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Listen to this chapter • 3:51

[1] Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

[2] The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.

[3] It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling.

[4] The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing.

[5] The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.

[6] Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?

[7] The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!

[8] A king who sits on the throne of judgment winnows all evil with his eyes.

[9] Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

[10] Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

[11] Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

[12] The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the LORD has made them both.

[13] Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.

[14] “Bad, bad,” says the buyer, but when he goes away, then he boasts.

[15] There is gold and abundance of costly stones, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

[16] Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.

[17] Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

[18] Plans are established by counsel; by wise guidance wage war.

[19] Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

[20] If one curses his father or his mother, his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.

[21] An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning will not be blessed in the end.

[22] Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.

[23] Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD, and false scales are not good.

[24] A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

[25] It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,” and to reflect only after making vows.

[26] A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them.

[27] The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts.

[28] Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king, and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.

[29] The glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.

[30] Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.

Proverbs — Chapters