1988 verses about Wisdom

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.

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

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

The rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor who has understanding sees through him.

A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.

One who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than one who flatters with the tongue.

One who trusts in himself is a fool; but one who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy.

Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.

The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.

Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger.

If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.

A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control.

The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.

The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother.

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The words of Agur the son of Jakeh; the revelation: the man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:

“Surely I am the most ignorant man, and don’t have a man’s understanding.

I have not learned wisdom, neither do I have the knowledge of the Holy One.

“There are three things which are too amazing for me, four which I don’t understand:

The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent on a rock; the way of a ship in the middle of the sea; and the way of a man with a maiden.

“There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise:

the ants are not a strong people, yet they provide their food in the summer.

The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks.

The locusts have no king, yet they advance in ranks.

You can catch a lizard with your hands, yet it is in kings’ palaces.

“There are three things which are stately in their march, four which are stately in going:

“If you have done foolishly in lifting up yourself, or if you have thought evil, put your hand over your mouth.

The words of king Lemuel; the revelation which his mother taught him.

Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.

It is not for kings, Lemuel; it is not for kings to drink wine; nor for princes to say, ‘Where is strong drink?’

Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.

She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.

She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.

“Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

Is there a thing of which it may be said, “Behold, this is new?” It has been long ago, in the ages which were before us.

I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.

I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”

I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.

For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold of folly, until I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their lives.

So I was great, and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also remained with me.

I turned myself to consider wisdom, madness, and folly: for what can the king’s successor do? Just that which has been done long ago.

Then I saw that wisdom excels folly, as far as light excels darkness.

The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walks in darkness—and yet I perceived that one event happens to them all.

Then I said in my heart, “As it happens to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise?” Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will have rule over all of my labor in which I have labored, and in which I have shown myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.

For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, with knowledge, and with skillfulness; yet he shall leave it for his portion to a man who has not labored for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.

For to the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him who pleases God. This also is vanity and a chasing after wind.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:

a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

Better is a handful, with quietness, than two handfuls with labor and chasing after wind.

Better is a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who doesn’t know how to receive admonition any more.

Guard your steps when you go to God’s house; for to draw near to listen is better than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they don’t know that they do evil.

Don’t be rash with your mouth, and don’t let your heart be hasty to utter anything before God; for God is in heaven, and you on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

For as a dream comes with a multitude of cares, so a fool’s speech with a multitude of words.

For in the multitude of dreams there are vanities, as well as in many words: but you must fear God.

For what advantage has the wise more than the fool? What has the poor man, that knows how to walk before the living?

Whatever has been, its name was given long ago; and it is known what man is; neither can he contend with him who is mightier than he.

For there are many words that create vanity. What does that profit man?

A good name is better than fine perfume; and the day of death better than the day of one’s birth.

It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men, and the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.

Surely extortion makes the wise man foolish; and a bribe destroys the understanding.

Better is the end of a thing than its beginning. The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

Don’t be hasty in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.

Don’t say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not ask wisely about this.

Wisdom is as good as an inheritance. Yes, it is more excellent for those who see the sun.

For wisdom is a defense, even as money is a defense; but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it.

Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight, which he has made crooked?