Proverbs. Chapter 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6| 7| 8| 9| 10| 11| 12| 13| 14| 15| 16| 17| 18| 19| 20| 21| 22| 23| 24| 29:27| 30| 24:23-34| 30:15-33| 31| 25| 26| 27| 28| 29| 31:10-31| Appendix
  1. False balances are an abomination before the Lord: but a just weight is acceptable unto him.
  2. Wherever pride enters, there will be also disgrace: but the mouth of the lowly meditates wisdom. [a]
  3. When a just man dies he [b] leaves regret: but the destruction of the ungodly is speedy, and causes joy.
  4. Righteousness [c] traces out blameless paths: but ungodliness encounters unjust dealing.

  5. The righteousness of upright men delivers them: but transgressors are caught in their own destruction.
  6. At the death of a just man his hope does not perish: but the boast of the ungodly perishes.
  7. A righteous man escapes from a snare, and the ungodly man is delivered up in his place.
  8. In the mouth of ungodly men is a snare to citizens: but the understanding of righteous men is prosperous.
  9. In the prosperity of righteous men a city prospers: [d] but by the mouths of ungodly men it is overthrown.

  10. A man void of understanding sneers at his fellow citizens: but a sensible man is quiet.
  11. A double-tongued man discloses the secret counsels of an assembly: but he that is [e] faithful in spirit conceals matters.
  12. They that have no [f] guidance fall like leaves: but in much counsel there is safety.

  13. A bad man does harm wherever he meets a just man: and he hates the sound of safety.
  14. A gracious wife [g] brings glory to her husband: but a woman hating righteousness is a theme of dishonour. The slothful come to want: but the [h] diligent support themselves with wealth.
  15. A merciful man does good to his own soul: but the merciless destroys his own body.

  16. An ungodly man performs unrighteous works: but the seed of the righteous is a reward of truth.
  17. A righteous son is born for life: but the persecution of the ungodly ends in death.
  18. Perverse ways are an abomination to the Lord: but all they that are blameless in their ways are acceptable to him.
  19. He that unjustly strikes hands shall not be unpunished: but he that sows righteousness shall receive a faithful reward.
  20. As an ornament in a swine's snout, so is beauty to an ill-minded woman.
  21. All the desire of the righteous is good: but the hope of the ungodly shall perish.

  22. There are some who scatter their own, and make it more: and there are some also who gather, yet have less. [i]
  23. Every sincere soul is blessed: but a passionate man is not graceful.
  24. May he that hoards corn leave it to the nation: but blessing be on the head of him that gives it.
  25. He that devises good counsels seeks good favour: but as for him that seeks after evil, evil shall overtake him.
  26. He that trusts in wealth shall fall; but he that helps righteous men shall rise. [j]
  27. He that deals not graciously with his own house shall inherit the wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise man.
  28. Out of the fruit of righteousness grows a tree of life; but the souls of transgressors are cut off before their time.
  29. [k] If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
[a] See Appendix. [b] Comp. Heb. [c] Gr. right divides. See 2 Tim 2.15. [d] See Appendix. [e] See chap. 20.27. [f] Or, governance. [g] Gr. raises. [h] Gr. manly. [i] Gr. diminished. [j] See 1 Tim. 5.8. [k] See 1 Pet. 4.18.
[English translation of the Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton (1807-1862) originally published by Samuel Bagster & Sons, Ltd., London, 1851]