Proverbs

1Wine {is} a mocker, strong drink {is} raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

2The fear of a king {is} as the roaring of a lion: {whoso} provoketh him to anger sinneth {against} his own soul.

3{It is} an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; {therefore} shall he beg in harvest, and {have} nothing. {cold: or, winter}

5Counsel in the heart of man {is like} deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

6Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? {goodness: or, bounty}

7The just {man} walketh in his integrity: his children {are} blessed after him.

8A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

10Divers weights, {and} divers measures, both of them {are} alike abomination to the LORD. {Divers weights: Heb. A stone and a stone} {divers measures: Heb. an ephah and an ephah}

11Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work {be} pure, and whether {it be} right.

12The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, {and} thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14{It is} naught, {it is} naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge {are} a precious jewel.

16Take his garment that is surety {for} a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman.

17Bread of deceit {is} sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. {deceit: Heb. lying, or, falsehood}

18{Every} purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war.

19He that goeth about {as} a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. {flattereth: or, enticeth}

20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. {lamp: or, candle}

21An inheritance {may be} gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22Say not thou, I will recompense evil; {but} wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

23Divers weights {are} an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance {is} not good. {a false...: Heb. balance of deceit}

24Man's goings {are} of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

25{It is} a snare to the man {who} devoureth {that which is} holy, and after vows to make enquiry.

26A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them.

27The spirit of man {is} the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. {candle: or, lamp}

28Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy.

29The glory of young men {is} their strength: and the beauty of old men {is} the gray head.

30The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so {do} stripes the inward parts of the belly. {cleanseth...: Heb. is a purging medicine against}