Ecclesiastes 2 The Vanity of Self-Indulgence Isaid in my heart, "Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself." But behold, this also was vanity.[a]2Isaid of laughter, "It is mad," and of pleasure, "What use is it?"3Isearched with my heart how to cheer my body with winemy heart still guiding me with wisdomand how to lay hold onfolly, till I mig...

Ecclesiastes 1 All Is Vanity 1The words ofthe Preacher,[a]the son of David,king in Jerusalem. 2Vanity[b]of vanities, saysthe Preacher,vanity of vanities!All is vanity.3Whatdoes man gain by all the toilat which he toils under the sun?4A generation goes, and a generation comes,butthe earth remains forever.5The sun rises, and the sun goes down,and hastens...

Proverbs 31 The Words of King Lemuel The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2What are you doing, my son?[a]What are you doing,son of my womb?What are you doing,son of my vows?3Donot give your strength to women,your ways to thosewho destroy kings.4It is not for kings, O Lemuel,it is not for kingsto drink wine,or for rulers to ta...

Proverbs 30 The Words of Agur The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.[a] The man declares, I am weary, O God;I am weary, O God, and worn out.[b]2Surely I am toostupid to be a man.I have not the understanding of a man.3I have not learned wisdom,nor have I knowledge ofthe Holy One.4Who hasascended to heaven and come down?Who hasgathered the wind in h...

Proverbs 29 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,will suddenly bebrokenbeyond healing.2Whenthe righteous increase, the people rejoice,but whenthe wicked rule, the people groan.3He wholoves wisdom makes his father glad,buta companion of prostitutessquanders his wealth.4By justice a kingbuilds up the land,but he who exacts gifts[a]tears it down....

Proverbs 28 The wicked flee when no one pursues,butthe righteous are bold as a lion.2When a land transgresses,it has many rulers,but with a man of understanding and knowledge,its stability will long continue.3A poor man who oppresses the pooris a beating rain that leaves no food.4Those who forsake the lawpraise the wicked,but those who keep the lawstrive...

Proverbs 27 Do not boast about tomorrow,for you do not know what a day may bring.2Letanother praise you, and not your own mouth;a stranger, and not your own lips.3A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,buta fool's provocation is heavier than both.4Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,but who can stand beforejealousy?5Better is open rebukethan hidden love...

Proverbs 26 Like snow in summer orrain in harvest,sohonor isnot fitting for a fool.2Likea sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,a curse that is causeless does not alight.3A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,anda rod for the back of fools.4Answer not a fool according to his folly,lest you be like him yourself.5Answer a fool accor...

Proverbs 25 More Proverbs of Solomon These also areproverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied. 2It is the glory of God toconceal things,but the glory of kings is tosearch things out.3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,so the heart of kings isunsearchable.4Take awaythe dross from the silver,andthe smith has materi...

Proverbs 24 Be notenvious of evil men,nor desire to bewith them,2for their heartsdevise violence,and their lipstalk of trouble. 3Bywisdom a house is built,and by understanding it is established;4by knowledge the rooms are filledwith allprecious and pleasant riches.5A wise man is full of strength,and a man of knowledge enhances his might,6for b...

Proverbs 23 When you sit down to eat with a ruler,observe carefully what[a]is before you,2and put a knife to your throatif you are given to appetite.3Do not desire his delicacies,for they are deceptive food.4Do not toil to acquire wealth;be discerning enough to desist.5When your eyes light on it, it is gone,for suddenly it sprouts wings,flying like an ea...

Proverbs 22 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,and favor is better than silver or gold.2The rich and the poor meet together;theLordisthe Maker of them all.3The prudent sees danger and hides himself,but the simple go on and suffer for it.4The reward for humility and fear of theLordisriches and honor and life.[a]5Thorns and snares are in ...

Proverbs 21 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of theLord;heturns it wherever he will.2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,but theLordweighs the heart.3To do righteousness and justiceis more acceptable to theLordthan sacrifice.4Haughty eyes and a proud heart,the lampa]"[a]of the wicked, are sin.5The plans ofthe diligent lead surely...

Proverbs 20 Wine is a mocker,strong drink a brawler,and whoeveris led astray by it is not wise.[a]2The terror of a king is likethe growling of a lion;whoever provokes him to angerforfeits his life.3It is an honor for a man tokeep aloof from strife,but every fool will be quarreling.4The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;he will seek at harvest and have...

Proverbs 19 Better is a poor person whowalks in his integritythan one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.2Desire[a]without knowledge is not good,and whoevermakes haste with his feet misses his way.3When a man's follybrings his way to ruin,his heartrages against theLord.4Wealth brings many new friends,but a poor man is deserted by his friend.5A false ...

Proverbs 18 Whoeverisolates himself seeks his own desire;he breaks out against all sound judgment.2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,but onlyin expressing his opinion.3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,and with dishonor comes disgrace.4The words of a man's mouth aredeep waters;the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.5It is not good to...

Proverbs 18 Whoeverisolates himself seeks his own desire;he breaks out against all sound judgment.2A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,but onlyin expressing his opinion.3When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,and with dishonor comes disgrace.4The words of a man's mouth aredeep waters;the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.5It is not good to...

Proverbs 17 Better is a dry morsel with quietthan a house full of feasting[a]with strife.2A servant who deals wisely will rule overa son who acts shamefullyandwill share the inheritance as one of the brothers.3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,and theLordtests hearts.4An evildoer listens to wicked lips,and a liar gives ear to a misc...

Proverbs 16 The plans of the heart belong to man,butthe answer of the tongue is from theLord.2All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,but theLordweighs the spirit.[a]3Commit your work to theLord,and your plans will be established.4TheLordhas made everything for its purpose,eventhe wicked for the day of trouble.5Everyone who is arrogant in heart is...

Proverbs 15 A soft answer turns away wrath,buta harsh word stirs up anger.2The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,butthe mouths of fools pour out folly.3The eyes of theLordare in every place,keeping watch on the evil and the good.4A gentle[a]tongue isa tree of life,butperverseness in it breaks the spirit.5A fooldespises his father's instruction,butwho...

Proverbs 14 The wisest of womenbuilds her house,but folly with her own handstears it down.2Whoeverwalks in uprightness fears theLord,but he who isdevious in his ways despises him.3By the mouth of a fool comesa rod for his back,[a]but the lips of the wise will preserve them.4Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean,but abundant crops come by the stren...

Proverbs 13 A wise son hears his father's instruction,buta scoffer does not listen to rebuke.2From the fruit of his mouth a maneats what is good,but the desire of the treacherousis for violence.3Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;he who opens wide his lipscomes to ruin.4The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing,while the soul of the dilig...

Proverbs 12 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,but he whohates reproof isstupid.2A good manobtains favor from theLord,but a man of evil devices he condemns.3No one is established by wickedness,but the root ofthe righteous will never be moved.4An excellent wife isthe crown of her husband,but she whobrings shame is likerottenness in his bones.5The th...