Wisdom for Daily Living

10:1 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

22:17 Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge.

30:1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,

30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man.

30:3 I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy.

30:4 Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

30:7 Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die:

30:8 remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

30:9 lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.

30:11 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

30:13 There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

30:14 There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

30:15 The horseleach hath two daughters, crying, Give, give. There are three things that are never satisfied, yea, four things say not, It is enough:

30:16 the grave; and the barren womb; the earth that is not filled with water; and the fire that saith not, It is enough.

30:17 The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

30:18 There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:

30:19 the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

30:20 Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.

30:21 For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:

30:22 for a servant when he reigneth; and a fool when he is filled with meat;

30:23 for an odious woman when she is married; and an handmaid that is heir to her mistress.

30:24 There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:

30:25 the ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;

30:26 the conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;

30:27 the locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;

30:28 the spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces.

30:29 There be three things which go well, yea, four are comely in going:

30:30 a lion which is strongest among beasts, and turneth not away for any;

30:31 a greyhound; an he goat also; and a king, against whom there is no rising up.

30:32 If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.

30:33 Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

31:1 The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.

31:2 What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what, the son of my vows?

31:3 Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes strong drink:

31:5 lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

31:6 Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.

31:7 Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.

31:8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

31:9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

31:11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.

31:12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.

31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

31:14 She is like the merchants’ ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

31:15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.

31:16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

31:17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

31:18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.

31:19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

31:21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

31:22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.

31:23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

31:24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.

31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

31:31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.