1988 verses about Wisdom

A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.

House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

Discipline your son, for there is hope; don’t be a willing party to his death.

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

There are many plans in a man’s heart, but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.

Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.

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

A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.

There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!

He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don’t keep company with him who opens wide his lips.

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won’t be blessed in the end.

A man’s steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?

A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.

The spirit of man is Yahweh’s lamp, searching all his innermost parts.

The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.

It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, than to share a house with a contentious woman.

When the mocker is punished, the simple gains wisdom. When the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

The man who wanders out of the way of understanding shall rest in the assembly of the departed spirits.

There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man swallows it up.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and brings down the strength of its confidence.

Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against Yahweh.

A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.

A prudent man sees danger, and hides himself; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Thorns and snares are in the path of the wicked: whoever guards his soul stays from them.

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

Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.

Folly is bound up in the heart of a child: the rod of discipline drives it far from him.

Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise. Apply your heart to my teaching.

For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

I teach you today, even you, So that your trust may be in Yahweh.

Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things of counsel and knowledge,

To teach you truth, reliable words, to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?

Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man, and don’t associate with one who harbors anger:

lest you learn his ways, and ensnare your soul.

Don’t you be one of those who strike hands, of those who are collateral for debts.

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve kings. He won’t serve obscure men.

When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you;

Don’t weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.

Don’t speak in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to the words of knowledge.

My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad, even mine:

Listen, my son, and be wise, and keep your heart on the right path!

Buy the truth, and don’t sell it. Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.

The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.

My son, give me your heart; and let your eyes keep in my ways.

Don’t look at the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly.

Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

by knowledge the rooms are filled with all rare and beautiful treasure.

A wise man has great power; and a knowledgeable man increases strength;

for by wise guidance you wage your war; and victory is in many advisors.

Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.

The schemes of folly are sin. The mocker is detested by men.

My son, eat honey, for it is good; the droppings of the honeycomb, which are sweet to your taste:

so you shall know wisdom to be to your soul; if you have found it, then there will be a reward, your hope will not be cut off.

My son, fear Yahweh and the king. Don’t join those who are rebellious:

These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.

Prepare your work outside, and get your fields ready. Afterwards, build your house.

I went by the field of the sluggard, by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

Then I saw, and considered well. I saw, and received instruction:

These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable.

for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?

lest one who hears it put you to shame, and your bad reputation never depart.

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

As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to an obedient ear.

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

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, lest he be weary of you, and hate you.

Like snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool.

A whip is for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the back of fools!

Don’t answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.

Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

One who sends a message by the hand of a fool is cutting off feet and drinking violence.

Like the legs of the lame that hang loose, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As one who binds a stone in a sling, so is he who gives honor to a fool.

Like a thorn bush that goes into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.

As an archer who wounds all, so is he who hires a fool or he who hires those who pass by.

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

The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes than seven men who answer with discretion.

Like one who grabs a dog’s ears is one who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own.

A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster: better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.

Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:

In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.