainful;
14 those whose teeth are swords
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
and whose jaws are set with knives
to devour the poor from the earth,
the needy from among mankind.
15 "The leech has two daughters.
'Give! Give!' they cry.
"There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, 'Enough!':
'Give! Give!' they cry.
"There are three things that are never satisfied,
four that never say, 'Enough!':
16 the grave, [d] the barren womb,
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'
land, which is never satisfied with water,
and fire, which never says, 'Enough!'
17 "The eye that mocks a father,
that scorns obedience to a mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
will be eaten by the vultures.
that scorns obedience to a mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
will be eaten by the vultures.
18 "There are three things that are too amazing for me,
four that I do not understand:
four that I do not understand:
19 the way of an eagle in the sky,
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
and the way of a man with a maiden.
20 "This is the way of an adulteress:
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'
She eats and wipes her mouth
and says, 'I've done nothing wrong.'
21 "Under three things the earth trembles,
under four it cannot bear up:
under four it cannot bear up:
22 a servant who becomes king,
a fool who is full of food,
a fool who is full of food,
23 an unloved woman who is married,
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.
and a maidservant who displaces her mistress.
24 "Four things on earth are small,
yet they are extremely wise:
yet they are extremely wise:
25 Ants are creatures of little strength,
yet they store up their food in the summer;
yet they store up their food in the summer;
27 locusts have no king,
yet they advance together in ranks;
yet they advance together in ranks;
28 a lizard can be caught with the hand,
yet it is found in kings' palaces.
yet it is found in kings' palaces.
29 "There are three things that are stately in their stride,
four that move with stately bearing:
four that move with stately bearing:
30 a lion, mighty among beasts,
who retreats before nothing;
who retreats before nothing;
32 "If you have played the fool and exalted yourself,
or if you have planned evil,
clap your hand over your mouth!
or if you have planned evil,
clap your hand over your mouth!
33 For as churning the milk produces butter,
and as twisting the nose produces blood,
so stirring up anger produces strife."
and as twisting the nose produces blood,
so stirring up anger produces strife."
Proverbs 31
Sayings of King Lemuel
1 The sayings of King Lemuel—an oracle [g] his mother taught him: 3 do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
your vigor on those who ruin kings.
4 "It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,
5 lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6 Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;
wine to those who are in anguish;
7 let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
and remember their misery no more.
8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
defend the rights of the poor and needy."
Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all."
but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 29:21 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain.
- Proverbs 30:1 Or Jakeh of Massa
- Proverbs 30:1 Masoretic Text; with a different word division of the Hebrew declared, "I am weary, O God; / I am weary, O God, and faint.
- Proverbs 30:16 Hebrew Sheol
- Proverbs 30:26 That is, the hyrax or rock badger
- Proverbs 30:31 Or king secure against revolt
- Proverbs 31:1 Or of Lemuel king of Massa, which
- Proverbs 31:2 Or / the answer to my prayers
- Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic, each verse beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet
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