Study Desk

Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;He who keeps his soul will be far from them.

Train up a child according to his way,Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

He who sows unrighteousness will reap iniquity,And the rod of his fury will end.

He who is generous will be blessed,For he gives from his food to the poor.

He who loves purity of heartAnd grace on his lips, the king is his friend.

Lest you learn his waysAnd take on a snare against your soul.

Do you see a man skilled in his work?He will stand before kings;He will not stand before obscure men.

Do not desire his delicacies,For it is bread of falsehood.

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,And do not desire his delicacies;

For as he calculates in his soul, so he is."Eat and drink!" he says to you,But his heart is not with you.

You shall strike him with the rodAnd deliver his soul from Sheol.

A wise man is strong,And a man of knowledge strengthens his power.

Wisdom is too exalted for an ignorant fool,He does not open his mouth in the gate.

If you say, "Behold, we did not know this,"Does not He who weighs the hearts understand?And does not He who guards your soul know?And will not He render to man according to his work?

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the abode of the righteous;Do not destroy his resting place;

Lest Yahweh see it and it be evil in His eyes,And turn His anger away from him.

Do not say, "As he did to me so I shall do to him;I will render to the man according to his work."

Take away the wicked before the king,And his throne will be established in righteousness.

Like the cold of snow in the time of harvestIs a faithful envoy to those who send him,For he refreshes the soul of his masters.

Like clouds and wind without rainIs a man who boasts of his gifts falsely.