Simon reads the Bible

1 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh—an inspired utterance. This man’s utterance to Ithiel: “I am weary, God, but I can prevail. 2  Surely I am only a brute, not a man; I do not have human understanding. 3  I have not learned wisdom, nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One. 4  Who has gone up to heaven and come down? Whose hands have gathered up the wind? Who has wrapped...

1 Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy. 2  When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. 3  A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 4  By justice a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down....

1 The wicked flee though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. 2  When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order. 3  A ruler who oppresses the poor is like a driving rain that leaves no crops. 4  Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked, but those who heed it resist them. 5  Evildoers do not...

1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. 2  Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips. 3  Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. 4  Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? 5  Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6  Woun...

1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool. 2  Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest. 3  A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 4  Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him. 5  Answer a fool according to his folly,...

1 These are more proverbs of Solomon, compiled by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah: 2  It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. 3  As the heavens are high and the earth is deep, so the hearts of kings are unsearchable. 4  Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel; 5  remove wicked officials from th...

1 Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; 2  for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble. 3  By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; 4  through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. 5  The wise prevail through great power, and those who have knowledge muster their strength. 6&...

1 When you sit to dine with a ruler, note well what[ a ] is before you, 2  and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony. 3  Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive. 4  Do not wear yourself out to get rich; do not trust your own cleverness. 5  Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky l...

1 A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold. 2  Rich and poor have this in common: The Lord is the Maker of them all. 3  The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. 4  Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life. 5  In the paths of the wicked are snares a...

1 In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is a stream of water that he channels toward all who please him. 2  A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. 3  To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. 4  Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin. 5  The plans of the diligent lead to p...

1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 2  A king’s wrath strikes terror like the roar of a lion; those who anger him forfeit their lives. 3  It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. 4  Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing. 5  The purposes of a person’s heart are...

1 Better the poor whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse. 2  Desire without knowledge is not good— how much more will hasty feet miss the way! 3  A person’s own folly leads to their ruin, yet their heart rages against the Lord. 4  Wealth attracts many friends, but even the closest friend of the poor person deserts them. 5  A false witness will not go unpuni...

1 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends and against all sound judgment starts quarrels. 2  Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. 3  When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes reproach. 4  The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream. 5  It is not good to be partial to th...

1 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. 2  A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. 3  The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart. 4  A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. 5  Whoever...

1 To humans belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue. 2  All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. 3  Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. 4  The Lord works out everything to its proper end— even the wicked for a day of disaster. 5  The Lord detests all the proud of...

1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2  The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 3  The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. 4  The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. 5  A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds cor...

1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. 2  Whoever fears the Lord walks uprightly, but those who despise him are devious in their ways. 3  A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride, but the lips of the wise protect them. 4  Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox come abundant harvests. 5  An hon...

1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes. 2  From the fruit of their lips people enjoy good things, but the unfaithful have an appetite for violence. 3  Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. 4  A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfie...

1 Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid. 2  Good people obtain favor from the Lord, but he condemns those who devise wicked schemes. 3  No one can be established through wickedness, but the righteous cannot be uprooted. 4  A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown, but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. 5  The plans...

1 The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him. 2  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 3  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. 4  Wealth is worthless in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death. 5  The righteousness of the blameless makes th...

1 The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother. 2  Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death. 3  The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked. 4  Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth. 5  He who gathers crops in...

1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2  She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3  She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 4  “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 5  “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6  Leave you...

1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2  At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3  beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud: 4  “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. 5  You who are  simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it....

1 My son, keep my words and store up my commands within you. 2  Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the apple of your eye. 3  Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4  Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and to insight, “You are my relative.” 5  They will keep you from the adulterous woman, from the wayward woman with her seduct...

1 My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, 2  you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. 3  So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion— and give your neighbor no rest! 4  Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber...