- 1 Proverbs 1 1 Proverbs 1 (33 verses in the MT) opens: The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; The middle of the chapter continues: Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. It closes: But whoso hearkeneth to me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.
- 2 Proverbs 2 2 Proverbs 2 (22 verses in the MT) opens: My son, if you will receive my words, and hide my commandments with you; The middle of the chapter continues: To deliver you from the way of the evil , from the man that speaketh froward things; It closes: But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
- 3 Proverbs 3 3 Proverbs 3 (35 verses in the MT) opens: My son, forget not my law; but let your heart keep my commandments: The middle of the chapter continues: She a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy that retaineth her. It closes: The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
- 4 Proverbs 4 4 Proverbs 4 (27 verses in the MT) opens: Hear, you children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. The middle of the chapter continues: Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil . It closes: Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.
- 5 Proverbs 5 5 Proverbs 5 (23 verses in the MT) opens: My son, attend to my wisdom, bow your ear to my understanding: The middle of the chapter continues: And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; It closes: He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
- 6 Proverbs 6 6 Proverbs 6 (35 verses in the MT) opens: My son, if you be surety for your friend, you have stricken your hand with a stranger, The middle of the chapter continues: An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, It closes: He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though you givest many gifts.
- 7 Proverbs 7 7 Proverbs 7 (27 verses in the MT) opens: My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with you. The middle of the chapter continues: peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. It closes: Her house the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
- 8 Proverbs 8 8 Proverbs 8 (36 verses in the MT) opens: Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? The middle of the chapter continues: My fruit better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. It closes: But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
- 9 Proverbs 9 9 Proverbs 9 (18 verses in the MT) opens: Wisdom has builded her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars: The middle of the chapter continues: The fear of YHWH the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy understanding. It closes: But he knoweth not that the dead there; her guests in the depths of hell.
- 10 Proverbs 10 10 Proverbs 10 (32 verses in the MT) opens: The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son the heaviness of his mother. The middle of the chapter continues: He the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth. It closes: The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked frowardness.
- 11 Proverbs 11 11 Proverbs 11 (31 verses in the MT) opens: A false balance abomination to YHWH: but a just weight his delight. The middle of the chapter continues: A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong retain riches. It closes: Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.
- 12 Proverbs 12 12 Proverbs 12 (28 verses in the MT) opens: Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof brutish. The middle of the chapter continues: The way of a fool right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth to counsel wise. It closes: In the way of righteousness life; and the pathway no death.
- 13 Proverbs 13 13 Proverbs 13 (25 verses in the MT) opens: A wise son his father's instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. The middle of the chapter continues: Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded. It closes: The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.
- 14 Proverbs 14 14 Proverbs 14 (35 verses in the MT) opens: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands. The middle of the chapter continues: The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. It closes: The king's favour toward a wise servant: but his wrath is him that causeth shame.
- 15 Proverbs 15 15 Proverbs 15 (33 verses in the MT) opens: A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The middle of the chapter continues: Better a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith. It closes: The fear of YHWH the instruction of wisdom; and before honour humility.
- 16 Proverbs 16 16 Proverbs 16 (33 verses in the MT) opens: The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, from YHWH. The middle of the chapter continues: The highway of the upright to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul. It closes: The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof of YHWH.
- 17 Proverbs 17 17 Proverbs 17 (28 verses in the MT) opens: Better a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices strife. The middle of the chapter continues: He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both abomination to YHWH. It closes: Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips a man of understanding.
- 18 Proverbs 18 18 Proverbs 18 (24 verses in the MT) opens: Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh intermeddleth with all wisdom. The middle of the chapter continues: He that answereth a matter before he heareth , it folly and shame to him. It closes: A man friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend sticketh closer than a brother.
- 19 Proverbs 19 19 Proverbs 19 (29 verses in the MT) opens: Better the poor that walketh in his integrity, than perverse in his lips, and is a fool. The middle of the chapter continues: Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. It closes: Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.
- 20 Proverbs 20 20 Proverbs 20 (30 verses in the MT) opens: Wine a mocker, strong drink raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. The middle of the chapter continues: Take his garment that is surety a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. It closes: The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so stripes the inward parts of the belly.
- 21 Proverbs 21 21 Proverbs 21 (31 verses in the MT) opens: The king's heart in the hand of YHWH, the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. The middle of the chapter continues: The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. It closes: The horse prepared against the day of battle: but safety of YHWH.
- 22 Proverbs 22 22 Proverbs 22 (29 verses in the MT) opens: A name rather to be chosen than great riches, loving favour rather than silver and gold. The middle of the chapter continues: Foolishness bound in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. It closes: Seest you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean .
- 23 Proverbs 23 23 Proverbs 23 (35 verses in the MT) opens: When you sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what before you: The middle of the chapter continues: For surely there is an end; and your expectation shall not be cut off. It closes: They have stricken me, I was not sick; they have beaten me, I felt not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.
- 24 Proverbs 24 24 Proverbs 24 (34 verses in the MT) opens: Be not you envious against evil men, neither desire to be with them. The middle of the chapter continues: Lest YHWH see , and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. It closes: So shall your poverty come one that travelleth; and your want as an armed man.
- 25 Proverbs 25 25 Proverbs 25 (28 verses in the MT) opens: These also proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. The middle of the chapter continues: By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone. It closes: He that no rule over his own spirit a city broken down, without walls.
- 26 Proverbs 26 26 Proverbs 26 (28 verses in the MT) opens: As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honour is not seemly for a fool. The middle of the chapter continues: The slothful hideth his hand in bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. It closes: A lying tongue hateth afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
- 27 Proverbs 27 27 Proverbs 27 (27 verses in the MT) opens: Boast not thyself of to morrow; for you knowest not what a day may bring forth. The middle of the chapter continues: He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. It closes: And goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and the maintenance for your maidens.
- 28 Proverbs 28 28 Proverbs 28 (28 verses in the MT) opens: The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion. The middle of the chapter continues: a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; a wicked ruler over the poor people. It closes: When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.
- 29 Proverbs 29 29 Proverbs 29 (27 verses in the MT) opens: He, that being often reproved hardeneth neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. The middle of the chapter continues: The king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever. It closes: An unjust man an abomination to the just: and upright in the way abomination to the wicked.
- 30 Proverbs 30 30 Proverbs 30 (33 verses in the MT) opens: The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the prophecy: the man spake to Ithiel, even to Ithiel and Ucal, The middle of the chapter continues: The eye mocketh at father, and despiseth to obey mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. It closes: Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.
- 31 Proverbs 31 31 Proverbs 31 (31 verses in the MT) opens: The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him. The middle of the chapter continues: She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. It closes: Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.