131 A wise son [heareth] his father's instruction; but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth; but the soul of the treacherous, violence.

3 He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his soul; destruction shall be to him that openeth wide his lips.

4 A sluggard's soul desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

5 A righteous [man] hateth lying; but the wicked maketh himself odious and cometh to shame.

6 Righteousness preserveth him that is perfect in the way; but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

7 There is that feigneth himself rich, and hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, and hath great wealth.

8 The ransom of a man's life is his riches; but the indigent heareth not rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth; but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 By pride there only cometh contention; but with the well-advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth [gotten] by vanity diminisheth; but he that gathereth by manual-labour shall increase [it].

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick; but the desire [that] cometh to pass is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be held by it; but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The teaching of the wise [man] is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding procureth favour; but the way of the treacherous is hard.

16 Every prudent [man] acteth with knowledge; but the foolish layeth open [his] folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into evil; but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be [to] him that refuseth instruction; but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul; but it is abomination to the foolish to depart from evil.

20 He that walketh with wise [men] becometh wise; but a companion of the foolish will be depraved.

21 Evil pursueth sinners; but to the righteous good shall be repaid.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children; but the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the righteous [man].

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor; but there is that is lost for want of judgment.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul; but the belly of the wicked shall want.

141 The wisdom of women buildeth their house; but folly plucketh it down with her hands.

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; but he that is perverted in his ways despiseth him.

3 In the fool's mouth is a rod of pride; but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean; but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness will not lie; but a false witness uttereth lies.

6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and there is none [for him]; but knowledge is easy unto the intelligent.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, in whom thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way; but the folly of the foolish is deceit.

9 Fools make a mock at trespass; but for the upright there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth its own bitterness, and a stranger doth not intermeddle with its joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown; but the tent of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof is the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful, and the end of mirth is sadness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man from what is in himself.

15 The simple believeth every word; but the prudent [man] heedeth his going.

16 A wise [man] feareth and departeth from evil; but the foolish is overbearing and confident.

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly, and a man of mischievous devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly; but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before the good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous [man].

20 He that is poor is hated even of his own neighbour; but the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth; but he that is gracious to the afflicted, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? but loving-kindness and truth are for those that devise good.

23 In all labour there is profit; but the talk of the lips [tendeth] only to want.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches; the folly of the foolish is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls; but deceit uttereth lies.

26 In the fear of Jehovah is strong confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king's glory; but in the lack of people is the ruin of a prince.

29 He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh; but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; but he that honoureth Him is gracious to the needy.

32 The wicked is driven away by his evil-doing; but the righteous trusteth, [even] in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of the intelligent [man]; but that which is in the foolish maketh itself known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to peoples.

35 The king's favour is toward a wise servant; but his wrath is [against] him that causeth shame.

151 A soft answer turneth away fury; but a grievous word stirreth up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright; but the mouth of the foolish poureth out folly.

3 The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

4 Gentleness of tongue is a tree of life; but crookedness therein is a breaking of the spirit.

5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction; but he that regardeth reproof becometh prudent.

6 In the house of a righteous [man] is much treasure; but in the revenue of a wicked [man] is disturbance.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but not so the heart of the foolish.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Jehovah; but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 The way of a wicked [man] is an abomination to Jehovah; but him that pursueth righteousness he loveth.

10 Grievous correction is for him that forsaketh the path; he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 Sheol and destruction are before Jehovah; how much more then the hearts of the children of men!

12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him; he will not go unto the wise.

13 A joyful heart maketh a cheerful countenance; but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of an intelligent [man] seeketh knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish feedeth on folly.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil; but a cheerful heart is a continual feast.

16 Better is little with the fear of Jehovah than great store and disquietude therewith. 17 Better is a meal of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred therewith.

18 A furious man stirreth up contention; but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19 The way of the sluggard is as a hedge of thorns; but the path of the upright is made plain.

20 A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him that is void of sense; but a man of understanding regulateth his walk.

22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed; but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and a word in its season, how good is it!

24 The path of life is upwards for the wise, that he may depart from Sheol beneath.

25 Jehovah plucketh up the house of the proud; but he establisheth the boundary of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the evil [man] are an abomination to Jehovah; but pure words are pleasant.

27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

28 The heart of a righteous [man] studieth to answer; but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

29 Jehovah is far from the wicked; but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30 That which enlighteneth the eyes rejoiceth the heart; good tidings make the bones fat.

31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life shall abide among the wise.

32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth reproof getteth sense.

33 The fear of Jehovah is the discipline of wisdom, and before honour [goeth] humility.

51 For we know that if our earthly tabernacle house be destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this we groan, ardently desiring to have put on our house which [is] from heaven; 3 if indeed being also clothed we shall not be found naked. 4 For indeed we who are in the tabernacle groan, being burdened; while yet we do not wish to be unclothed, but clothed, that [what is] mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now he that has wrought us for this very thing [is] God, who also has given to us the earnest of the Spirit. 6 Therefore [we are] always confident, and know that while present in the body we are absent from the Lord, 7 (for we walk by faith, not by sight;) 8 we are confident, I say, and pleased rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore also we are zealous, whether present or absent, to be agreeable to him. 10 For we must all be manifested before the judgment-seat of the Christ, that each may receive the things [done] in the body, according to those he has done, whether [it be] good or evil.

The Ministry of Reconciliation

11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord we persuade men, but have been manifested to God, and I hope also that we have been manifested in your consciences.

12 [For] we do not again commend ourselves to you, but [we are] giving to you occasion of boast in our behalf, that ye may have [such] with those boasting in countenance, and not in heart. 13 For whether we are beside ourselves, [it is] to God; or are sober, [it is] for you. 14 For the love of the Christ constrains us, having judged this: that one died for all, then all have died; 15 and he died for all, that they who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for them and has been raised.

16 So that we henceforth know no one according to flesh; but if even we have known Christ according to flesh, yet now we know [him thus] no longer. 17 So if any one [be] in Christ, [there is] a new creation; the old things have passed away; behold all things have become new: 18 and all things [are] of the God who has reconciled us to himself by [Jesus] Christ, and given to us the ministry of that reconciliation: 19 how that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their offences; and putting in us the word of that reconciliation. 20 We are ambassadors therefore for Christ, God as [it were] beseeching by us, we entreat for Christ, Be reconciled to God. 21 Him who knew not sin he has made sin for us, that we might become God's righteousness in him.