The Proverbs of Solomon
1
a Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD,
But a just weight is His delight.
2
When pride comes, then comes b shame;
But with the humble is wisdom.
3
The integrity of the upright will guide c them,
But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.
4
d Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,
But e righteousness delivers from death.
5
The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,
But the wicked will fall by his own f wickedness.
6
The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,
But the unfaithful will be caught by their lust.
7
When a wicked man dies, his expectation will g perish,
And the hope of the unjust perishes.
8
h The righteous is delivered from trouble,
And it comes to the wicked instead.
9
The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,
But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.
10
i When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;
And when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
11
By the blessing of the upright the city is j exalted,
But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
12
He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,
But a man of understanding holds his peace.
13
k A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit l conceals a matter.
14
m Where there is no counsel, the people fall;
But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
15
He who is n surety for a stranger will suffer,
But one who hates being surety is secure.
16
A gracious woman retains honor,
But ruthless men retain riches.
17
o The merciful man does good for his own soul,
But he who is cruel troubles his own flesh.
18
The wicked man does deceptive work,
But p he who sows righteousness will have a sure reward.
19
As righteousness leads to q life,
So he who pursues evil pursues it to his own r death.
20
Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the LORD,
But the blameless in their ways are His delight.
21
s Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;
But t the posterity of the righteous will be delivered.
22
As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,
So is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
23
The desire of the righteous is only good,
But the expectation of the wicked u is wrath.
24
There is one who v scatters, yet increases more;
And there is one who withholds more than is right,
But it leads to poverty.
25
w The generous soul will be made rich,
x And he who waters will also be watered himself.
26
The people will curse y him who withholds grain,
But z blessing will be on the head of him who sells it.
27
He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,
a But trouble will come to him who seeks evil.
28
b He who trusts in his riches will fall,
But c the righteous will flourish like foliage.
29
He who troubles his own house d will inherit the wind,
And the fool will be e servant to the wise of heart.
30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And f he who wins souls is wise.
31
g If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,
How much more the ungodly and the sinner.
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Cross References
Leviticus 19:35
You shall do no injustice in judgment, in measu...
Leviticus 19:36
You shall have honest scales, honest weights, a...
Deuteronomy 25:13 - 16
You shall not have in your bag differing weight...
Proverbs 20:10
Diverse weights and diverse measures, They are ...
Proverbs 20:23
Diverse weights are an abomination to the LORD,...
Micah 6:11
Shall I count pure those with the wicked scales...
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Cross References
Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.
Proverbs 18:12
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.
Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.
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Cross References
Proverbs 13:6
Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, But wickedness overthrows the sinner.
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Cross References
Proverbs 10:2
Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, But righteousness delivers from death.
Ezekiel 7:19
They will throw their silver into the streets, And their gold will be like refuse; Their silver and their gold will not be able to deliver them In the day of the wrath of the LORD; They will not satisfy their souls, Nor fill their stomachs, Because it became their stumbling block of iniquity.
Zephaniah 1:18
Neither their silver nor their gold Shall be able to deliver them In the day of the LORD's wrath; But the whole land shall be devoured By the fire of His jealousy, For He will make speedy riddance Of all those who dwell in the land.
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Cross References
Genesis 7:1
Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
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Cross References
Proverbs 5:22
His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
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Cross References
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
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Cross References
Proverbs 21:18
The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, And the unfaithful for the upright.
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Cross References
Proverbs 28:12
When the righteous rejoice, there is great glory; But when the wicked arise, men hide themselves.
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Cross References
Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.
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Cross References
Leviticus 19:16
You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
Proverbs 20:19
He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.
1 Timothy 5:13
And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
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Cross References
Proverbs 19:11
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
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Cross References
1 Kings 12:1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had gone to Shechem to make him king.
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Cross References
Proverbs 6:1
My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger.
Proverbs 6:2
You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.
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Cross References
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
Matthew 25:34 - 36
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
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Cross References
Hosea 10:12
Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the LORD, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Galatians 6:8
For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
James 3:18
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
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Cross References
Proverbs 10:16
The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.
Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness is life, And in its pathway there is no death.
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Cross References
Proverbs 21:16
A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:15
Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
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Cross References
Proverbs 16:5
Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.
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Cross References
Psalms 112:2
His descendants will be mighty on earth; The generation of the upright will be blessed.
Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, And His children will have a place of refuge.
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Cross References
Proverbs 10:28
The hope of the righteous will be gladness, But the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Romans 2:8
But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness - indignation and wrath.
Romans 2:9
Tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek.
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Cross References
Psalms 112:9
He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.
Proverbs 13:7
There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Proverbs 19:17
He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD, And He will pay back what he has given.
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Cross References
Proverbs 3:9
Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase.
Proverbs 3:10
So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.
2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
2 Corinthians 9:7
So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.
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Cross References
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy.
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Cross References
Amos 8:5
Saying: "When will the New Moon be past, That we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, That we may trade wheat? Making the ephah small and the shekel large, Falsifying the scales by deceit.
Amos 8:6
That we may buy the poor for silver, And the needy for a pair of sandals - Even sell the bad wheat?
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Cross References
Job 29:13
The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
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Cross References
Esther 7:10
So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath subsided.
Psalms 7:15
He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psalms 7:16
His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
Psalms 57:6
They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah
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Cross References
Job 31:24
If I have made gold my hope, Or said to fine gold, ' You are my confidence'.
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Cross References
Psalms 1:3
He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.
Jeremiah 17:8
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
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Cross References
Ecclesiastes 5:16
And this also is a severe evil - Just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
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Cross References
Proverbs 14:19
The evil will bow before the good, And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
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Cross References
Proverbs 14:25
A true witness delivers souls, But a deceitful witness speaks lies.
Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise shall shine Like the brightness of the firmament, And those who turn many to righteousness Like the stars forever and ever.
1 Corinthians 9:19 - 22
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more.
James 5:20
Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.
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Cross References
Jeremiah 25:29
"For behold, I begin to bring calamity on the city which is called by My name, and should you be utterly unpunished? You shall not be unpunished, for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth," says the LORD of hosts.'
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.