Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;
For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,
So that your trust may be in the LORD;
I have instructed you today, even you.
Have I not written to you excellent things
Of counsels and knowledge,
That I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may answer words of truth
To those who send to you?

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

The rich and the poor have this in common,
The LORD is the maker of them all.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the hearts.

To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

There is no wisdom or understanding
Or counsel against the LORD.

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

Mercy and truth preserve the king,
And by lovingkindness he upholds his throne.

Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.

There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.

Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;
He rages against all wise judgment.

A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.
•••

A man who has friends must himself be friendly,
But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Children’s children are the crown of old men,
And the glory of children is their father.
•••

The beginning of strife is like releasing water;
Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
•••

He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.

Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established.
•••

In mercy and truth
Atonement is provided for iniquity;
And by the fear of the LORD one departs from evil.
•••

Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

He who heeds the word wisely will find good,
And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.

The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
•••

Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble.
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.
•••

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,
And before honor is humility.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
•••

He who despises his neighbor sins;
But he who has mercy on the poor, happy is he.
•••

In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.
•••

Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.