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Proverbs 28:3-31:9
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3A ruler
4Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them.
5Evildoers do not understand what is right, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.
6Better the poor whose walk is blameless than the rich whose ways are perverse.
7A discerning son heeds instruction, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.
8Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.
9If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction, even their prayers are detestable.
10Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into their own trap, but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.
11The rich are wise in their own eyes; one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.
12When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.
13Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
14Blessed is the one who always trembles before God, but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.
15Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.
16A tyrannical ruler practices extortion, but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.
17Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder will seek refuge in the grave; let no one hold them back.
18The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.
19Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.
20A faithful person will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
21To show partiality is not good— yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.
22The stingy are eager to get rich and are unaware that poverty awaits them.
23Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue.
24Whoever robs their father or mother and says, “It’s not wrong,” is partner to one who destroys.
25The greedy stir up conflict, but those who trust in the LORD will prosper.
26Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.
27Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses. 28When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding; but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.
1Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.
2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
4By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for
5Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet.
6Evildoers are snared by their own sin, but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
7The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern.
8Mockers stir up a city, but the wise turn away anger.
9If a wise person goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
10The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity and seek to kill the upright.
11Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked.
13The poor and the oppressor have this in common: The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.
14If a king judges the poor with fairness, his throne will be established forever.
15A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
16When the wicked thrive, so does sin, but the righteous will see their downfall.
17Discipline your children, and they will give you peace; they will bring you the delights you desire.
18Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
19Servants cannot be corrected by mere words; though they understand, they will not respond.
20Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.
21A servant pampered from youth will turn out to be insolent.
22An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
23Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
24The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
25Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.
26Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that one gets justice. 27The righteous detest the dishonest; the wicked detest the upright.
Sayings of Agur
1The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail.
2Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding.
3I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
4Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son? Surely you know!
5“Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.
7“Two things I ask of you, LORD ; do not refuse me before I die:
8Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
9Otherwise, 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.
10“Do not slander a servant to their master, or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.
11“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers;
12those who are pure in their own eyes and yet are not cleansed of their filth;
13those whose eyes are ever so haughty, whose glances are so disdainful;
14those whose teeth are swords and whose jaws are set with knives to devour the poor from the earth and 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!’:
16the grave, the barren womb, land, which is never satisfied with water, and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’
17“The eye that mocks a father, that scorns an aged 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:
19the 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 young woman.
20“This is the way of an adulterous woman: 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:
22a servant who becomes king, a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
23a contemptible woman who gets married, and a servant who displaces her mistress.
24“Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise:
25Ants are creatures of little strength, yet they store up their food in the summer;
26hyraxes are creatures of little power, yet they make their home in the crags;
27locusts have no king, yet they advance together in ranks;
28a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings’ palaces.
29“There are three things that are stately in their stride, four that move with stately bearing:
30a lion, mighty among beasts, who retreats before nothing;
31a strutting rooster, a he-goat, and a king secure against revolt.
32“If you play the fool and exalt yourself, or if you plan evil, clap your hand over your mouth! 33For as churning cream produces butter, and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.”
Sayings of King Lemuel 1The sayings of King Lemuel—an inspired utterance his mother taught him.
2Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb! Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!
3Do not spend your strength
4It is not for kings, Lemuel— it is not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer,
5lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
6Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish!
7Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more.
8Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
9Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.