On Life And Conduct

[1] Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. [2] Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. [3] The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. [4] Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. [5] A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. [6] Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. [7] All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. [8] He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. [9] A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. [10] Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. [11] The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. [12] The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. [13] A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. [14] House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. [15] Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. [16] He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. [17] He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. [18] Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. [19] A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. [20] Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. [21] There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. [22] The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. [23] The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. [24] A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. [25] Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. [26] He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. [27] Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. [28] An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. [29] Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.

[1] Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. [2] The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. [3] It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. [4] The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. [5] Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. [6] Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? [7] The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. [8] A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. [9] Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? [10] Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. [11] Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. [12] The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. [13] Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. [14] It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. [15] There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. [16] Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. [17] Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. [18] Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. [19] He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. [20] Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. [21] An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. [22] Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. [23] Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. [24] Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? [25] It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make inquiry. [26] A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. [27] The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. [28] Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. [29] The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. [30] The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

[1] The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. [2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. [3] To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. [4] An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. [5] The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. [6] The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. [7] The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. [8] The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. [9] It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. [10] The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. [11] When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. [12] The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. [13] Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. [14] A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. [15] It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. [16] The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. [17] He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. [18] The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. [19] It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. [20] There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. [21] He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. [22] A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. [23] Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. [24] Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. [25] The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. [26] He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. [27] The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? [28] A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. [29] A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. [30] There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. [31] The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

[1] A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold. [2] The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all. [3] A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished. [4] By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life. [5] Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward: he that doth keep his soul shall be far from them. [6] Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. [7] The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. [8] He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail. [9] He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor. [10] Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease. [11] He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. [12] The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. [13] The slothful man saith, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets. [14] The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein. [15] Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. [16] He that oppresseth the poor to increase his riches, and he that giveth to the rich, shall surely come to want. [17] Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. [18] For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. [19] That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. [20] Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, [21] That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? [22] Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: [23] For the LORD will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them. [24] Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: [25] Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. [26] Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts. [27] If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee? [28] Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set. [29] Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

[1] When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: [2] And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. [3] Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat. [4] Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. [5] Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. [6] Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: [7] For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. [8] The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words. [9] Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. [10] Remove not the old landmark; and enter not into the fields of the fatherless: [11] For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee. [12] Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. [13] Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. [14] Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell. [15] My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. [16] Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things. [17] Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long. [18] For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off. [19] Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. [20] Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: [21] For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags. [22] Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. [23] Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding. [24] The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. [25] Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice. [26] My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. [27] For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. [28] She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men. [29] Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? [30] They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. [31] Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. [32] At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder. [33] Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things. [34] Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast. [35] They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.

Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

• Paul
• Patience

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

• Gospel

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die.

A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

• Wisdom

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

• Works

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.