📜 Proverbs by Topic

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gets understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver, and her bring in more than gold.

She is more precious than rubies, and all your delights are not to be compared with her. Length of days is in her right hand; riches and honor in her left hand. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Wisdom is the main thing; get wisdom, and with all your getting, get understanding.

For wisdom is better than focus rubies, and all delights cannot be compared to her.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver!

Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. And by knowledge rooms shall be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

A wise one hears and increases learning, and a man of understanding gets wise counsel.

For Jehovah gives wisdom; out of His mouth are knowledge and understanding.

Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

He who walks with wise ones shall be wise, but one who is companion to fools shall be broken.

The ear that hears the reproof of life shall remain among the wise.

Hear counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who listens to counsel is wise.

The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceit.

Wisdom is before him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

A fool has no delight in understanding, but only that his heart may be exposed.

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

When wisdom enters into your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul, discretion shall keep you, understanding shall guard you.

My son, let them not depart from your eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion; so they shall be life to your soul and grace to your neck.

Exalt her, and she will lift you up; she shall bring you to honor when you embrace her. She shall give a wreath of grace to your head; she shall shield you with a crown of glory.

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

Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding, but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

So shall knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; when you have found it, then there shall be a reward, and your hope shall not be cut off.

The mouth of a righteous one is a fountain of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of heart.

There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it is a breaking of the spirit.

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat its fruit.

In the multitude of words transgression does not cease, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

He who despises his neighbor lacks heart, but a man of understanding keeps silent.

He who guards his mouth keeps his soul, but he who opens wide his lips shall have ruin.

He who holds back his words has knowledge, and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

Even a fool, being silent, is counted as wise; he who shuts his lips is counted as one with understanding.

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from distresses.

He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness speaks deceit.

The lip of truth shall be established forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Lying lips are hateful to Jehovah, but those who deal truly are His delight.

A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies.

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who breathes lies shall perish.

A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is faithful in spirit conceals a matter.

A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; so do not meddle with him who entices with his lips.

Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, the quarrel is stilled.

A soft answer turns away fury, but a grievous word stirs up anger.

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word in its season, how good it is!

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.

By patience a ruler is persuaded, and a soft tongue breaks the bone.

Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

He who trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish like a leaf.

Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, than great treasure and turmoil with it.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it.

Better is a little with righteousness, than great increase without justice.

Do not labor to be rich; cease from your own wisdom. Will you set your eyes on it? It is gone! For surely it makes wings for itself and flies to the heavens like an eagle.

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.

False balances are hateful to Jehovah, but a perfect stone is His delight.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall become less, but he who gathers by hand shall increase.

A just balance and scales are Jehovah's; all the weights of the bag are His work.

Bread of deceit is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his ways, even if he is rich.

Honor Jehovah with your substance, and with the firstfruits of all your increase; and your barns shall be filled with plenty, and your vats shall burst with new wine.

There is one who scatters, and yet increases more; and one who withholds from uprightness, only to come to poverty.

The soul of blessing shall be made fat, and he who waters shall also be watered.

He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who has mercy on the poor.

He who has pity on the poor lends to Jehovah, and He will repay his reward to him.

He who has a good eye shall be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.

He who gives to the poor shall not lack, but he who hides his eyes shall have many curses.

My son, if you have become surety for your friend... deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand, and like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

He who is surety for a stranger surely is broken, and he who hates pledges is safe.

The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but all who are hasty only to poverty.

The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

Do not be of those who strike hands, of those who go surety for debts. If you have nothing to pay, why should he take your bed from under you?

Know well the face of your flock; set your heart on your herds. For riches are not forever, nor the crown from generation to generation.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A man of friends is broken, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are abundant.

Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, and the sweetness of one's friend from counsel of the soul.

Do not forsake your friend, nor the friend of your father; and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a near neighbor than a far brother.

Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the face of his friend.

The righteous searches out his friend, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

He who walks with wise ones shall be wise, but one who is companion to fools shall be broken.

Go away from before a foolish man, when you do not perceive lips of knowledge in him.

Do not be a friend of an angry man, and you shall not go with a man of fury, lest you learn his ways and take a snare to your soul.

Do not be envious of evil men, and do not desire to be with them. For their heart meditates on violence, and their lips speak of mischief.

He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, Go and return, and I will give tomorrow, when it is with you.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor, since he dwells trustingly beside you.

A hypocrite corrupts his neighbor with his mouth, but through knowledge the righteous shall be delivered.

The poor is hated even by his own neighbor, but many are the lovers of the rich.

Let your foot be rarely in your neighbor's house, lest he become weary of you and hate you.

Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death; so is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, Am I not joking?

He who works with a lazy hand becomes poor, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

He who tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he who follows worthless men lacks heart.

The hand of the diligent ones shall rule, but the lazy shall be for forced labor.

The soul of the sluggard desires and has nothing, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

In all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips is only to want.

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure ones.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, she prepares her food in the summer and gathers her food in the harvest.

How long will you lie down, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down; and your poverty shall come as one who travels, and your need like an armed man.

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

Also he who is lazy in his work, he is brother to a destroyer.

Laziness casts into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

The sluggard will not plow because of the cold; he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

A sluggard buries his hand in the dish, and he will not bring it back to his mouth.

The sluggard says, A lion is outside! I shall be killed in the streets!

The lazy one says, A lion is in the way; a lion is between the open places.

As the door turns upon its hinges, so does the lazy one upon his bed.

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who bring an intelligent reply.

He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.

The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty, but all who are hasty only to poverty.

Prepare your work outside, and make it ready in the field for yourself; and afterwards you shall build your house.

He who tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit, and he who watches over his master shall be honored.

Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother.

Hear, O sons, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. For I give you good teaching; do not forsake my law.

He who holds back his rod hates his son, but he who loves him seeks him with discipline.

Discipline your son while there is hope, and do not lift up your soul to his destruction.

Discipline your son, and he shall give you rest; yes, he shall give delight to your soul.

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

A wise son makes a father glad, but a foolish man despises his mother.

He who fathers a fool does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy.

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice; and he who fathers a wise one shall be glad in him. Your father and your mother shall be glad, and she who bore you shall rejoice.

A man who loves wisdom rejoices his father, but a companion of harlots wastes wealth.

He who assaults a father and chases away his mother is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.

He who curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in deep darkness.

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

He who robs his father or his mother, and says, It is no transgression; he is the companion of a destroying man.

The eye that mocks at a father and despises to obey a mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.

A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband, but she who causes shame is like rottenness in his bones.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from Jehovah.

House and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a wise wife is from Jehovah.

Who can find a woman of virtue? For her value is far above rubies. The heart of her husband trusts in her, so that he has no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many daughters have done worthily, but you rise above them all.

He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways shall be found out.

The integrity of the upright guides them, but the perverseness of the treacherous shall destroy them.

A man shall not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

Righteousness guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness overthrows the sinner.

The righteous walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.

He who walks uprightly shall be saved, but he who is perverse in ways shall fall at once.

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver and gold.

Let not mercy and truth forsake you; bind them on your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart; and find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

A gracious woman upholds honor, and ruthless men uphold riches.

The refining focus is for silver, and the furnace for gold; and a man is tried by his praise.

Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

A heart of healing is life to the flesh, but envy is the rottenness of the bones.

A joyful heart makes a good face, but by grief of heart the spirit is stricken.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

A joyful heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the inner parts of the belly.

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.

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

Only by pride comes strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

Everyone proud in heart is hateful to Jehovah; hand to hand, he shall not be innocent.

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Before destruction the heart of man is lofty, and before honor is humility.

A high look, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

The pride of man shall bring him low, but the humble in spirit shall lay hold on honor.

Surely He scorns the scorners, but He gives grace to the lowly.

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

The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.

Before destruction the heart of man is lofty, and before honor is humility.

The reward of humility, the fear of Jehovah, is riches, and honor, and life.

Do not honor yourself before a king, and do not stand in the place of the great; for better that it be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower before a noble.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

He who is quick-tempered acts foolishly, and a man of wicked plots is hated.

He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

A man of great fury shall bear punishment; for if you deliver him, you still must do it again.

Do not be a friend of an angry man, and you shall not go with a man of fury, lest you learn his ways and take a snare to your soul.

Fury is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

A man of anger stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression.

He who is slow to wrath is of great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly.

A man of fury stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets a dispute.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without a wall.

A fool lets out all his spirit, but a wise one holds it back.

A soft answer turns away fury, but a grievous word stirs up anger.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so leave off the dispute before it breaks out.

It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but every fool is quarreling.

A gift in secret subdues anger, and a bribe in the bosom subdues strong fury.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Then you shall understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom, and before honor is humility.

The fear of Jehovah prolongs days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

In the fear of Jehovah there is strong confidence, and His children shall have a refuge.

The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, to turn aside from the snares of death.

The fear of Jehovah leads to life; and he shall rest satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

The reward of humility, the fear of Jehovah, is riches, and honor, and life.

Blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart shall fall into evil.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Jehovah and turn away from evil.

The fear of Jehovah is to hate evil; pride and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth I hate.

Do not let your heart envy sinners, but be in the fear of Jehovah all the day.

My son, fear Jehovah and the king; do not associate with those who change.

The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in Jehovah is set on high.

False balances are hateful to Jehovah, but a perfect stone is His delight.

The way of the wicked is hateful to Jehovah, but He loves him who pursues righteousness.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, even both of them are hateful to Jehovah.

To do righteousness and justice is more desired by Jehovah than sacrifice.

It is joy to the righteous to do justice, but ruin is to workers of iniquity.

A wicked one takes a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.

It is not good to favor the face of the wicked, to turn aside the righteous in judgment.

These also are for the wise: To respect faces in judgment is not good.

To respect faces is not good, for a man may transgress for a piece of bread.

By justice a king establishes a land, but a man who takes bribes tears it down.

Open your mouth for the dumb, for the cause of all the sons of passing away. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

Jehovah will not allow the soul of the righteous to hunger, but He thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

As the whirlwind passes, so the wicked is no more, but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

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

The wicked are overthrown and are no more, but the house of the righteous shall stand.

The wicked is thrust down in his evil, but the righteous has hope in his death.

The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold like a lion.

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker, but he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

Do not rob the poor because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted in the gate; for Jehovah will plead their cause and plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

The righteous knows the plea of the poor, but the wicked does not understand knowledge.

My son, do not despise the chastening of Jehovah, and do not loathe His correction; for whom Jehovah loves He corrects, even as a father the son in whom he delights.

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

He who heeds instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses reproof goes astray.

He who loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

Poverty and shame are for him who refuses instruction, but he who regards reproof shall be honored.

He who refuses instruction despises his own soul, but he who hears reproof gains heart.

Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you; reprove a wise one, and he will love you.

Give to a wise one, and he will be still wiser; teach a just one, and he will increase in learning.

A wise son heeds the instruction of his father, but a scorner does not listen to rebuke.

A fool despises the instruction of his father, but he who regards reproof is prudent.

The ear that hears the reproof of life shall remain among the wise.

Like an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover on a hearing ear.

The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

They would have none of my counsel; they despised all my reproof.

And you shall say, How I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; and I have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor have I bowed my ear to those who taught me!

He who loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.

A scorner does not love one who reproves him; he will not go to the wise.

A man who hardens his neck when reproved shall suddenly be broken, and there is no healing.