Meet Kimo Thorpe

1  Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
    and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. ^{1 20:1 Or will not become wise}
2  The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion;
    whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
3  It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife,
    but every fool will be quarreling.
4  The sluggard does not plow in the autumn;
    he will seek at harvest and have nothing.
5  The purpose in a man's heart is like deep water,
    but a man of understanding will draw it out.
6  Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
    but a faithful man who can find?
7  The righteous who walks in his integrity—
    blessed are his children after him!
8  A king who sits on the throne of judgment
    winnows all evil with his eyes.
9  Who can say, “I have made my heart pure;
    I am clean from my sin”?
10  Unequal ^{2 20:10 Or Two kinds of; also verse 23} weights and unequal measures
    are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
11  Even a child makes himself known by his acts,
    by whether his conduct is pure and upright. ^{3 20:11 Or Even a child can dissemble in his actions, though his conduct seems pure and upright}
12  The hearing ear and the seeing eye,
    the LORD has made them both.
13  Love not sleep, lest you come to poverty;
    open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.
14  “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,
    but when he goes away, then he boasts.
15  There is gold and abundance of costly stones,
    but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.
16  Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger,
    and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners. ^{4 20:16 Or for an adulteress (compare 27:13)}
17  Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
    but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.
18  Plans are established by counsel;
    by wise guidance wage war.
19  Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets;
    therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. ^{5 20:19 Hebrew with one who is simple in his lips}
20  If one curses his father or his mother,
    his lamp will be put out in utter darkness.
21  An inheritance gained hastily in the beginning
    will not be blessed in the end.
22  Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
    wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.
23  Unequal weights are an abomination to the LORD,
    and false scales are not good.
24  A man's steps are from the LORD;
    how then can man understand his way?
25  It is a snare to say rashly, “It is holy,”
    and to reflect only after making vows.
26  A wise king winnows the wicked
    and drives the wheel over them.
27  The spirit ^{6 20:27 Hebrew breath} of man is the lamp of the LORD,
    searching all his innermost parts.
28  Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king,
    and by steadfast love his throne is upheld.
29  The glory of young men is their strength,
    but the splendor of old men is their gray hair.
30  Blows that wound cleanse away evil;
    strokes make clean the innermost parts.
1  The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
    he turns it wherever he will.
2  Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
    but the LORD weighs the heart.
3  To do righteousness and justice
    is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.
4  Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
    the lamp ^{7 21:4 Or the plowing} of the wicked, are sin.
5  The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
    but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
6  The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
    is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death. ^{8 21:6 Some Hebrew manuscripts, Septuagint, Latin; most Hebrew manuscripts vapor for those who seek death}
7  The violence of the wicked will sweep them away,
    because they refuse to do what is just.
8  The way of the guilty is crooked,
    but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9  It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10  The soul of the wicked desires evil;
    his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11  When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
    when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12  The Righteous One observes the house of the wicked;
    he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13  Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
    will himself call out and not be answered.
14  A gift in secret averts anger,
    and a concealed bribe, ^{9 21:14 Hebrew a bribe in the bosom} strong wrath.
15  When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
    but terror to evildoers.
16  One who wanders from the way of good sense
    will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17  Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
    he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18  The wicked is a ransom for the righteous,
    and the traitor for the upright.
19  It is better to live in a desert land
    than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20  Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
    but a foolish man devours it.
21  Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness
    will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22  A wise man scales the city of the mighty
    and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23  Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
    keeps himself out of trouble.
24  “Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
    who acts with arrogant pride.
25  The desire of the sluggard kills him,
    for his hands refuse to labor.
26  All day long he craves and craves,
    but the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27  The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
    how much more when he brings it with evil intent.
28  A false witness will perish,
    but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29  A wicked man puts on a bold face,
    but the upright gives thought to ^{10 21:29 Or establishes} his ways.
30  No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
    can avail against the LORD.
31  The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
    but the victory belongs to the LORD.
1  A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
    and favor is better than silver or gold.
2  The rich and the poor meet together;
    the LORD is the Maker of them all.
3  The prudent sees danger and hides himself,
    but the simple go on and suffer for it.
4  The reward for humility and fear of the LORD
    is riches and honor and life. ^{11 22:4 Or The reward for humility is the fear of the LORD, riches and honor and life}
5  Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked;
    whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
6  Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.
7  The rich rules over the poor,
    and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
8  Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
    and the rod of his fury will fail.
9  Whoever has a bountiful ^{12 22:9 Hebrew good} eye will be blessed,
    for he shares his bread with the poor.
10  Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out,
    and quarreling and abuse will cease.
11  He who loves purity of heart,
    and whose speech is gracious, will have the king as his friend.
12  The eyes of the LORD keep watch over knowledge,
    but he overthrows the words of the traitor.
13  The sluggard says, “There is a lion outside!
    I shall be killed in the streets!”
14  The mouth of forbidden ^{13 22:14 Hebrew strange} women is a deep pit;
    he with whom the LORD is angry will fall into it.
15  Folly is bound up in the heart of a child,
    but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16  Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
    or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

Words of the Wise

17  Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise,
    and apply your heart to my knowledge,
18  for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you,
    if all of them are ready on your lips.
19  That your trust may be in the LORD,
    I have made them known to you today, even to you.
20  Have I not written for you thirty sayings
    of counsel and knowledge,
21  to make you know what is right and true,
    that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?

22  Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
    or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23  for the LORD will plead their cause
    and rob of life those who rob them.
24  Make no friendship with a man given to anger,
    nor go with a wrathful man,
25  lest you learn his ways
    and entangle yourself in a snare.
26  Be not one of those who give pledges,
    who put up security for debts.
27  If you have nothing with which to pay,
    why should your bed be taken from under you?
28  Do not move the ancient landmark
    that your fathers have set.
29  Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men.

1  When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
    observe carefully what ^{14 23:1 Or who} is before you,
2  and put a knife to your throat
    if you are given to appetite.
3  Do not desire his delicacies,
    for they are deceptive food.
4  Do not toil to acquire wealth;
    be discerning enough to desist.
5  When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
    for suddenly it sprouts wings,
    flying like an eagle toward heaven.
6  Do not eat the bread of a man who is stingy; ^{15 23:6 Hebrew whose eye is evil}
    do not desire his delicacies,
7  for he is like one who is inwardly calculating. ^{16 23:7 Or for as he calculates in his soul, so is he}
    “Eat and drink!” he says to you,
    but his heart is not with you.
8  You will vomit up the morsels that you have eaten,
    and waste your pleasant words.
9  Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,
    for he will despise the good sense of your words.
10  Do not move an ancient landmark
    or enter the fields of the fatherless,
11  for their Redeemer is strong;
    he will plead their cause against you.
12  Apply your heart to instruction
    and your ear to words of knowledge.
13  Do not withhold discipline from a child;
    if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14  If you strike him with the rod,
    you will save his soul from Sheol.
15  My son, if your heart is wise,
    my heart too will be glad.
16  My inmost being ^{17 23:16 Hebrew My kidneys} will exult
    when your lips speak what is right.
17  Let not your heart envy sinners,
    but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day.
18  Surely there is a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

19  Hear, my son, and be wise,
    and direct your heart in the way.
20  Be not among drunkards ^{18 23:20 Hebrew those who drink too much wine}
    or among gluttonous eaters of meat,
21  for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty,
    and slumber will clothe them with rags.

22  Listen to your father who gave you life,
    and do not despise your mother when she is old.
23  Buy truth, and do not sell it;
    buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.
24  The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice;
    he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.
25  Let your father and mother be glad;
    let her who bore you rejoice.

26  My son, give me your heart,
    and let your eyes observe ^{19 23:26 Or delight in} my ways.
27  For a prostitute is a deep pit;
    an adulteress ^{20 23:27 Hebrew a foreign woman} is a narrow well.
28  She lies in wait like a robber
    and increases the traitors among mankind.

29  Who has woe? Who has sorrow?
    Who has strife? Who has complaining?
Who has wounds without cause?
    Who has redness of eyes?
30  Those who tarry long over wine;
    those who go to try mixed wine.
31  Do not look at wine when it is red,
    when it sparkles in the cup
    and goes down smoothly.
32  In the end it bites like a serpent
    and stings like an adder.
33  Your eyes will see strange things,
    and your heart utter perverse things.
34  You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea,
    like one who lies on the top of a mast. ^{21 23:34 Or of the rigging}
35  “They struck me,” you will say, ^{22 23:35 Hebrew lacks you will say} “but I was not hurt;
    they beat me, but I did not feel it.
When shall I awake?
    I must have another drink.”
1  Be not envious of evil men,
    nor desire to be with them,
2  for their hearts devise violence,
    and their lips talk of trouble.

3  By wisdom a house is built,
    and by understanding it is established;
4  by knowledge the rooms are filled
    with all precious and pleasant riches.
5  A wise man is full of strength,
    and a man of knowledge enhances his might,
6  for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
    and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
7  Wisdom is too high for a fool;
    in the gate he does not open his mouth.

8  Whoever plans to do evil
    will be called a schemer.
9  The devising ^{23 24:9 Or scheming} of folly is sin,
    and the scoffer is an abomination to mankind.

10  If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
11  Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12  If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man according to his work?

13  My son, eat honey, for it is good,
    and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14  Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
    if you find it, there will be a future,
    and your hope will not be cut off.

15  Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;
    do no violence to his home;
16  for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,
    but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

17  Do not rejoice when your enemy falls,
    and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,
18  lest the LORD see it and be displeased,
    and turn away his anger from him.

19  Fret not yourself because of evildoers,
    and be not envious of the wicked,
20  for the evil man has no future;
    the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

21  My son, fear the LORD and the king,
    and do not join with those who do otherwise,
22  for disaster will arise suddenly from them,
    and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

More Sayings of the Wise

23 These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging is not good.
24  Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,”
    will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,
25  but those who rebuke the wicked will have delight,
    and a good blessing will come upon them.
26  Whoever gives an honest answer
    kisses the lips.

27  Prepare your work outside;
    get everything ready for yourself in the field,
    and after that build your house.

28  Be not a witness against your neighbor without cause,
    and do not deceive with your lips.
29  Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
    I will pay the man back for what he has done.”

30  I passed by the field of a sluggard,
    by the vineyard of a man lacking sense,
31  and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns;
    the ground was covered with nettles,
    and its stone wall was broken down.
32  Then I saw and considered it;
    I looked and received instruction.
33  A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest,
34  and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
    and want like an armed man.