Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

1 Wine is a mocker, strong liquor a rowdy;

anyone led astray by it is unwise.

2 The dread of a king is like when a lion roars;

he who makes him angry commits a life-threatening sin.

3 Avoiding quarrels brings a person honor;

for any fool can explode in anger.

4 A lazy person won’t plow in winter;

so at harvest-time, when he looks, there is nothing.

5 The heart’s real intentions are like deep water;

but a person with discernment draws them out.

6 Most people announce that they show kindness,

but who can find someone faithful [enough to do it]?

7 The righteous live a life of integrity;

happy are their children after them.

8 The king seated on his judgment throne

can winnow out all evil with his glance.

9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean,

I am cleansed from my sin”?

10 False weights and false measures —

Adonaidetests them both.

11 The character of even a child is known by how he acts,

by whether his deeds are pure and right.

12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye —

Adonaimade them both.

13 If you love sleep, you will become poor;

keep your eyes open, and you’ll have plenty of food.

14 “Really bad stuff!” says the buyer [to the seller];

then he goes off and brags [about his bargain].

15 A person may have gold and a wealth of pearls,

but lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Seize his clothes, because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;

take them as security for that unknown woman.

17 Food obtained by fraud may taste good,

but later the mouth is full of gravel.

18 After consultation, plans succeed;

so take wise advice when waging war.

19 A gossip goes around revealing secrets,

so don’t get involved with a talkative person.

20 Whoever curses his father or mother —

his lamp will go out in total darkness.

21 Possessions acquired quickly at first

will not be blessed in the end.

22 Don’t say, “I’ll pay back evil for evil”;

wait forAdonaito save you.

23 Adonaidetests a double standard in weights,

and false scales are not good.

24 A man’s steps are ordered byAdonai,

so how can a person understand his own ways?

25 It is a snare to dedicate a gift to God rashly

and reflect on the vows only afterwards.

26 A wise king winnows the wicked [from the righteous]

and threshes them under the cartwheel.

27 The human spirit is a lamp ofAdonai;

it searches one’s inmost being.

28 Grace and truth preserve a king;

with grace he upholds his throne.

29 The pride of the young is their strength;

the dignity of the old is gray hair.

30 Blows that wound purge away evil,

yes, beatings [cleanse] one’s inmost being.

1 The king’s heart inAdonai’s hand is like streams of water —

he directs it wherever he pleases.

2 All a person’s ways are right in his own view,

butAdonaiweighs the heart.

3 To do what is right and just

is more pleasing toAdonaithan sacrifice.

4 Haughty looks, a proud heart —

what the wicked plow is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead only to abundance;

but all who rush in arrive only at want.

6 A fortune gained by a lying tongue

is vapor dispersed [by] seekers of death.

7 The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,

because they refuse to act justly.

8 A criminal’s conduct is crooked,

but the work of the pure is right.

9 It is better to live on a corner of the roof

than to share the house with a nagging wife.

10 The wicked is set on evil;

he doesn’t pity even his neighbor.

11 When a scorner is punished, the simple become wiser;

and when the wise is instructed, he takes hold of knowledge.

12 The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;

he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.

13 Whoever stops up his ears at the cry of the poor

will himself cry, but not be answered.

14 A secret gift allays anger,

and a bribe under the cloak the strongest fury.

15 Acting justly is a joy for the righteous

but it terrifies evildoers.

16 The person who strays from the way of common sense

will come to rest in the company of the dead.

17 Pleasure-lovers will suffer want;

he who loves wine and oil won’t get rich.

18 The wicked serve as a ransom for the righteous,

and likewise the perfidious for the upright.

19 It is better to live in the desert

than with a nagging, irritable wife.

20 In the home of the wise are fine treasures and oil,

but a fool quickly devours it.

21 He who pursues righteousness and kindness

finds life, prosperity and honor.

22 A wise man can go up into a city of warriors

and undermine the strength in which it trusts.

23 Whoever guards his mouth and tongue

keeps himself out of trouble.

24 “Scoffer” is what you call a proud, insolent person

who acts with overweening conceit.

25 A lazy man’s craving will kill him,

because his hands refuse to work —

26 he covets greedily all day long;

but a righteous person gives without holding back.

27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it with vile motives.

28 A lying witness is doomed,

but one who heard [what was said] will testify successfully.

29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,

whereas the upright prepares his ways.

30 No wisdom, discernment or counsel

succeeds againstAdonai.

31 A horse may be prepared for the day of battle,

but victory comes fromAdonai.

1 Rather than wealth, choose a good reputation,

esteem over silver and gold.

2 Rich and poor have this in common —

Adonaimade them both.

3 The clever see trouble coming and hide;

the simple go on and pay the penalty.

4 The reward for humility is fear ofAdonai,

along with wealth, honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares beset the way of the stubborn;

he who values his life keeps his distance from them.

6 Train a child in the way he [should] go;

and, even when old, he will not swerve from it.

7 The rich rule the poor,

and the borrower is slave to the lender.

8 He who sows injustice reaps trouble,

and the rod of his angry outburst will fail.

9 He who is generous is blessed,

because he shares his food with the poor.

10 Throw the scoffer out, and quarreling goes too;

strife and insults cease.

11 He who loves the pure-hearted and is gracious in speech

will have the king as his friend.

12 The eyes ofAdonaiprotect [the man with] knowledge,

but he overturns the plans of a traitor.

13 A lazy man says, “There’s a lion outside!

I’ll be killed if I go out in the street!”

14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

the man with whomAdonaiis angry falls into it.

15 Doing wrong is firmly tied to the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline will drive it far away from him.

16 Both oppressing the poor to enrich oneself

and giving to the rich yield only loss.

17 Pay attention, and listen to the words of the wise;

apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 for it is pleasant to keep them deep within you;

have all of them ready on your lips.

19 I want your trust to be inAdonai;

this is why I’m instructing you about them today.

20 I have written you worthwhile things

full of good counsel and knowledge,

21 so you will know that these sayings are certainly true

and bring back true sayings to him who sent you.

22 Don’t exploit the helpless, because they are helpless,

and don’t crush the poor in court,

23 forAdonaiwill plead their case for them

and withhold life from those who defraud them.

24 Don’t associate with an angry man;

make no hot-tempered man your companion.

25 If you do, you may learn his ways

and find yourself caught in a trap.

26 Don’t be one of those who give pledges,

guaranteeing loans made to others;

27 for if you don’t have the wherewithal to pay,

they will take your bed away from underneath you.

28 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone

set up by your ancestors.

29 Do you see a man skilled at his work?

He will serve kings, not obscure people.

1 When you sit down to dine with a ruler,

think carefully about who is before you.

2 If you have a big appetite,

put a knife to your throat!

3 Don’t be greedy for his delicacies,

for they are deceptive food.

4 Don’t exhaust yourself in pursuit of wealth;

be smart enough to desist.

5 If you make your eyes rush at it,

it’s no longer there!

For wealth will surely grow wings,

like an eagle flying off to the sky.

6 Don’t eat the food of a stingy man;

don’t be greedy for his delicacies.

7 For he is like someone who keeps accounts —

“Eat! Drink!” he says to you,

but he doesn’t really mean it.

8 The little you eat you will vomit up,

and your compliments will have been wasted.

9 Don’t speak in the ears of a fool,

for he will only despise the common sense in your words.

10 Don’t move the ancient boundary stone

or encroach on the land of the fatherless;

11 for their Redeemer is strong;

he will take up their fight against you.

12 Apply your mind to discipline

and your ears to words of knowledge.

13 Don’t withhold discipline from a child —

if you beat him with a stick, he won’t die!

14 If you beat him with a stick,

you will save him from Sh’ol.

15 My son, if your heart is wise,

then my own heart too is glad;

16 my inmost being rejoices

when your lips say what is right.

17 Don’t envy sinners, but follow the example

of those who always fear God;

18 for then you will have a future;

what you hope for will not be cut off.

19 You, my son: listen, be wise,

and set your mind on the right way.

20 Don’t be one of those who guzzle wine

or of those who eat meat to excess,

21 for both drunkard and glutton will become poor —

drowsiness will clothe them with rags.

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life;

and don’t despise your mother when she gets old.

23 Buy the truth, don’t sell it,

also wisdom, discipline and discernment.

24 A righteous person’s father will be filled with joy;

yes, he whose son is wise will rejoice in him.

25 So let your father and mother be glad;

let her who gave you birth rejoice.

26 My son, give me your heart;

let your eyes observe my ways.

27 A prostitute is a deep ditch,

and a forbidden woman like a narrow well.

28 She lies in wait to snatch her prey

and adds to the number of faithless men.

29 Who has misery? Who has regret?

Who fights and complains all the time?

Who gets bruised for no good reason?

Who has bloodshot eyes?

30 Those who spend their time over wine,

those always trying out mixed drinks.

31 Don’t gaze at the red wine

as it gives its color to the cup.

It may glide down smoothly now;

32 but in the end, it bites like a serpent —

yes, it strikes like a poisonous snake.

33 Your eyes will see peculiar things,

your mind will utter nonsense.

34 You will feel as if lying on the waves of the sea

or sprawled on top of the mast —

35 “They hit me, but I didn’t feel it!

They beat me up, and I didn’t even know it!

When will I wake up? . . .

I’ll go get another drink.”

1 Don’t be envious of evil people,

and don’t desire to be with them.

2 For their minds are occupied with violence,

and their lips speak of making trouble.

3 By wisdom a house is built,

by understanding it is made secure,

4 and by knowledge its rooms are filled

with all kinds of costly and pleasant possessions.

5 A wise man is strong;

yes, a man of knowledge grows in strength.

6 For with clever strategy you wage your war,

and victory comes from having many advisers.

7 Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;

he keeps his mouth shut at the city gate.

8 He who plans to do evil

people call a schemer.

9 The evil plans of the foolish are sin,

and people detest a scorner.

10 If you slack off on a day of distress,

your strength is small indeed.

11 Yes, rescue those being dragged off to death —

won’t you save those about to be killed?

12 If you say, “We knew nothing about it,”

won’t he who weighs hearts discern it?

Yes, he who guards you will know it

and repay each one as his deeds deserve.

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good;

honeycomb drippings are sweet to your taste.

14 Know that wisdom is similar[ly sweet] to your soul;

if you find it, then you will have a future,

what you hope for will not be cut off.

15 Don’t lurk like an outlaw near the home of the righteous,

don’t raid the place where he lives.

16 For though he falls seven times, he will get up again;

it’s the wicked who fail under stress.

17 Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls;

don’t let your heart be glad when he stumbles.

18 ForAdonaimight see it, and it would displease him;

he might withdraw his anger from your foe.

19 Don’t get upset because of evildoers;

don’t be envious of the wicked.

20 For the evil person has no future —

the lamp of the wicked will go out.

21 My son, don’t get involved with revolutionaries,

but fearAdonaiand the king.

22 For disaster from them will suddenly appear,

and who knows what ruin they both can cause?

23 These also are sayings of the wise:

Showing partiality in judgment is not good.

24 He who tells the guilty, “You are innocent,”

will be cursed by peoples, reviled by nations;

25 but with those who condemn him, things will go well,

and a good blessing will come upon them.

26 Giving an honest answer

is like giving a kiss.

27 Prepare your outside work,

and get things ready for yourself on the land;

after that, build your house.

28 Don’t be a witness against your neighbor for no reason —

would you use your lips to deceive?

29 Don’t say, “I’ll do to him what he did to me,

I’ll pay him back what his deeds deserve.”

30 I passed by the field of the lazy man

and the vineyard of the man lacking sense.

31 There it was, overgrown with thistles;

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

32 I looked, and I thought about it;

I saw, and I learned this lesson:

33 “I’ll just lie here a bit, rest a little longer,

just fold my hands for a little more sleep” —

34 and poverty comes marching in on you,

scarcity hits you like an invading soldier.

1 These also are proverbs of Shlomo; the men of Hizkiyah king of Y’hudah copied them out:

2 God gets glory from concealing things;

kings get glory from investigating things.

3 Like the sky for height or the earth for depth

is the heart of kings — unfathomable.

4 Remove the impurities from the silver,

and the smith has material to make a vessel.

5 Remove the wicked from the king’s presence,

and his throne will rest firmly on righteousness.

6 Don’t put yourself forward in the king’s presence;

don’t take a place among the great.

7 For it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

than be degraded in the presence of a nobleman.

What your eyes have seen,

8 don’t rush to present in a dispute.

For what will you do later on,

if your neighbor puts you to shame?

9 Discuss your dispute with your neighbor,

but don’t reveal another person’s secrets.

10 If you do, and he hears of it, he will disgrace you,

and your bad reputation will stick.

11 Like apples of gold in settings of silver

is a word appropriately spoken.

12 Like a gold earring, like a fine gold necklace

is a wise reprover to a receptive ear.

13 Like the coldness of snow in the heat of the harvest

is a faithful messenger to the one who sends him;

he refreshes his master’s spirit.

14 Like clouds and wind that bring no rain

is he who boasts of gifts he never gives.

15 With patience a ruler may be won over,

and a gentle tongue can break bones.

16 If you find honey, eat only what you need;

for if you eat too much of it, you may throw it up;

17 so don’t visit your neighbor too much,

or he may get his fill of you and come to hate you.

18 Like a club, a sword or a sharp arrow

is a person who gives false testimony against a neighbor.

19 Relying on an untrustworthy person in a time of trouble

is like [relying on] a broken tooth or an unsteady leg.

20 Like removing clothes on a chilly day or like vinegar on soda

is someone who sings songs to a heavy heart.

21 If someone who hates you is hungry, give him food to eat;

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 For you will heap fiery coals [of shame] on his head,

andAdonaiwill reward you.

23 The north wind brings rain

and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

24 It is better to live on a corner of the roof

than to share the house with a nagging wife.

25 Like cold water to a person faint from thirst

is good news from a distant land.

26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted well

is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked.

27 It isn’t good to eat too much honey

or to seek honor after honor.

28 Like a city breached, without walls,

is a person who lacks self-control.

1 Like snow in summer or rain at harvest-time,

so honor for a fool is out of place.

2 Like a fluttering sparrow or a flying swallow,

an undeserved curse will come home to roost.

3 A whip for a horse, a bridle for a donkey,

and a rod for the back of fools.

4 Don’t answer a fool in terms of his folly,

or you will be descending to his level;

5 but answer a fool as his folly deserves,

so that he won’t think he is wise.

6 Telling a message to a fool and sending him out

is like cutting off one’s feet and drinking violence.

7 The legs of the disabled hang limp and useless;

likewise a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

8 Like one who ties his stone to the sling

is he who gives honor to a fool.

9 Like a thorn branch in the hand of a drunk

is a proverb in the mouth of a fool.

10 A master can make anything,

but hiring a fool is like hiring some passer-by.

11 Just as a dog returns to his vomit,

a fool repeats his folly.

12 Do you see someone who thinks himself wise?

There is more hope for a fool than for him!

13 The lazy person says, “There’s a lion in the streets!

A lion is roaming loose out there!”

14 The door turns on its hinges,

and the lazy man on his bed.

15 The lazy person buries his hand in the dish

but is too tired to return it to his mouth.

16 A lazy man is wiser in his own view

than seven who can answer with sense.

17 Like someone who grabs a dog by the ears

is a passer-by who mixes in a fight not his own.

18 Like a madman shooting deadly arrows and firebrands

19 is one who deceives another, then says, “It was just a joke.”

20 If there’s no wood, the fire goes out;

if nobody gossips, contention stops.

21 As coals are to embers and wood to fire

is a quarrelsome person to kindling strife.

22 A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels;

they slide right down into the belly.

23 Like silver slag overlaid on a clay pot

are lips that burn [with friendship] over a hating heart.

24 He who hates may hide it with his speech;

but inside, he harbors deceit.

25 He may speak pleasantly, but don’t trust him;

for seven abominations are in his heart.

26 His hatred may be concealed by deceit,

but his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,

and a stone will come back on the one who starts it rolling.

28 A lying tongue hates its victims,

and a flattering mouth causes ruin.

1 Don’t boast about tomorrow,

for you don’t know what the day may bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth,

a stranger and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a dead weight,

but a fool’s provocation outweighs them both.

4 Fury is cruel and anger overwhelming,

but who can stand up to jealousy?

5 Better open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Wounds from a friend are received as well-meant,

but an enemy’s kisses are insincere.

7 A person who is full loathes a honeycomb;

but to the hungry, any bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

9 Perfume and incense make the heart glad,

[also] friendship sweet with advice from the heart.

10 Don’t abandon a friend

who is also a friend of your father.

Don’t enter your brother’s house on the day of your calamity —

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

11 My son, become wise, and gladden my heart,

so that I can answer my critics.

12 The clever see trouble coming and hide;

the thoughtless go on and pay the penalty.

13 Seize his clothes because he guaranteed a stranger’s loan;

take them as security for that unknown woman.

14 Whoever greets his neighbor in a loud voice at dawn

might just as well have cursed him.

15 A leak that keeps dripping on a rainy day

and the nagging of a wife are the same —

16 whoever can restrain her can restrain the wind

or keep perfume on his hand from making itself known.

17 Just as iron sharpens iron,

a person sharpens the character of his friend.

18 Whoever tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who is attentive to his master will be honored.

19 Just as water reflects the face,

so one human heart reflects another.

20 Sh’ol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

and human eyes are never satisfied.

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

but a person [is tested] by [his reaction to] praise.

22 You can crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle,

along with the grain being crushed;

yet his foolishness will not leave him.

23 Take care to know the condition of your flocks,

and pay attention to your herds.

24 For wealth doesn’t last forever,

neither does a crown through all generations.

25 When the hay has been mown, and the new grass appears,

and the mountain greens have been gathered;

26 the lambs will provide your clothing,

the goats will sell for enough to buy a field,

27 and there will be enough goat’s milk

to [buy] food for you and your household

and maintenance for your servant-girls.

1 The wicked flee when no one pursues them;

but the righteous, like lions, feel sure of themselves.

2 A land which transgresses [is punished by] having many rulers;

but with a man of understanding and knowledge, stability is prolonged.

3 A poor man who oppresses the weak

is like a downpour that sweeps away all the food.

4 Those who abandonTorahpraise the wicked,

but those who keepTorahfight them.

5 Evil people don’t understand justice,

but those who seekAdonaiunderstand everything.

6 Better to be poor and live an honest life

than be crooked in one’s ways, though rich.

7 A wise son observesTorah,

but a friend of those lacking restraint shames his father.

8 He who increases his wealth by charging exorbitant interest

amasses it for someone who will bestow it on the poor.

9 If a person will not listen toTorah,

even his prayer is an abomination.

10 Whoever causes the honest to pursue evil ways

will himself fall into his own pit,

but the pure-hearted will inherit good.

11 The rich man is wise in his own view,

but the poor who has discernment sees through him.

12 When the just are triumphant, there is great rejoicing,

but when the wicked rise up, people hide.

13 He who conceals his sins will not succeed;

he who confesses and abandons them will gain mercy.

14 Happy the person who is never without fear,

but he who hardens his heart will fall into misfortune.

15 Like a roaring lion or a bear prowling for food

is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A prince without discernment is a cruel oppressor,

but one who hates greed will prolong his life.

17 Let a man weighed down with anyone’s blood

flee to a pit; give him no support.

18 Whoever lives blamelessly will be saved,

but he whose ways are crooked will fall in one [of those ways].

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

but he who follows futilities will have plenty of poverty.

20 A trustworthy person will receive many blessings,

but one rushing to get rich will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is not good,

though a person may do wrong for a crust of bread.

22 He who is greedy rushes after riches,

not knowing that want will overtake him.

23 He who rebukes another person

in the end gets more thanks than the flatterer.

24 Whoever robs mother or father and says, “That’s not a crime!”

is comrade to the destroyer.

25 A grasping disposition stirs up strife,

but he who trusts inAdonaiwill prosper.

26 He who trusts in himself is a fool,

but he who lives by wisdom will escape.

27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing,

but he who hides his eyes will get curses in plenty.

28 When the wicked rise up, people hide;

but when they perish, the righteous flourish.

1 He who remains stiffnecked after much rebuke

will be suddenly and incurably broken.

2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice;

but when the wicked are in power, the people groan.

3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but a patron of prostitutes wastes his wealth.

4 A king gives stability to a country by justice,

but one who overtaxes it brings it to ruin.

5 A person who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his own steps.

6 In an evil person’s crime is a trap,

but the righteous sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous understands the cause of the poor,

but the wicked is unconcerned.

8 Scoffers can inflame a city,

but the wise can calm the fury.

9 When a wise man argues with a foolish one,

he meets anger and ridicule without relief.

10 Men of blood hate those who are pure

and seek the life of the upright.

11 A fool gives vent to all his feelings,

but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them.

12 If a ruler listens to lies,

all his officials will be wicked.

13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:

Adonaigives light to the eyes of both.

14 If a king steadfastly gives justice to the poor,

his throne will be secure forever.

15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom,

but a child left to himself brings shame on his mother.

16 When the wicked flourish, wrongdoing flourishes;

but the righteous will witness their downfall.

17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

yes, he will be your delight.

18 Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint;

but he who keepsTorahis happy.

19 A slave can’t be disciplined with words;

he may understand, but he won’t respond.

20 Do you see someone too anxious to speak?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 A slave who is pampered from youth

will in the end be ungrateful.

22 Angry people stir up strife;

hot-tempered people commit many crimes.

23 The proud will be humbled,

but the humble will be honored.

24 The accomplice of a thief hates himself;

he hears himself put under oath but discloses nothing.

25 Fearing human beings is a snare;

but he who trusts inAdonaiwill be raised high [above danger].

26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,

but it is fromAdonaithat each gets justice.

27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,

but he who lives uprightly is an abomination to the wicked.