Study Desk

^(a)Do not boast about tomorrow, For you ^(b)do not know what a day may bring forth.

Let ^(c)another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.

A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But ^(d)who can stand before jealousy?

Better is ^(e)open rebuke Than love that is concealed.

Faithful are the ^(f)wounds of a friend, But ^[a]deceitful are the ^(g)kisses of an enemy.

A sated ^[b]man ^[c]loathes honey, But to a famished ^[d]man any bitter thing is sweet.

Like a ^(h)bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who ⁽ⁱ⁾wanders from his ^[e]home.

^(j)Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a ^[f]man's counsel is sweet to his friend.

Do not forsake your own ^(k)friend or ^(l)your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

^(m)Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may ⁽ⁿ⁾reply to him who reproaches me.

A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The ^[g]naive proceed and pay the penalty.

^(o)Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an ^[h]adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

^(p)He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him.

A ^(q)constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike;

He who would ^[i]restrain her ^[j]restrains the wind, And ^[k]grasps oil with his right hand.

Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

He who tends the ^(r)fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who ^(s)cares for his master will be honored.

As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man.

^[l](t)Sheol and ^[m]Abaddon are ^(u)never satisfied, Nor are the ^(v)eyes of man ever satisfied.

The ^(w)crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each ^(x)is tested by the praise accorded him.

Though you ^(y)pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

^(z)Know well the ^[n]condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds;

For riches are not forever, Nor does a ^(aa)crown endure to all generations.

When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are ^(ab)gathered in,

The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field,

And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.

The wicked ^(a)flee when no one is pursuing, But the righteous are ^[a]bold as a lion.

By the transgression of a land ^(b)many are its princes, But ^(c)by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

A ^(d)poor man who oppresses the lowly Is like a driving rain ^[b]which leaves no food.

Those who forsake the law ^(e)praise the wicked, But those who keep the law ^(f)strive with them.

Evil men ^(g)do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord ^(h)understand all things.

⁽ⁱ⁾Better is the poor who walks in his integrity Than he who is ^[c]crooked though he be rich.

He who keeps the law is a discerning son, But he who is a companion of ^(j)gluttons humiliates his father.

He who increases his wealth by ^(k)interest and usury Gathers it ^(l)for him who is gracious to the poor.

He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, Even his ^(m)prayer is an abomination.

He who leads the upright astray in an evil way Will ⁽ⁿ⁾himself fall into his own pit, But the ^(o)blameless will inherit good.

The rich man is ^(p)wise in his own eyes, But the poor who has understanding ^[d]sees through him.

When the ^(q)righteous triumph, there is great glory, But ^(r)when the wicked rise, men ^[e]hide themselves.

He who ^(s)conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who ^(t)confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

How blessed is the man who ^(u)fears always, But he who ^(v)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

Like a ^(w)roaring lion and a rushing bear Is a ^(x)wicked ruler over a poor people.

A ^(y)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding, But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

A man who is ^(z)laden with the guilt of human blood Will ^[f]be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

He who walks blamelessly will be delivered, But he who is ^[g](aa)crooked will fall all at once.

^(ab)He who tills his land will ^(ac)have plenty of food, But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

A ^(ad)faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who ^(ae)makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

To ^[h](af)show partiality is not good, ^(ag)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

A man with an ^(ah)evil eye ^(ai)hastens after wealth And does not know that want will come upon him.

He who ^(aj)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor Than he who ^(ak)flatters with the tongue.

He who ^(al)robs his father or his mother And says, "It is not a transgression," Is the ^(am)companion of a man who destroys.

An ^[i]arrogant man ^(an)stirs up strife, But he who ^(ao)trusts in the Lord ^(ap)will ^[j]prosper.

He who ^(aq)trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

He who ^(ar)gives to the poor will never want, But he who ^[k]shuts his eyes will have many curses.

When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; But when they perish, the righteous increase.

A man who hardens his neck after ^(a)much reproof Will ^(b)suddenly be broken ^[a]beyond remedy.

When the ^(c)righteous ^[b]increase, the people rejoice, But when a wicked man rules, people groan.

A man who ^(d)loves wisdom makes his father glad, But he who ^(e)keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.

The ^(f)king gives stability to the land by justice, But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

A man who ^(g)flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps.

By transgression an evil man is ^(h)ensnared, But the righteous ⁽ⁱ⁾sings and rejoices.

The ^(j)righteous ^[c]is concerned for the rights of the poor, The wicked does not understand such ^[d]concern.

Scorners ^(k)set a city aflame, But ^(l)wise men turn away anger.

When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man, ^[e]The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

Men of ^(m)bloodshed hate the blameless, But the upright ^[f]are concerned for his life.

A ⁽ⁿ⁾fool ^[g]always loses his temper, But a ^(o)wise man holds it back.

If a ^(p)ruler pays attention to falsehood, All his ministers become wicked.

The ^(q)poor man and the oppressor ^[h]have this in common: The Lord gives ^(r)light to the eyes of both.

If a ^(s)king judges the poor with truth, His ^(t)throne will be established forever.

The ^(u)rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child ^[i]who gets his own way ^(v)brings shame to his mother.

When the wicked ^[j]increase, transgression increases; But the ^(w)righteous will see their fall.

^(x)Correct your son, and he will give you comfort; He will also ^[k](y)delight your soul.

Where there is ^(z)no ^[l]vision, the people ^(aa)are unrestrained, But ^(ab)happy is he who keeps the law.

A slave will not be instructed by words alone; For though he understands, there will be no response.

Do you see a man who is ^(ac)hasty in his words? There is ^(ad)more hope for a fool than for him.

He who pampers his slave from childhood Will in the end find him to be a son.

An ^(ae)angry man stirs up strife, And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

A man's ^(af)pride will bring him low, But a ^(ag)humble spirit will obtain honor.

He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life; He ^(ah)hears the oath but tells nothing.

The ^(ai)fear of man ^[m]brings a snare, But he who ^(aj)trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

^(ak)Many seek the ruler's ^[n]favor, But ^(al)justice for man comes from the Lord .

An ^(am)unjust man is abominable to the righteous, And he who is ^(an)upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.