Proverbs

Chapters

1. Proverbs 1: Proverbs 1: the purpose of the proverbs, the enticement of sinners and Wisdom's cry in the streets
   The chapter opens with a heading naming the collection as the proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, followed by a statement of purpose…
2. Proverbs 2: Proverbs 2: seeking wisdom as silver and being delivered from the evil man and the strange woman
   The whole chapter is a single address to "My son". It opens with a long conditional: if the son receives the speaker's words, hides his commandments…
3. Proverbs 3: Proverbs 3: trust in the Lord, the Lord's chastening and the worth of wisdom
   The speaker addresses "My son" three times in this chapter. The first address tells the son to keep the speaker's law and commandments for long life…
4. Proverbs 4: Proverbs 4: a father's inherited teaching, two paths and keeping the heart
   The speaker opens by addressing "ye children" and calling them to hear the instruction of a father. He recalls that he was himself his father's son…
5. Proverbs 5: Proverbs 5: the strange woman's bitter end and the wife of thy youth
   The speaker tells "My son" to attend to his wisdom so that he may keep discretion and knowledge. He then describes the strange woman: her lips drop…
6. Proverbs 6: Proverbs 6: suretyship, the sluggard and the ant, seven things the Lord hates, and the neighbour's wife
   The chapter is a run of distinct units. First, the speaker tells "My son" that if he has become surety for his friend and struck hands with a…
7. Proverbs 7: Proverbs 7: the young man at the corner and the woman who meets him at night
   The speaker tells "My son" to keep his words and commandments, to keep his law as the apple of his eye, and to call wisdom his sister and…
8. Proverbs 8: Proverbs 8: Wisdom's public call and her account of being with the Lord before the earth
   The chapter opens with a question, whether wisdom does not cry and understanding put forth her voice, and places her at the top of high places, by…
9. Proverbs 9: Proverbs 9: Wisdom's house and feast, sayings on the scorner, and the foolish woman's call
   Wisdom has built her house and hewn out her seven pillars; she has killed her beasts, mingled her wine, furnished her table and sent forth her…
10. Proverbs 10: Proverbs 10: the proverbs of Solomon begin, with the righteous and the wicked set in paired sayings
    The chapter opens with a heading, "The proverbs of Solomon.", and moves at once into two-line sayings. A wise son makes a glad father, a foolish son…
11. Proverbs 11: Proverbs 11: the false balance, the city and the righteous, and the liberal soul
    The chapter opens with a false balance, which is abomination to the Lord, set against a just weight, which is his delight. Pride brings shame, and…
12. Proverbs 12: Proverbs 12: loving instruction, the virtuous woman, the life of a beast and the tongue of the wise
    Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, and he that hates reproof is brutish. A good man obtains favour of the Lord, but a man of wicked devices…
13. Proverbs 13: Proverbs 13: the wise son, hope deferred, the companion of fools and the rod
    A wise son hears his father's instruction, but a scorner does not hear rebuke. He that keeps his mouth keeps his life, and he that opens wide his…
14. Proverbs 14: Proverbs 14: the wise woman's house, the way that seems right, the poor, and the king
    Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish plucks it down with her hands. He that walks uprightly fears the Lord. Where no oxen are the crib…
15. Proverbs 15: Proverbs 15: a soft answer, the eyes of the Lord, and a dinner of herbs where love is
    A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good; a…
16. Proverbs 16: Proverbs 16: the Lord weighs the spirits, kings and their thrones, and pride before a fall
    The chapter opens with a run of sayings about the Lord. The preparations of the heart and the answer of the tongue are from him; all a man's ways are…
17. Proverbs 17: Proverbs 17: a dry morsel with quietness, the Lord who tries the hearts, and the fool who holds his peace
    Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of sacrifices with strife. A wise servant shall rule over a son that causes shame and share…
18. Proverbs 18: Proverbs 18: the name of the Lord a strong tower, the fool's mouth, and a friend closer than a brother
    Through desire a man who has separated himself seeks and intermeddles with all wisdom. A fool has no delight in understanding except that his heart…
19. Proverbs 19: Proverbs 19: the poor and their friends, a prudent wife from the Lord, and chastening a son while there is hope
    Better is the poor that walks in his integrity than he that is perverse in his lips and a fool. The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his…
20. Proverbs 20: Proverbs 20: wine a mocker, who can say his heart is clean, and divers weights
    Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, and whoever is deceived by it is not wise. The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion. The sluggard…
21. Proverbs 21: Proverbs 21: the king's heart in the hand of the Lord, the brawling woman, and safety that is of the Lord
    The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as rivers of water, and he turns it where he will. Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the…
22. Proverbs 22: Proverbs 22: a good name, the rich and the poor, and the opening of the words of the wise
    A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches. The rich and poor meet together, and the Lord is the maker of them all. A prudent man foresees…
23. Proverbs 23: Proverbs 23: eating with a ruler, riches that fly away, the rod, and who hath woe from wine
    The speaker continues his address. When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider what is before you and put a knife to your throat if you are given to…
24. Proverbs 24: Proverbs 24: the house built by wisdom, the just man who rises, further words of the wise, and the sluggard's field
    Be not envious of evil men, whose hearts study destruction. Through wisdom a house is built, by understanding established, and by knowledge its…
25. Proverbs 25: Proverbs 25: proverbs copied out by the men of Hezekiah, the honour of kings, and apples of gold
    The chapter opens with a heading: "These are also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out." It is the glory of God to…
26. Proverbs 26: Proverbs 26: the fool, the sluggard, the talebearer, and the man who hides hatred
    The first twelve verses concern the fool. Honour is not seemly for him, as snow in summer or rain in harvest; a rod is for the fool's back as a whip…
27. Proverbs 27: Proverbs 27: boast not of tomorrow, the wounds of a friend, iron sharpening iron, and knowing the state of thy flocks
    Boast not of tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. Let another praise you and not your own mouth. A fool's wrath is heavier than…
28. Proverbs 28: Proverbs 28: the wicked who flee when no man pursues, the law, the poor, and hasting to be rich
    The wicked flee when no man pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion. A poor man who oppresses the poor is like a sweeping rain that leaves no…
29. Proverbs 29: Proverbs 29: the hardened neck, the righteous in authority, the rod and reproof, and the fear of man
    He who is often reproved and hardens his neck shall suddenly be destroyed without remedy. When the righteous are in authority the people rejoice, and…
30. Proverbs 30: Proverbs 30: the words of Agur, the prayer for neither poverty nor riches, and the numbered sayings
    The chapter opens with a heading: "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal". The…
31. Proverbs 31: Proverbs 31: the words king Lemuel's mother taught him, and the virtuous woman
    The chapter opens with a heading: "The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him." She begins with three questions, "What, my…

Main people in Proverbs

• Solomon
• David
• Hezekiah
• Jacob
• Judah

More people in Proverbs

• Lemuel
• Agur
• Ithiel
• Jakeh
• Ucal