Old Testament · 31 chapters

Proverbs

7 sessions, each with its notes, questions, and the full World English Bible text.

Open to everyone

This book is free to read and study.

The proverbs of Solomon open by naming their aim, and they set the fear of the LORD as the beginning of knowledge while Wisdom cries aloud in the street.
The father urges the son to seek wisdom as hidden treasure, a gift from the LORD that delivers from violent men and from the forbidden woman.
He calls the son to trust the LORD with the whole heart, to honor Him with substance, and not to despise the discipline of a father who loves.
Instruction continues: get wisdom, guard the heart, and refuse the path of the wicked, whose way is like deep darkness.
The son is warned that the forbidden woman's feet go down to death, and he is told to drink from his own cistern and rejoice in the wife of his youth.

The father warns against cosigning a neighbor's debt, against the sluggard, and against seven things the LORD hates, including a lying tongue and feet that run to evil.
He watches from a window as a young man meets a woman dressed for the night, and the youth follows her like an ox going to the slaughter.
Wisdom lifts her voice again, claims a dwelling with prudence, and says she was beside the LORD as a master workman when the world was established.
Wisdom builds her house and sets a table, while Folly sits at her own door and offers stolen water that leads down to the dead.
The collected sayings of Solomon begin, setting the wise son against the foolish and the blessing of the righteous against the name of the wicked.

A false balance is an abomination to the LORD, and the sayings set humility, generosity, and a city's joy in the righteous against the fall of the wicked.
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, while lying lips and sloth are exposed, and anxiety weighs down a fool's heart.
A wise son hears instruction, hope deferred makes the heart sick, and the one who walks with the wise becomes wise.
The wise woman builds her house, the fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, and the simple believe everything they hear.
A soft answer turns away wrath, the eyes of the LORD are in every place, and better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with trouble.

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD, and pride goes before destruction.
Better a dry morsel with quiet than a feast with strife, a friend loves at all times, and the crucible is for silver while the LORD tests hearts.
A fool's mouth is his ruin, the name of the LORD is a strong tower, and an offended brother is harder to win than a fortified city.
Better a poor man who walks in integrity than a fool of perverse speech, and a man's folly ruins his way even while his heart rages against the LORD.
Wine is a mocker, unequal weights are an abomination, and the lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man.

The king's heart is a stream in the LORD's hand, to do righteousness and justice is better than sacrifice, and victory belongs to the LORD even when the horse is ready.
A good name is chosen rather than great riches, the rich and the poor meet because the LORD made them both, and the sayings of the wise begin their own appeal.
The son is warned at a ruler's table, told not to withhold discipline from a child, and shown the woe of those who linger over wine.
He is told not to envy evil men, to rescue those being led away to death, and that a little sleep brings poverty like an armed man.
More proverbs of Solomon, copied by Hezekiah's men, praise a word fitly spoken and command kindness even toward a hungry enemy.

Honor is not fitting for a fool, the sluggard invents dangers, and the one who deceives a neighbor and says he was only joking is like a madman throwing firebrands.
Do not boast about tomorrow, faithful are the wounds of a friend, iron sharpens iron, and a shepherd is told to know the condition of the flock.
The wicked flee when no one pursues, whoever conceals transgressions does not prosper, and whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool.
When the righteous increase the people rejoice, where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, and the fear of man lays a snare.
Agur son of Jakeh confesses he is too brutish to know wisdom, asks two things of God, and sets out numerical sayings about what is never satisfied and what is too wonderful.

King Lemuel repeats his mother's oracle against strong drink on the throne and in praise of the woman who fears the LORD, whose worth is far above jewels.