PROVERBS On
Humility, Laziness, Purity,
Righteousness, Speech,
and Trusting God
Proverbs on Humility
11:2
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
18:12
12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
22:4
4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.
12:15
15 The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
13:10
10 Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
19:20
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
20:18
18 Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance.
9:8-9
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
10:8
8 The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
13:1
1 A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not listen to rebuke.
19:20
20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.
26:12
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
29:11
11 A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs on Laziness
6:6
6 Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! 7 It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, 8 yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- 11 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
10:26
26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is a sluggard to those who send him.
12:24
24 Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labor.
13:4
4 The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.
15:19
19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns, but the path of the upright is a highway.
19:15
15 Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless man goes hungry.
20:4
4 A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.
24:30-34
30 I went past the field of the sluggard, past the vineyard of the man who lacks judgment;
31 thorns had come up everywhere, the ground was covered with weeds, and the stone wall was in ruins. 32 I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw:
33 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- 34 and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
26:13-16
13 The sluggard says. 'There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets! 14 As a door turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed. 15 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth. 16 The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer discreetly.
Proverbs on Purity
2:12-19
12 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, 13 who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, 14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, 15 whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways. 16 It will save you also from the adulteress, from the wayward wife with her seductive words, 17 who has left the partner of her youth and ignored the covenant she made before God. 18 For her house leads down to death and her paths to the spirits of the dead. 19 None who go to her return or attain the paths of life.
6:23-29
23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life, 24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes, 26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life. 27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? 28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched? 29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
6:32
32 But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.
7:6-27
6 At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice. 71 saw among the simple, I noticed among he young men, a youth who lacked judgment. 8 He was going down the street near her corner, walking long in the direction of her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. 10 Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. 11 (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; 12 now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) 13 She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said: 141 have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. 15 So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! 161 have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. 171 have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. 18 Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love! 19 My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey. 20 He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon." 21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk. 22 All at once he followed her like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer stepping into a noose 23 till an arrow pierces his liver, like a bird darting into a snare, little knowing it will cost him his life. 24 Now then, my sons, listen to me; pay attention to what I say. 25 Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths. 26 Many are the victims she has brought down; her slain are a mighty throng. 27 Her house is a highway to the grave, leading down to the chambers of death.
23:26-28
26 My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways, 27 for a prostitute is a deep pit and a wayward wife is a narrow well. 28 Like a bandit she lies in wait, and multiplies the unfaithful among men.
Proverbs on Righteousness
4:18
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
10:2-3
2 ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death. 3 The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
11:4-6
4 Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5 The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them, but the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness. 6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them, but the unfaithful are trapped by evil desires.
11:18-21
18 The wicked man earns deceptive wages, but he who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward. 19 The truly righteous man attains life, but he who pursues evil goes to his death. 20 The LORD detests men of perverse heart but he delights in those whose ways are blameless. 21 Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free.
12:28
28 In the way of righteousness there is life; along that path is immortality.
15:9
9 The LORD detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
16:8
8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
21:21
21 He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
24:16
16 for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.
28:1
1 The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
29:2
2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Proverbs on Speech
8:13
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
10:19-21
19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. 20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
11:12-13
12 A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. 13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret.
12:6
6 The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.
12:18-19
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
15:2-4
2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 3 The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. 4 The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
17:20
20 A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
17:28
28 Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.
18:21
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
21:23
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
22:11
11 He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend.
25:15
15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
26:24-26
24 A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. 25 Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven abominations fill his heart. 26 His malice may be concealed by deception, but his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
Proverbs on Trusting God
1:7
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
3:5-8
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
10:29
29 The way of the LORD is a refuge for the righteous, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
14:16
16 A wise man fears the LORD and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless.
14:26
26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.
14:30
30 A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
15:16
16 Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.
15:33-16:3
33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor. 1 To man belong the plans of he heart, but from the LORD comes the reply of the tongue. 2 All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD. 3 Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
18:10
10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.
19:21-23
21 Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. 22 What a man desires is unfailing love; better to be poor than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD leads to life: Then one rests content, untouched by trouble.
23:17-18
17 Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. 18 There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.
28:14
14 Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.
29:25
25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
