The Bible (Old and New Testaments)

Let not thy heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, a mighty host are all her slain.

Her house is the way to the nether-world, going down to the chambers of death.

Doth not wisdom call, and understanding put forth her voice?

In the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she standeth;

Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, she crieth aloud:

'Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

O ye thoughtless, understand prudence, and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

Hear, for I will speak excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

For my mouth shall utter truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, there is nothing perverse or crooked in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

Receive my instruction, and not silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies, and all things desirable are not to be compared unto her.

I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of devices.

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.

By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

I love them that love me, and those that seek me earnestly shall find me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, enduring riches and righteousness.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my produce than choice silver.

I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice;

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries.

The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old.

I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth;

While as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world.

When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep,

When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might,

When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth;

Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him,

Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men.

Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways.

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.

But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.'

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars;

She hath prepared her meat, she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

She hath sent forth her maidens, she calleth, upon the highest places of the city:

'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Forsake all thoughtlessness, and live; and walk in the way of understanding.

He that correcteth a scorner getteth to himself shame, and he that reproveth a wicked man, it becometh unto him a blot.

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee; reprove a wise man, and he will love thee.

Give to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the All-holy is understanding.

For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

If thou art wise, thou art wise for thyself; and if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.'

The woman Folly is riotous; she is thoughtless, and knoweth nothing.

And she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

To call to them that pass by, who go right on their ways:

'Whoso is thoughtless, let him turn in hither'; and as for him that lacketh understanding, she saith to him:

'Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.'

But he knoweth not that the shades are there; that her guests are in the depths of the nether-world.

The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing; but righteousness delivereth from death.

The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish; but He thrusteth away the desire of the wicked.

He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand; but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

A wise son gathereth in summer; but a son that doeth shamefully sleepeth in harvest.

Blessings are upon the head of the righteous; but the mouth of the wicked concealeth violence.

The memory of the righteous shall be for a blessing; but the name of the wicked shall rot.

The wise in heart will receive commandments; but a prating fool shall fall.

He that walketh uprightly walketh securely; but he that perverteth his ways shall be found out.

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; and a prating fool shall fall.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life; but the mouth of the wicked concealeth violence.

Hatred stirreth up strifes; but love covereth all transgressions.

In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

Wise men lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the foolish is an imminent ruin.

The rich man's wealth is his strong city; the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

The wages of the righteous is life; the increase of the wicked is sin.

He is in the way of life that heedeth instruction; but he that forsaketh reproof erreth.

He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; and he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver; the heart of the wicked is little worth.

The lips of the righteous feed many; but the foolish die for want of understanding.

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and toil addeth nothing thereto.

It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness, and so is wisdom to a man of discernment.

The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him; and the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

When the whirlwind passeth, the wicked is no more; but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

The fear of the LORD prolongeth days; but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The hope of the righteous is gladness; but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

The way of the LORD is a stronghold to the upright, but ruin to the workers of iniquity.

The righteous shall never be moved; but the wicked shall not inhabit the land.

The mouth of the righteous buddeth with wisdom; but the froward tongue shall be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; but the mouth of the wicked is all frowardness.

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD; but a perfect weight is His delight.

When pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.

The integrity of the upright shall guide them; but the perverseness of the faithless shall destroy them.

Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.

The righteousness of the sincere shall make straight his way; but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them; but the faithless shall be trapped in their own crafty device.

When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish, and the hope of strength perisheth.

The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

With his mouth the impious man destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.

When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is joy.

By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.