Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 The proverbs of Shlomo:

A wise son is a joy to his father,

but a foolish son is a grief to his mother.

2 No good comes from ill-gotten wealth,

but righteousness rescues from death.

3 Adonaidoes not let the righteous go hungry,

but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.

4 Idle hands bring poverty;

diligent hands bring wealth.

5 A sensible person gathers in summer,

but he who sleeps during harvest is an embarrassment.

6 Blessings are for the head of the righteous,

but the speech of the wicked is a cover for violence.

7 The memory of the righteous will be for a blessing,

but the reputation of the wicked will rot.

8 Wise-hearted people take orders,

but a babbling fool will have trouble.

9 He who walks purely walks securely,

but he who walks in crooked ways will be found out.

10 He who winks his eye [instead of rebuking] causes pain,

yet a babbling fool will have trouble.

11 The speech of the righteous is a fountain of life,

but the speech of the wicked is a cover for violence.

12 Hate stirs up disputes,

but love covers all kinds of transgressions.

13 On the lips of the intelligent is found wisdom,

but a stick is in store for the back of a fool.

14 Wise people hide their knowledge,

but when a fool speaks, ruin is imminent.

15 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;

the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

16 The activity of the righteous is for life;

the income of the wicked is for sin.

17 He who observes discipline is on the way to life;

but he who ignores correction is making a mistake.

18 He who covers up hate has lips that lie,

and anyone who slanders is a fool.

19 When words are many, sin is not lacking;

so he who controls his speech is wise.

20 The tongue of the righteous is like pure silver,

but the mind of the wicked is worth little.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

but fools die for lack of sense.

22 The blessing ofAdonaiis what makes people rich,

and he doesn’t mix sorrow with it.

23 To a fool, vileness is like a game,

as is wisdom to a person of discernment.

24 What a fool dreads will overtake him,

but the righteous will be given his desire.

25 When the storm has passed, the wicked are gone;

but the righteous are firmly established forever.

26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes

is a lazy person to his employer.

27 The fear ofAdonaiadds length to life,

but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28 What the righteous hope for will end in joy;

what the wicked expect will come to nothing.

29 The way ofAdonaiis a stronghold to the upright

but ruin to those who do evil.

30 The righteous will never be moved,

but the wicked will not remain in the land.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut off.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is wanted,

but the mouth of the wicked [knows] deceit.

1 False scales are an abomination toAdonai,

but accurate weights please him.

2 First comes pride, then disgrace;

but with the humble is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the duplicity of the treacherous destroys them.

4 On the day of wrath, wealth doesn’t help;

but righteousness rescues from death.

5 The righteousness of the innocent levels their way,

but wickedness of the wicked makes them fall.

6 The righteousness of the upright rescues them,

but the treacherous are trapped by their own intrigues.

7 When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes;

what he hopes for from evil comes to nothing.

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,

and the wicked comes to take his place.

9 With his mouth the hypocrite can ruin his neighbor,

but by knowledge the righteous are delivered.

10 When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices;

and when the wicked perish, there is joy.

11 By the blessing of the upright, a city is raised up;

but the words of the wicked tear it down.

12 He who belittles another lacks good sense,

whereas a person of discernment stays silent.

13 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,

but a trustworthy person keeps a confidence.

14 Without clever tactics an army is defeated,

and victory comes from much planning.

15 He who guarantees a loan for a stranger will suffer,

but refusing to underwrite is safe.

16 A gracious woman obtains honor;

aggressive men obtain wealth.

17 A man who is kind does himself good,

but the cruel does harm to himself.

18 The profits of the wicked are illusory;

but those who sow righteousness gain a true reward.

19 Genuine righteousness leads to life,

but the pursuer of evil goes to his own death.

20 The crooked-hearted are an abomination toAdonai,

but those sincere in their ways are his delight.

21 Depend on it: the evil will not go unpunished;

but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

22 Like a gold ring in the snout of a pig

is a beautiful woman who lacks good sense.

23 The righteous desire only good,

but what the wicked hope for brings wrath.

24 Some give freely and still get richer,

while others are stingy but grow still poorer.

25 The person who blesses others will prosper;

he who satisfies others will be satisfied himself.

26 The people will curse him who withholds grain;

but if he sells it, blessings will be on his head.

27 He who strives for good obtains favor,

but he who searches for evil — it comes to him!

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,

but the righteous will flourish like sprouting leaves.

29 Those who trouble their families inherit the wind,

and the fool becomes slave to the wise.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

and he who is wise wins souls.

31 If the righteous are paid what they deserve here on earth,

how much more the wicked and the sinner!

1 He who loves knowledge loves discipline,

but he who hates correction is a boor.

2 A good man obtainsAdonai’s favor,

but the schemer his condemnation.

3 No one is made secure by wickedness,

but the roots of the righteous will never be moved.

4 A capable wife is a crown for her husband,

but a shameful one is like rot in his bones.

5 The plans of the righteous are just,

but the schemes of the wicked are deceitful.

6 The words of the wicked are a deadly ambush,

but the speech of the upright rescues them.

7 Once the wicked are down, it’s the end of them;

but the house of the upright endures.

8 A person wins praise in keeping with his common sense,

but a person with a warped mind is treated with contempt.

9 Better to be despised and have a servant

than to boast of one’s status but have nothing to eat.

10 A righteous man takes care of his animal,

but the wicked? Even his compassion is cruel.

11 He who farms his land will have plenty of food,

but he who follows futilities has no sense.

12 The wicked covet the loot of evil men,

but the root of the righteous gives forth of itself.

13 The wicked is trapped by his own sinful speech,

but the righteous finds a way out of trouble.

14 One can be filled with good as the result of one’s words,

and one gets the reward one’s deeds deserve.

15 Fools suppose their way is straight,

but the wise pay attention to advice.

16 A fool’s anger is known at once,

but a cautious person slighted conceals his feelings.

17 He who tells the truth furthers justice,

but a false witness furthers deceit.

18 Idle talk can pierce like a sword,

but the tongue of the wise can heal.

19 Truthful words will stand forever,

lying speech but a moment.

20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil,

but for those advising peace there is joy.

21 No harm can come to the righteous,

but the wicked are overwhelmed with disaster.

22 Lying lips are an abomination toAdonai,

but those who deal faithfully are his delight.

23 A cautious person conceals knowledge,

but the heart of a fool blurts out folly.

24 The diligent will rule,

while the lazy will be put to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs him down,

but a kind word cheers him up.

26 The righteous guides his friend’s way rightly,

but the way of the wicked will lead them astray.

27 A lazy man doesn’t roast what he hunted;

but when a man is diligent, his wealth is precious.

28 In the road of righteousness is life;

no death is in its pathway.

1 A son who heeds his father’s discipline is wise,

but a scoffer doesn’t listen to rebuke.

2 A [good] man enjoys good as a result of what he says,

but the essence of the treacherous is violence.

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

but one who talks too much comes to ruin.

4 The lazy person wants but doesn’t have;

the diligent get their desires filled.

5 A righteous person hates lying,

but the wicked is vile and disgraceful.

6 Righteousness protects him whose way is honest,

but wickedness brings down the sinner.

7 There are those with nothing who pretend they are rich,

also those with great wealth who pretend they are poor.

8 The rich man may have to ransom his life,

but a poor man gets no threats.

9 The light of the righteous [shines] joyfully,

but the lamp of the wicked will be extinguished.

10 Insolence produces only strife,

but wisdom is found with those who take advice.

11 Wealth gotten by worthless means dwindles away,

but he who amasses it by hard work will increase it.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

13 He who despises a word will suffer for it,

but he who respects a command will be rewarded.

14 The teaching of a wise man is a fountain of life,

enabling one to avoid deadly traps.

15 Good common sense produces grace,

but the way of the treacherous is rough.

16 Every cautious person acts with knowledge,

but a fool parades his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into evil,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

18 Poverty and shame are for him who won’t be taught,

but he who heeds reproof will be honored.

19 Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,

but turning away from evil is abhorrent to fools.

20 He who walks with the wise will become wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer.

21 Evil pursues sinners,

but prosperity will reward the righteous.

22 A good man leaves an inheritance to his grandchildren,

but the wealth of a sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 The fields of the poor may yield much food,

but some are swept away because of injustice.

24 He who fails to use a stick hates his son,

but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

25 The righteous person eats his fill,

but the belly of the wicked is empty.

1 Every wise woman builds up her home,

but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands.

2 A person with upright conduct fearsAdonai,

but a person who is devious scorns him.

3 From the mouth of a fool sprouts pride,

but the lips of the wise protect them.

4 Where there are no oxen, the stalls are clean;

but much is produced by the strength of an ox.

5 An honest witness will not lie,

but a false witness lies with every breath.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain,

but knowledge comes easily to someone with discernment.

7 Keep clear of a fool,

for you won’t hear a sensible word from him.

8 The wisdom of the cautious makes him know where he is going,

but the folly of fools misleads them.

9 Guilt offerings make a mockery of fools;

but among the upright there is good will.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

and no stranger can share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There can be a way which seems right to a person,

but at its end are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart can be sad,

and joy may end in sorrow.

14 A backslider is filled up with his own ways,

but a good person gets satisfaction from himself.

15 One who doesn’t think believes every word,

but the cautious understands his steps.

16 A wise person fears and turns away from evil,

but a fool is reckless and overconfident.

17 He who is quick-tempered does stupid things,

and one who does vile things is hated.

18 Thoughtless people inherit folly,

but the cautious are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow down before the good,

and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor are disliked even by their peers,

but the rich have many friends.

21 He who despises his fellow sins,

but he who shows compassion to the humble is happy.

22 Won’t those who plot evil go astray?

But grace and truth are for those who plan good.

23 In all work there is profit,

but mere talk produces only poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,

but the folly of fools is just that — folly.

25 A truthful witness saves lives,

but a liar misdirects [judgment].

26 In the fear ofAdonaiis powerful security;

for his children there will be a place of refuge.

27 The fear ofAdonaiis a fountain of life

enabling one to avoid deadly traps.

28 A king’s glory lies in having many subjects;

if the prince’s people are few, it is his ruin.

29 Being slow to anger goes with great understanding,

being quick-tempered makes folly still worse.

30 A tranquil mind gives health to the body,

but envy rots the bones.

31 The oppressor of the poor insults his maker,

but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

32 The wicked are brought down by their wrongdoing,

but the righteous can be confident even at death.

33 Wisdom is at rest in a person with discernment,

but in fools it has to call attention to itself.

34 Righteousness makes a nation great,

but sin degrades any people.

35 A king shows favor to a servant with good sense,

but his wrath strikes one who shames [him].

1 A gentle response deflects fury,

but a harsh word makes tempers rise.

2 The tongue of the wise presents knowledge well,

but the mouth of a fool spews out folly.

3 The eyes ofAdonaiare everywhere,

watching the evil and the good.

4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

but when it twists things, it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s discipline,

but he who heeds warnings is prudent.

6 The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure,

but the earnings of the wicked bring trouble.

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;

not so the hearts of fools.

8 Adonaidetests the sacrifices of the wicked

but delights in the prayers of the upright.

9 Adonaidetests the way of the wicked

but loves anyone who pursues righteousness.

10 Discipline is severe for one who leaves the way,

and whoever can’t stand correction will die.

11 Sh’ol and Abaddon lie open toAdonai;

so how much more people’s hearts!

12 A scorner does not like being corrected;

he won’t go to the wise [for advice].

13 A glad heart makes a face happy,

but heartache breaks the spirit.

14 The mind of a person with discernment seeks knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

15 For the poor, every day is hard;

but the good-hearted have a perpetual feast.

16 Better little with the fear ofAdonai

than great wealth coupled with worry.

17 Better a vegetable dinner with love

than a stall-fattened ox with hate.

18 Hot-tempered people stir up strife,

but patient people quiet quarrels.

19 The lazy person’s way seems overgrown by thorns,

but the path of the upright is a level highway.

20 A wise son is a joy to his father,

and only a fool despises his mother.

21 Folly appeals to one who lacks sense,

but a person of discernment goes straight ahead.

22 Without deliberation, plans go wrong;

but with many advisers, they succeed.

23 People take pleasure in anything they say;

but a word at the right time, how good it is!

24 For the prudent, the path of life goes upward;

thus he avoids Sh’ol below.

25 Adonaiwill pull down the houses of the proud,

but preserves intact the widow’s boundaries.

26 Adonaidetests plans to do evil,

but kind words are pure.

27 The greedy for gain brings trouble to his home,

but he who hates bribes will live.

28 The mind of the righteous thinks before speaking,

but the mouth of the wicked spews out evil stuff.

29 Adonaiis far from the wicked,

but he listens to the prayer of the righteous.

30 A cheerful glance brings joy to the heart,

and good news invigorates the bones.

31 He who heeds life-giving correction

will be at home in the company of the wise.

32 He who spurns discipline detests himself,

but he who listens to correction grows in understanding.

33 The discipline of wisdom is fear ofAdonai,

so before being honored, a person must be humble.

1 A person is responsible to prepare his heart,

but how the tongue speaks is fromAdonai.

2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own view,

butAdonaiweighs the spirit.

3 If you entrust all you do toAdonai,

your plans will achieve success.

4 Adonaimade everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of disaster.

5 Adonaidetests all those with proud hearts;

be assured that they will not go unpunished.

6 Grace and truth atone for iniquity,

and people turn from evil through fear ofAdonai.

7 When a man’s ways pleaseAdonai,

he makes even the man’s enemies be at peace with him.

8 Better a little with righteousness

than a huge income with injustice.

9 A person may plan his path,

butAdonaidirects his steps.

10 Divine inspiration is on the lips of the king,

so his mouth must be faithful when he judges.

11 The balance and scales of justice have their origin inAdonai;

all the weights in the bag are his doing.

12 It is an abomination for a king to do evil,

for the throne is made secure by righteousness.

13 The king should delight in righteous lips,

and he should love someone who speaks what is right.

14 The king’s anger is a herald of death,

and one who is wise will appease it.

15 When the king’s face brightens, it means life;

his favor is like the clouds that bring spring rain.

16 How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom!

Yes, rather than money, choose to gain understanding.

17 Avoiding evil is the highway of the upright;

he who watches his step preserves his life.

18 Pride goes before destruction,

and arrogance before failure.

19 Better to be humble among the poor

than share the spoil with the proud.

20 He who has skill in a matter will succeed;

he who trusts inAdonaiwill be happy.

21 A wise-hearted person is said to have discernment,

and sweetness of speech adds to learning.

22 Common sense is a fountain of life to one who has it,

whereas fools are punished by their own folly.

23 The wise man’s heart teaches his mouth,

and to his lips it adds learning.

24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,

sweet to the taste and healing for the body.

25 There can be a way which seems right to a person,

but at its end are the ways of death.

26 A working man’s appetite acts on his behalf,

because his hunger presses him on.

27 A worthless person digs up evil [gossip] —

it is like scorching fire on his lips.

28 A deceitful person stirs up strife,

and a slanderer can separate even close friends.

29 A violent man lures his neighbor astray

and leads him into evil ways.

30 One who winks knowingly is planning deceit;

one who pinches his lips together has already done wrong.

31 White hair is a crown of honor

obtained by righteous living.

32 He who controls his temper is better than a war hero,

he who rules his spirit better than he who captures a city.

33 One can cast lots into one’s lap,

but the decision comes fromAdonai.

1 Better a dry piece of bread with calm

than a house full of food but also full of strife.

2 An intelligent slave will rule a shameful son

and share the inheritance with the brothers.

3 The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold,

but the one who tests hearts isAdonai.

4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips;

a liar listens to destructive talk.

5 He who mocks the poor insults his maker;

he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

while the glory of children is their ancestors.

7 Fine speech is unbecoming to a boor,

and even less lying lips to a leader.

8 A bribe works like a charm, in the view of him who gives it —

wherever it turns, it succeeds.

9 He who conceals an offense promotes love,

but he who harps on it can separate even close friends.

10 A rebuke makes more impression on a person of understanding

than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evil person seeks only rebellion,

but a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Rather meet a bear robbed of its cubs

than encounter a fool in his folly.

13 Evil will not depart from the house

of him who returns evil for good.

14 Starting a fight is like letting water through [a dike] —

better stop the quarrel before it gets worse.

15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous —

both alike are an abomination toAdonai.

16 Why would a fool wish to pay for wisdom

when he has no desire to learn?

17 A friend shows his friendship at all times —

it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born.

18 He who gives his hand to guarantee a loan

for his neighbor lacks good sense.

19 Those who love quarreling love giving offense;

those who make their gates tall are courting disaster.

20 A crooked-hearted person will find nothing good,

and the perverse of speech will end in calamity.

21 He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,

and the father of a boor has no joy.

22 A happy heart is good medicine,

but low spirits sap one’s strength.

23 From under a cloak a bad man takes a bribe

to pervert the course of justice.

24 The discerning person focuses on wisdom there before him,

but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A son who is a fool means anger for his father

and bitterness for the mother who gave him birth.

26 To punish the innocent is not right,

likewise to flog noble people for their uprightness.

27 A knowledgeable person controls his tongue;

a discerning person controls his temper.

28 Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise;

he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.

1 He who separates himself indulges his desires

and shows contempt for sound advice of any kind.

2 A fool takes no pleasure in trying to understand;

he only wants to express his own opinion.

3 When a wicked person comes, contempt comes too,

and with disdain, provocation.

4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep water,

a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom.

5 It is not good to be partial to the guilty

and thus deprive the innocent of justice.

6 A fool’s words get him into fights;

yes, his mouth calls out for a beating.

7 A fool’s mouth is his ruin;

his words are a trap for him.

8 A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;

they slide right down into the belly.

9 Whoever is lazy in doing his work

is brother to the destroyer.

10 The name ofAdonaiis a strong tower;

a righteous person runs to it and is raised high [above danger].

11 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city,

like a high wall, in his own imagination.

12 Before being ruined, a person’s heart is proud;

before being honored, a person must be humble.

13 To answer someone before hearing him out

is both stupid and embarrassing.

14 A person’s spirit can sustain him when ill,

but a crushed spirit — who can bear it?

15 The mind of a person with discernment gets knowledge,

and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A person’s gift clears his way

and gives him access to the great.

17 The first to state his case seems right,

till the other one comes and cross-examines.

18 Casting lots puts an end to strife

and separates powerful disputants.

19 It is harder to win an offended brother than a strong city;

their fights are like the bars of a fortress.

20 A person’s belly will be filled with the fruit of his mouth;

with what his lips produce he will be filled.

21 The tongue has power over life and death;

those who indulge it must eat its fruit.

22 He who finds a wife finds a great good;

he has won the favor ofAdonai.

23 The poor man speaks beseechingly,

the rich man’s answer is blunt.

24 Some “friends” pretend to be friends,

but a true friend sticks closer than a brother.

1 Better to be poor and live one’s life uprightly

than engage in crooked speech, for such a one is a fool.

2 To act without knowing how you function is not good;

and if you rush ahead, you will miss your goal.

3 A person’s own folly is what ruins his way,

but he rages in his heart againstAdonai.

4 Wealth brings in many friends,

but the poor man loses the one friend he has.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished;

whoever breathes out lies will not escape.

6 Many ask favors of a generous person —

to a giver of gifts, everyone is a friend.

7 A poor man’s relatives all hate him;

even more his friends stay away from him.

He may pursue them with entreaties,

but they aren’t there to be found.

8 To acquire good sense is to love oneself;

to treasure discernment is to prosper.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished;

whoever breathes out lies will perish.

10 It isn’t fitting for a fool to live in luxury,

and even less for a slave to govern princes.

11 People with good sense are slow to anger,

and it is their glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A son who is a fool is his father’s ruin,

and a nagging wife is like a leak that keeps dripping.

14 A house and wealth are inherited from ancestors,

but a sensible wife is fromAdonai.

15 Laziness makes people fall asleep,

and an idle person will go hungry.

16 He who keeps amitzvahkeeps himself safe,

but he who doesn’t care how he lives will die.

17 He who is kind to the poor is lending toAdonai;

and he will repay him for his good deed.

18 Discipline your child while there is hope,

but don’t get so angry that you kill him!

19 A violent-tempered person will be punished;

if you try to save him from it, you make things worse.

20 Listen to advice, and accept discipline,

so that in the end you will be wise.

21 One can devise many plans in one’s mind,

butAdonai’s plan will prevail.

22 A man’s lust is his shame,

and a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear ofAdonaileads to life;

one who has it is satisfied and rests untouched by evil.

24 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish

but doesn’t even bother to bring it to his mouth.

25 If you strike a scorner,

the simple will learn to act wisely;

if you reprove the intelligent,

he will understand what you mean.

26 One who mistreats his father and evicts his mother

is a son who brings them shame and disgrace.

27 My son, if you stop heeding discipline,

you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocks at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked swallows wrongdoing.

29 Judgments are in store for scorners

and blows for the backs of fools.