World English Bible

1 Many have sinned for a thing indifferent;

And he that seeks to multiplygainwill turn his eye away.

2 A nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones;

And sin willthrust itself in between buying and selling.

3 Unlessa manhold on diligently in the fear of the Lord,

His house shall soon be overthrown.

4 In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains;

So the filth of man in his reasoning.

5 The furnace will prove the potter’s vessels;

And the trial of a man is in his reasoning.

6 The fruit of a tree declares the husbandry thereof;

So is the utterance of the thought of the heart of a man.

7 Praise no man beforeyou hear himreason;

For this is the trial of men.

8 If you follow righteousness, you shall obtain her,

And put her on, as a long robe of glory.

9 Birds will resort to their like;

And truth will return to them that practise her.

10 The lion lies in wait for prey;

So does sin for them that work iniquity.

11 The discourse of a godly man is always wisdom:

But the foolish man changes as the moon.

12 Among men void of understanding observe the opportunity;

But stay continually among the thoughtful.

13 The discourse of fools is an offence;

And their laughter is in the wantonness of sin.

14 The talk of a man of many oaths will make the hair stand upright;

And their strife makes one stop his ears.

15 The strife of the proud is a shedding of blood;

And their reviling of each other is a grievous thing to hear.

16 He that reveals secrets destroys credit,

And shall not find a friend to his mind.

17 Love a friend, and keep faith with him:

But if you reveal his secrets,

You shall not pursue after him;

18 For as a man has destroyed his enemy,

So have you destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.

19 And as a bird which you have loosed out of your hand,

So have you let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again:

20 Pursue him not, for he is gone far away,

And has escaped as a gazelle out of the snare.

21 For a wound may be bound up, and after reviling there may be a reconcilement;

But he that reveals secrets has lost hope.

22 One that winks with the eye contriveth evil things;

And no man will remove him from it.

23 When you are present, he will speak sweetly,

And will admire your words;

But afterward he will writhe his mouth,

And set a trapfor youin your words.

24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him;

And the Lord will hate him.

25 One that casts a stone on high casts it on his own head;

And a deceitful stroke will open wounds.

26 He that digs a pit shall fall into it;

And he that sets a snare shall be taken therein.

27 He that does evil things, they shall roll upon him,

And he shall not know whence they have come to him.

28 Mockery and reproach are from the haughty;

And vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for him.

29 They that rejoice at the fall of the godly shall be taken in a snare;

And anguish shall consume them before they die.

30 Wrath and anger, these also are abominations;

And a sinful man shall possess them.

1 He that takes vengeance shall find vengeance from the Lord;

And he will surely make firm his sins.

2 Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has doneyou;

And then your sins shall be pardoned when you pray.

3 Man cherisheth anger against man;

And does he seek healing from the Lord?

4 Upon a man like himself he has no mercy;

And does he make supplication for his own sins?

5 He being himself flesh nourishes wrath:

Who shall make atonement for his sins?

6 Remember your last end, and cease from enmity:

Remembercorruption and death, and abide in the commandments.

7 Remember the commandments, and be not angry with your neighbor;

Andrememberthe covenant of the Highest, and wink at ignorance.

8 Abstain from strife, and you shall diminish your sins:

For a passionate man will kindle strife;

9 And a man that is a sinner will trouble friends,

And will make debate among them that be at peace.

10 As is the fuel of the fire, so will it burn;

And as the stoutness of the strife is,sowill it burn:

As is the strength of the man,sowill be his wrath;

And as is his wealth,sowill he exalt his anger.

11 A contention begun in haste kindles a fire;

And a hasty fighting sheds blood.

12 If you blow a spark, it shall burn;

And if you spit upon it, it shall be quenched:

And both these shall come out of your mouth.

13 Curse the whisperer and double-tongued:

For he has destroyed many that were at peace.

14 A third person’s tongue has shaken many,

And dispersed them from nation to nation;

And it has pulled down strong cities,

And overthrown the houses of great men.

15 A third person’s tongue has cast out brave women,

And deprived them of their labors.

16 He that hearkens to it shall not find rest,

Nor shall he dwell quietly.

17 The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh;

But the stroke of a tongue will break bones.

18 Many have fallen by the edge of the sword:

Yet not so many as they that have fallen because of the tongue.

19 Happy is he that is sheltered from it,

That has not passed through the wrath thereof;

That has not drawn its yoke,

And has not been bound with its bands.

20 For the yoke thereof is a yoke of iron,

And the bands thereof are bands of brass.

21 The death thereof is an evil death;

And Hades were better than it.

22 It shall not have rule over godly men;

And they shall not be burned in its flame.

23 They that forsake the Lord shall fall into it;

And it shall burn among them, and shall not be quenched:

It shall be sent forth upon them as a lion;

And as a leopard it shall destroy them.

24 Look that you hedge your possession about with thorns;

Bind up your silver and your gold;

25 And make a balance and a weight for your words;

And make a door and a bar for your mouth.

26 Take heed lest you slip therein;

Lest you fall before one that lies in wait.

1 He that shows mercy will lend to his neighbor;

And he that strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments.

2 Lend to your neighbor in time of his need;

And pay you your neighbor again in due season.

3 Confirm your word, and keep faith with him;

And at all seasons you shall find what you need.

4 Many have reckoned a loan as a windfall,

And have given trouble to those that helped them.

5 Till he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands;

And for his neighbor’s money he will speak submissly:

And when payment is due, he will prolong the time,

And return words of heaviness, and complain ofthe times.

6 If he prevail, he shall hardly receive the half;

And he will count it as a windfall:

If not, he has deprived him of his money,

And he has gotten him for an enemy without cause:

He will pay him with cursings and railings;

And for honor he will pay him disgrace.

7 Many on account ofmen’sill-dealing have turned away;

They have feared to be defrauded for nothing.

8 Howbeit with a man in poor estate be longsuffering;

And let him not wait foryouralms.

9 Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake;

And according to his need send him not empty away.

10 Loseyourmoney for a brother and a friend;

And let it not rust under the stone to be lost.

11 Bestow your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High;

And it shall profit you more than gold.

12 Shut up alms in your store-chambers;

And it shall deliver you out of all affliction:

13 It shall fight for you against your enemy

Better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear.

14 A good man will be surety for his neighbor;

And he that has lost shame will fail him.

15 Forget not the good offices of your surety;

For he has given his life for you.

16 A sinner will overthrow the good estate of his surety;

17 And he that is of an unthankful mind will fail him that delivered him.

18 Suretiship has undone many that were prospering,

And shaken them as a wave of the sea:

Mighty men has it driven from their homes;

And they wandered among strange nations.

19 A sinner that falls into suretiship,

And undertakes contracts for work, shall fall into lawsuits.

20 Help your neighbor according to your power,

And take heed to yourself that you fall notto the same.

21 The chief thing for life is water, and bread,

And a garment, and a house to cover shame.

22 Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs,

Than sumptuous fare in another man’s house.

23 With little or with much, be well satisfied.

24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house:

And where you are a sojourner, you shall notdare toopen your mouth.

25 You shall entertain, and give to drink, and have no thanks:

And besides this you shall hear bitter words.

26 Come hither, you sojourner, furnish a table,

And if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.

27 Go forth, you sojourner, from the face of honor;

My brother is come to be my guest; I have need of my house.

28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding;

The upbraiding of house-room, and the reproaching of the money-lender.

1 He that loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him,

That he may have joy of him in the end.

2 He that chastises his son shall have profit of him,

And shall glory of him among his acquaintance.

3 He that teaches his son shall provoke his enemy to jealousy;

And before friends he shall rejoice of him.

4 His father dieth, and is as though he had not died;

For he has left one behind him like himself.

5 In his life, he saw and rejoicedin him;

And when he died, he sorrowed not:

6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies,

And one to requite kindness to his friends.

7 He that makes too much of his son shall bind up his wounds;

And his heart will be troubled at every cry.

8 An unbroken horse becomes stubborn;

And a son left at large becomes headstrong.

9 Cocker your child, and he shall make you afraid:

Play with him, and he will grieve you.

10 Laugh not with him, lest you have sorrow with him;

And you shall gnash your teeth in the end.

11 Give him no liberty in his youth,

And wink not at his follies.

12 Bow down his neck in his youth,

And beat him on the sides while he is a child,

Lest he wax stubborn, and be disobedient to you;

And there shall be sorrow to your soul.

13 Chastise your son, and take pains with him,

Lest his shameless behavior be an offence to you.

14 Better is a poor man, being sound and strong of constitution,

Than a rich man that is plagued in his body.

15 Health and a good constitution are better than all gold;

And a strong body than wealth without measure.

16 There is no riches better than health of body;

And there is no gladness above the joy of the heart.

17 Death is better than a bitter life,

Andeternal rest than a continual sickness.

18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed

Areasmesses of meat laid upon a grave.

19 What does an offering profit an idol?

For neither shall it eat nor smell:

So is he that is afflicted of the Lord,

20 Seeing with his eyes and groaning,

As an eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.

21 Give not over your soul to sorrow;

And afflict not yourself in your own counsel.

22 Gladness of heart is the life of a man;

And the joyfulness of a man is length of days.

23 Love your own soul, and comfort your heart:

And remove sorrow far from you;

For sorrow has destroyed many,

And there is no profit therein.

24 Envy and wrath shortena man’sdays;

And care brings old age before the time.

25 A cheerful and good heart

Will have a care of his meat and diet.

1 Wakefulness that comes of riches consumes the flesh,

And the anxiety thereof puts away sleep.

2 Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber;

Andin a sore disease sleep will be broken.

3 A rich man toileth in gathering money together;

And when he rests, he is filled with his good things.

4 A poor man toileth in lack of substance;

And when he rests, he becomes needy.

5 He that loves gold shall not be justified;

And he that follows destruction shall himself have his fillof it.

6 Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold;

And their perditionmeets them face to face.

7 It is a stumbling block to them that sacrifice to it;

And every fool shall be taken therewith.

8 Blessed is the rich that is found without blemish,

And that goes not after gold.

9 Who is he? and we will call him blessed:

For wonderful things has he done among his people.

10 Who has been tried thereby, and found perfect?

Then let him glory.

Who has had the power to transgress, and has not transgressed?

And to do evil, and has not done it?

11 His goods shall be made sure,

And the congregation shall declare his alms.

12 Sittest you at a great table?be not greedy upon it,

And say not, Many are the things upon it.

13 Remember that an evil eye is a wicked thing:

What has been created more evil than an eye?

Therefore it sheds tears from every face.

14 Stretch not your hand wherever it looks,

And thrust not yourself with it into the dish.

15 Consider your neighbor’slikingby your own;

And be discreet in every point.

16 Eat, asbecomesa man, those things which are set before you;

And eat not greedily, lest you be hated.

17 Be first to leave off for manners’ sake;

And be not insatiable, lest you offend.

18 And if you sit among many,

Reach not out your hand before them.

19 How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little,

And he does not breathe hard upon his bed.

20 Healthy sleep comes of moderate eating;

He rises early, and his wits are with him:

The pain of wakefulness, and colic,

And griping, are with an insatiable man.

21 And if you have been forced to eat,

Rise up in the midst thereof, and you shall have rest.

22 Hear me, my son, and despise me not,

And at the last you shall find my wordstrue:

In all your works be quick,

And no disease shall come to you.

23 Him that is liberal of his meat the lips shall bless;

And the testimony of his excellence shall be believed.

24 Him that is a niggard of his meat the city shall murmur at;

And the testimony of his niggardness shall be sure.

25 Show not yourself valiant in wine;

For wine has destroyed many.

26 The furnace proves the temperof steelby dipping;

So does wineprovehearts in the quarreling of the proud.

27 Wine is as good as life to men,

If you drink it in its measure:

What life is there to a man that is without wine?

And it has been created to make men glad.

28 Wine drunk in seasonandto satisfy

Is joy of heart, and gladness of soul:

29 Wine drunk largely is bitterness of soul,

With provocation and conflict.

30 Drunkenness increases the rage of a fool to his hurt;

It diminishes strength, and adds wounds.

31 Rebuke not your neighbor at a banquet of wine,

Neither set him at nothing in his mirth:

Speak not to him a word of reproach,

And press not upon him by asking backa debt.

1 Have they made you rulerof a feast?

Be not lifted up,

Be you among them as one of them;

Take thought for them, and so sit down.

2 And when you have done all your office, take your place,

That you may be gladdened on their account,

And receive a crown for your well ordering.

3 Speak, you that are the elder, for it becomes you,butwith sound knowledge;

And hinder not music.

4 Pour not out talk where there is a performance of music,

And display not your wisdom out of season.

5 Asa signet of carbuncle in a setting of gold,

Sois a concert of music in a banquet of wine.

6 Asa signet of emerald in a work of gold,

Sois a strain of music with pleasant wine.

7 Speak, young man, if there be need of you;

Yetscarcely if you be twice asked.

8 Sum up your speech, many things in few words;

Be as one that knows and yet holds his tongue.

9 If you beamong great men, behave not as their equal;

And when another is speaking, make not much babbling.

10 Before thunder speedeth lightning;

And before a shamefast man favor shall go forth.

11 Rise up betimes, and be not the last;

Get you home quickly and loiter not:

12 There take your pastime, and do what is in your heart;

And sin not by proud speech:

13 And for these things bless him that made you,

And gives you to drink freely of his good things.

14 He that fears the Lord will receivehisdiscipline;

And they that seekhimearly shall find favor.

15 He that seeks the law shall be filled therewith:

But the hypocrite shall stumble thereat.

16 They that fear the Lord shall find judgement,

And shall kindle righteous acts as a light.

17 A sinful man shunneth reproof,

And will find a judgement according to his will.

18 A man of counsel will not neglect a thought;

A strange and proud man will not crouch in fear,

Even after he has done a thing by himself without counsel.

19 Do nothing without counsel;

And when you have once done, repent not.

20 Go not in a way of conflict;

And stumble not in stony places.

21 Be not confident in asmooth way.

22 And beware of your own children.

23 In every work trust your own soul;

For this is the keeping of the commandments.

24 He that believes the law gives heed to the commandment;

And he that trusts in the Lord shall suffer no loss.

1 Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding;

And dreams give wings to fools.

2 As one that catches at a shadow, and follows after the wind,

So is he that sets his mind on dreams.

3 The vision of dreams isasthis thing against that,

The likeness of a face over against a face.

4 Of an unclean thing what shall be cleansed?

And of that which is false what shall be true?

5 Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain:

And the heart fancies, as a woman’s in travail.

6 If they be not sent from the Most High inyourvisitation,

Give not your heart to them.

7 For dreams have led many astray:

And they have failed by putting their hope in them.

8 Without lying shall the law be accomplished;

And wisdom is perfection to a faithful mouth.

9 A well-instructed man knows many things;

And he that has much experience will declare understanding.

10 He that has no experience knows few things:

But he that has wandered shall increasehisskill.

11 In my wandering I have seen many things;

And more than my words is my understanding.

12 Ofttimes was I in danger even to death;

And I was preserved because of these things.

13 The spirit of those that fear the Lord shall live;

For their hope is upon him that saves them.

14 Whoso fears the Lord shall not be afraid, and shall not play the coward;

For he is his hope.

15 Blessed is the soul of him that fears the Lord:

To whom does he give heed? and who is his stay?

16 The eyes of the Lord are upon them that love him,

A mighty protection and strong stay,

A cover from the hot blast, and a cover from the noonday,

A guard from stumbling, and a succour from falling.

17 He raises up the soul, and enlighteneth the eyes:

He gives healing, life, and blessing.

18 He that sacrifices of a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery;

And the mockeries of wicked men are not well-pleasing.

19 The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly;

Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices.

20 Asone that kills the son before his father’s eyes

Is he that brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor.

21 The bread of the needy is the life of the poor:

He that depriveth him thereof is a man of blood.

22 Asone that slays his neighbor is he that takes away his living;

Andasa shedder of blood is he that depriveth a hireling of his hire.

23 One building, and another pulling down,

What profit have they had but toil?

24 One praying, and another cursing,

Whose voice will the Lord listen to?

25 He that washes himself aftertouchinga dead body, and touches it again,

What profit has he in his washing?

26 Even so a man fasting for his sins,

And going again, and doing the same;

Who will listen to his prayer?

And what profit has he in his humiliation?

1 He that keeps the law multiplies offerings;

He that takes heed to the commandments sacrifices a peace offering.

2 He that requites a good turn offers fine flour;

And he that gives alms sacrifices a thank offering.

3 To depart from wickedness is a thing pleasing to the Lord;

And to depart from unrighteousness is a propitiation.

4 See that you appear not in the presence of the Lord empty.

5 For all these thingsare to be donebecause of the commandment.

6 The offering of the righteous makes the altar fat;

And the sweet savor thereofisbefore the Most High.

7 The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable;

And the memorial thereof shall not be forgotten.

8 Glorify the Lord with a good eye,

And stint not the first fruits of your hands.

9 In every gift show a cheerful countenance,

And dedicate your tithe with gladness.

10 Give to the Most High according as he has given;

And as your hand has found,givewith a good eye.

11 For the Lord recompenses,

And he will recompense you sevenfold.

12 Think not to corrupt with gifts; for he will not receive them:

And set not your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice;

For the Lord is judge,

And with him is no respect of persons.

13 He will not accept any person against a poor man;

And he will listen to the prayer of him that is wronged.

14 He will in no wise despise the supplication of the fatherless;

Nor the widow,when she pours out her tale.

15 Do not the tears of the widow run down her cheek?

And is not her cry against him that has caused them to fall?

16 He that servesGodaccording to his good pleasure shall be accepted,

And his supplication shall reach to the clouds.

17 The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds;

And till it come near, he will not be comforted;

And he will not depart, till the Most High shall visit;

And he shall judgerighteously, and execute judgement.

18 And the Lord will not be slack, neither will he be longsuffering toward them,

Till he have crushed the loins of the unmerciful;

And he shall repay vengeance to the heathen;

Till he have taken away the multitude of the haughty,

And broken in pieces the sceptres of the unrighteous;

19 Till he have rendered toeveryman according to his doings,

Andtothe works of men according to their devices;

Till he have judged the cause of his people;

And he shall make them to rejoice in his mercy.

20 Mercy is seasonable in the time of his afflictingthem,

As clouds of rain in the time of drought.

1 Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and behold;

2 And send your fear upon all the nations:

3 Lift up your hand against the strange nations;

And let them see your mighty power.

4 As you were sanctified in us before them,

So be you magnified in them before us.

5 And let them know you, as we also have known you,

That there is no God but only you, O God.

6 Show new signs, and work various wonders;

Glorify your hand and your right arm.

7 Raise up indignation, and pour out wrath;

Take away the adversary, and destroy the enemy.

8 Hasten the time, and remember the oath;

And let them declare your mighty works.

9 Let him that escapes be devoured by the rage of fire;

And may they that harm your people find destruction.

10 Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies,

That say, There is none but we.

11 Gather all the tribes of Jacob together,

Andtake them for your inheritance, as from the beginning.

12 O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name,

And upon Israel, whom you did liken to a firstborn.

13 Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary,

Jerusalem, the place of your rest.

14 Fill Sion; exalt your oracles,

Andfillyour people with your glory.

15 Give testimony to those that were your creatures in the beginning,

And raise up the prophecies that have been in your name.

16 Give reward to them that wait for you:

And men shall put their trust in your prophets.

17 Hearken, O Lord, to the prayer of your suppliants,

According to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people;

And all they that are on the earth shall know

That you are the Lord, theeternal God.

18 The belly will eat any meat;

Yet is one meat better than another.

19 Themouth tastes meats taken in hunting:

So does an understanding heart false speeches.

20 A froward heart will cause heaviness:

And a man of experience will recompense him.

21 A woman will receive any man;

But one daughter is better than another.

22 The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance;

And a man desires nothing so much.

23 If there is on her tongue mercy and meekness,

Her husband is not like the sons of men.

24 He that gets a wife enters upon a possession:

A help meet for him, and a pillar of rest.

25 Where no hedge is, the possession will be laid waste:

And he that has no wife will mourn as he wandereth up and down.

26 For who will trust a nimble robber, that skips from city to city?

Even sowho shall trusta man that has no nest, and lodges wherever he finds himself at nightfall?