Study Desk

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

He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, And the rod of his anger will fail.

He who has a generous eye will be blessed, For he gives of his bread to the poor.

He who loves purity of heart And has grace on his lips, The king will be his friend.

He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches, And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul.

Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.

Do not desire his delicacies, For they are deceptive food.

Do not eat the bread of a miser, [fn] Nor desire his delicacies;

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

You shall beat him with a rod,And deliver his soul from hell. [fn]

Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; He does not open his mouth in the gate.

If you say, "Surely we did not know this," Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

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

Lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, And He turn away His wrath from him.

Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

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

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

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor Is like a club, a sword, and a sharp arrow.

For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, And the LORD will reward you.