Wisdom is knowledge applied.

These also are the proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah the king of Judah transcribed:

It is the glory of God to keep a matter secret, and the glory of kings is to search through a matter.

As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

Remove the dross from the silver, and it will emerge completely refined.

Remove the wicked one from the king’s presence, and his throne will be firmly established in righteousness.

Do not honor yourself before the king, and do not take a place among the prominent, for it is better for him to say to you, “Come up here,” than to humiliate you in the presence of a noble.

Do not rush into a legal dispute, for what will you do later if your neighbor humiliates you?

Plead your case with your neighbor, but do not reveal what you were told confidentially,

so that the one listening will not put you to shame and you spread a bad report that cannot be recalled.

Like apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time.

Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to the receptive ear.

Just like the coldness of snow on the day of harvest is a faithful messenger to those who sent him, for he refreshes his master.

Like clouds and wind that bring no rain is a man who boasts about a gift never given.

By patience a commander is won over, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

If you find honey, eat only what you need, for if you take too much, you may vomit it up.

Rarely set foot in your neighbor’s house, so that he does not get tired of you and hate you.

Like a war club and a sword and a sharp arrow is a man bearing false witness against his neighbor.

Like a broken tooth or an unsteady foot is confidence in an unreliable person in times of trouble.

Like one who removes a garment on a cold day and like vinegar poured on soda is the one who sings songs to a gloomy heart.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will be heaping burning coals on his head, and Jehovah will reward you.

The north wind brings a downpour, and a gossiping tongue brings an angry face.

Better to dwell on a corner of the roof than in the same house with a quarrelsome wife.

Like cold water on a tired soul is a good report from a distant land.

Like a muddied spring and a ruined well is a righteous person who gives in to a wicked one.

It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.

As a city broken through, without a wall, is the man who cannot control his temper.

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“May your seas be wide enough for wonder, your harbor always waiting, and your light never fail when another soul is searching.” – The Lantern Keeper

We are not meant to crave the king’s delicacies, but to crave understanding.

When you sit down to eat with a king, Carefully consider what is before you.

Put a knife to your throat If you have a large appetite.

Do not crave his delicacies, For it is deceptive food.

Do not wear yourself out to gain wealth. Stop and show understanding.

When you cast your eyes on it, it is not there, For it will surely sprout wings like an eagle and fly off into the sky.

Do not eat the food of a stingy person; Do not crave his delicacies, For he is like one keeping accounts. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but he does not mean it.

You will vomit up the morsels you have eaten And will have wasted your compliments.

Do not speak in the ears of the stupid one, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Do not move an ancient boundary marker Or encroach on the field of the fatherless.

For their Defender is strong; He will take up their cause against you.

Apply your heart to discipline And your ear to the sayings of knowledge.

Do not hold back discipline from a boy. If you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

With the rod you should strike him, In order to save him from the Grave.

My son, if your heart becomes wise, Then my own heart will rejoice.

My innermost being will find joy When your lips speak what is right.

Let your heart not envy sinners, But be in the fear of Jehovah all day long.

For then you will have a future And your hope will not be cut off.

Listen, my son, and become wise, And direct your heart in the right way.

Do not be among those who drink too much wine, Among those who gorge themselves on meat, For a drunkard and a glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe one with rags.

Listen to your father who caused your birth, And do not despise your mother just because she has grown old.

Buy truth and never sell it, Also wisdom and discipline and understanding.

The father of a righteous one will surely be joyful; Whoever fathers a wise son will rejoice in him.

Your father and your mother will rejoice, And she who gave birth to you will be joyful.

My son, do give your heart to me, And may your eyes take pleasure in my ways.

For a prostitute is a deep pit, And an immoral woman is a narrow well.

She lies in wait like a robber; She increases the number of unfaithful men.

Who has woe? Who has uneasiness? Who has quarrels? Who has complaints? Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bleary eyes?

Those lingering long over wine; Those searching out mixed wine.

Do not look at the wine’s red color As it sparkles in the cup and goes down smoothly, For in the end it bites like a serpent, And it secretes poison like a viper.

Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will speak perverse things.

And you will be like one lying down in the middle of the sea, Like one lying at the top of a ship’s mast.

You will say: “They have struck me, but I did not feel it. They beat me, but I did not know it. When will I wake up? I need another drink.”

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“May your seas be wide enough for wonder, your harbor always waiting, and your light never fail when another soul is searching.” – The Lantern Keeper

Listen or suffer the consequence.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great wealth; to be respected is better than silver and gold.

The rich and the poor have this in common: Jehovah made them both.

The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.

The result of humility and the fear of Jehovah is riches and glory and life.

Thorns and traps are in the crooked man’s path, but whoever values his life keeps far away from them.

Train a boy in the way he should go; even when he grows old he will not depart from it.

The rich one rules the poor, and the borrower is a slave to the lender.

Whoever sows unrighteousness will reap disaster, and the rod of his fury will come to its end.

The generous person will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.

Drive away the scornful man, and contention will disappear; disputes and insults will cease.

The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.

The eyes of Jehovah safeguard knowledge, but He overturns the words of the treacherous.

The lazy one says: “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the middle of the public square!”

The mouth of wayward women is a deep pit. The one condemned by Jehovah will fall into it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a boy, but the rod of discipline will remove it far from him.

The one defrauding the poor to increase his wealth and the one giving gifts to the rich will end up in poverty.

Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise, in order to apply your heart to my knowledge, for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you, so that all of them may constantly be on your lips.

For your confidence to be in Jehovah, I am giving you knowledge today.

Have I not already written you, imparting advice and knowledge, to teach you true and reliable words, so that you can return with an accurate report to the one who sent you?

Do not rob the poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the lowly man in the city gate, for Jehovah himself will plead their cause, and he will take the life of those who defraud them.

Do not keep company with a hot-tempered man or get involved with one disposed to rage, so that you never learn his ways and ensnare yourself.

Do not be among those who shake hands in a pledge, who put up security for loans. If you have nothing to pay, your bed will be taken right out from under you!

Do not move an ancient boundary marker that your forefathers put in place.

Have you seen a man skillful at his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before common men.

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“May your seas be wide enough for wonder, your harbor always waiting, and your light never fail when another soul is searching.” – The Lantern Keeper