26:1 Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. 26:2 Like a fluttering bird or like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause does not come to rest. 26:3 A whip for the horse and a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools! 26:4 Do not answer
27:1 Do not boast about tomorrow; for you do not know what a day may bring forth. 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. 27:3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them. 27:4 Wrath is cruel and
28:1 The wicked person flees when there is no one pursuing, but the righteous person is as confident as a lion. 28:2 When a country is rebellious it has many princes, but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained. 28:3 A poor person who oppresses the weak is like a driving rain without food. 28:4 Those who forsake
29:1 The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy. 29:2 When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan. 29:3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father, but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth. 29:4 A king brings stability to a land by justice, but
The Words of Agur 30:1 The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: This man says to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal: 30:2 Surely I am more brutish than any other human being, and I do not have human understanding; 30:3 I have not learned wisdom, nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One. 30:4 Who has ascended
The Words of Lemuel 31:1 The words of King Lemuel, an oracle that his mother taught him: 31:2 O my son, O son of my womb, O son of my vows, 31:3 Do not give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which ruins kings. 31:4 It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or
1:1 The words of the Teacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem: Introduction: Utter Futility 1:2 “Futile! Futile!” laments the Teacher, “Absolutely futile! Everything is futile!” Futility Illustrated from Nature 1:3 What benefit do people get from all the effort which they expend on earth? 1:4 A generation comes and a generation goes, but the earth remains the same through the ages. 1:5 The
Futility of Self-Indulgent Pleasure 2:1 I thought to myself, “Come now, I will try self-indulgent pleasure to see if it is worthwhile.” But I found that it also is futile. 2:2 I said of partying, “It is folly,” and of self-indulgent pleasure, “It accomplishes nothing!” 2:3 I thought deeply about the effects of indulging myself with wine (all the while my mind
A Time for All Events in Life 3:1 For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth: 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot what was planted; 3:3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
Evil Oppression on Earth 4:1 So I again considered all the oppression that continually occurs on earth. This is what I saw: The oppressed were in tears, but no one was comforting them; no one delivers them from the power of their oppressors. 4:2 So I considered those who are dead and gone more fortunate than those who are still alive. 4:3