Proverbs concerning Life and Conduct

16¹ The plans of the mind belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

² All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.

³ Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

⁴ The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.

⁵ Every one who is arrogant is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

⁶ By loyalty and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.

⁷ When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.

⁹ A man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

¹⁰ Inspired decisions are on the lips of a king; his mouth does not sin in judgment.

¹¹ A just balance and scales are the Lord's; all the weights in the bag are his work.

¹² It is an abomination to kings to do evil, for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of a king, and he loves him who speaks what is right.

¹⁴ A king's wrath is a messenger of death, and a wise man will appease it. ¹⁵ In the light of a king's face there is life, and his favor is like the clouds that bring the spring rain.

¹⁶ To get wisdom is better than gold; to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright turns aside from evil; he who guards his way preserves his life.

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He who gives heed to the word will prosper, and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.

²¹ The wise of heart is called a man of discernment, and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

²² Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it, but folly is the chastisement of fools.

²³ The mind of the wise makes his speech judicious, and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

²⁵ There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

²⁶ A worker's appetite works for him; his mouth urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. ²⁸ A perverse man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

²⁹ A man of violence entices his neighbor and leads him in a way that is not good. ³⁰ He who winks his eyes plans perverse things, he who compresses his lips brings evil to pass.

³¹ A hoary head is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but the decision is wholly from the Lord.

17¹ Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

² A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

³ The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tries hearts.

⁴ An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a mischievous tongue.

⁵ He who mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of sons is their fathers.

⁷ Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

⁸ A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

⁹ He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend.

¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹² Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ If a man returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶ Why should a fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no mind?

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man without sense gives a pledge, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁹ He who loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

²⁰ A man of crooked mind does not prosper, and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity.

²¹ A stupid son is a grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy.

²² A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

²³ A wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴ A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

²⁶ To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good; to flog noble men is wrong.

²⁷ He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

18¹ He who is estranged seeks pretexts to break out against all sound judgment.

² A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

³ When wickedness comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes disgrace.

⁴ The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; the fountain of wisdom is a gushing stream.

⁵ It is not good to be partial to a wicked man, or to deprive a righteous man of justice.

⁶ A fool's lips bring strife, and his mouth invites a flogging. ⁷ A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.

⁸ The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

⁹ He who is slack in his work is a brother to him who destroys.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.

¹¹ A rich man's wealth is his strong city, and like a high wall protecting him.

¹² Before destruction a man's heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor.

¹³ If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

¹⁴ A man's spirit will endure sickness; but a broken spirit who can bear?

¹⁵ An intelligent mind acquires knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

¹⁶ A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

¹⁷ He who states his case first seems right, until the other comes and examines him.

¹⁸ The lot puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders.

¹⁹ A brother helped is like a strong city, but quarreling is like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.

²³ The poor use entreaties, but the rich answer roughly.

²⁴ There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

6¹ Working together with him, then, we entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain. ² For he says, "At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation." Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³ We put no obstacle in any one's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, ⁴ but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, tumults, labors, watching, hunger; ⁶ by purity, knowledge, forbearance, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love, ⁷ truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; ⁸ in honor and dishonor, in ill repute and good repute. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; ⁹ as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as punished, and yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

¹¹ Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide. ¹² You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. ¹³ In return--I speak as to children--widen your hearts also.

Ye Are the Temple of the Living God

¹⁴ Do not be mismated with unbelievers. For what partnership have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? ¹⁵ What accord has Christ with Be'lial? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, "I will live in them and move among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ¹⁷ Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, ¹⁸ and I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."