Proverbs 9,10,11,14: Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

1Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved its seven columns.

2She has prepared a great banquet,

mixed the wines, and set the table.

3She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.

She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.

4“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.

To those who lack good judgment, she says,

5“Come, eat my food,

and drink the wine I have mixed.

6Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;

learn to use good judgment.”

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

7Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.

Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.

8So don’t bother correcting mockers;

they will only hate you.

But correct the wise,

and they will love you.

9Instruct the wise,

and they will be even wiser.

Teach the righteous,

and they will learn even more.

10Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

11Wisdom will multiply your days

and add years to your life.

12If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.

If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Folly Calls for a Hearing

13The woman named Folly is brash.

She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.

14She sits in her doorway

on the heights overlooking the city.

15She calls out to men going by

who are minding their own business.

16“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.

To those who lack good judgment, she says,

17“Stolen water is refreshing;

food eaten in secret tastes the best!”

18But little do they know that the dead are there.

Her guests are in the depths of the grave.

The Proverbs of Solomon

1The proverbs of Solomon:

A wise child10:1 Hebrew son; also in 10:1b. brings joy to a father;

a foolish child brings grief to a mother.

2Tainted wealth has no lasting value,

but right living can save your life.

3The Lord will not let the godly go hungry,

but he refuses to satisfy the craving of the wicked.

4Lazy people are soon poor;

hard workers get rich.

5A wise youth harvests in the summer,

but one who sleeps during harvest is a disgrace.

6The godly are showered with blessings;

the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

7We have happy memories of the godly,

but the name of a wicked person rots away.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

8The wise are glad to be instructed,

but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

9People with integrity walk safely,

but those who follow crooked paths will be exposed.

10People who wink at wrong cause trouble,

but a bold reproof promotes peace.10:10 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.

11The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain;

the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.

12Hatred stirs up quarrels,

but love makes up for all offenses.

13Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding,

but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.

14Wise people treasure knowledge,

but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.

15The wealth of the rich is their fortress;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

16The earnings of the godly enhance their lives,

but evil people squander their money on sin.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

17People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life,

but those who ignore correction will go astray.

18Hiding hatred makes you a liar;

slandering others makes you a fool.

19Too much talk leads to sin.

Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

20The words of the godly are like sterling silver;

the heart of a fool is worthless.

21The words of the godly encourage many,

but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

22The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich,

and he adds no sorrow with it.

23Doing wrong is fun for a fool,

but living wisely brings pleasure to the sensible.

24The fears of the wicked will be fulfilled;

the hopes of the godly will be granted.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

25When the storms of life come, the wicked are whirled away,

but the godly have a lasting foundation.

26Lazy people irritate their employers,

like vinegar to the teeth or smoke in the eyes.

27Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life,

but the years of the wicked are cut short.

28The hopes of the godly result in happiness,

but the expectations of the wicked come to nothing.

29The way of the Lord is a stronghold to those with integrity,

but it destroys the wicked.

30The godly will never be disturbed,

but the wicked will be removed from the land.

31The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice,

but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.

32The lips of the godly speak helpful words,

but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.

1The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales,

but he delights in accurate weights.

2Pride leads to disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom.

3Honesty guides good people;

dishonesty destroys treacherous people.

4Riches won’t help on the day of judgment,

but right living can save you from death.

5The godly are directed by honesty;

the wicked fall beneath their load of sin.

6The godliness of good people rescues them;

the ambition of treacherous people traps them.

7When the wicked die, their hopes die with them,

for they rely on their own feeble strength.

8The godly are rescued from trouble,

and it falls on the wicked instead.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

9With their words, the godless destroy their friends,

but knowledge will rescue the righteous.

10The whole city celebrates when the godly succeed;

they shout for joy when the wicked die.

11Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,

but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

12It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;

a sensible person keeps quiet.

13A gossip goes around telling secrets,

but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

14Without wise leadership, a nation falls;

there is safety in having many advisers.

15There’s danger in putting up security for a stranger’s debt;

it’s safer not to guarantee another person’s debt.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

16A gracious woman gains respect,

but ruthless men gain only wealth.

17Your kindness will reward you,

but your cruelty will destroy you.

18Evil people get rich for the moment,

but the reward of the godly will last.

19Godly people find life;

evil people find death.

20The Lord detests people with crooked hearts,

but he delights in those with integrity.

21Evil people will surely be punished,

but the children of the godly will go free.

22A beautiful woman who lacks discretion

is like a gold ring in a pig’s snout.

23The godly can look forward to a reward,

while the wicked can expect only judgment.

24Give freely and become more wealthy;

be stingy and lose everything.

25The generous will prosper;

those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

26People curse those who hoard their grain,

but they bless the one who sells in time of need.

27If you search for good, you will find favor;

but if you search for evil, it will find you!

28Trust in your money and down you go!

But the godly flourish like leaves in spring.

29Those who bring trouble on their families inherit the wind.

The fool will be a servant to the wise.

30The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life;

a wise person wins friends.11:30 Or and those who win souls are wise.

31If the righteous are rewarded here on earth,

what will happen to wicked sinners?

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

1A wise woman builds her home,

but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

2Those who follow the right path fear the Lord;

those who take the wrong path despise him.

3A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him,

but the words of the wise keep them safe.

4Without oxen a stable stays clean,

but you need a strong ox for a large harvest.

5An honest witness does not lie;

a false witness breathes lies.

6A mocker seeks wisdom and never finds it,

but knowledge comes easily to those with understanding.

7Stay away from fools,

for you won’t find knowledge on their lips.

8The prudent understand where they are going,

but fools deceive themselves.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

9Fools make fun of guilt,

but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

10Each heart knows its own bitterness,

and no one else can fully share its joy.

11The house of the wicked will be destroyed,

but the tent of the godly will flourish.

12There is a path before each person that seems right,

but it ends in death.

13Laughter can conceal a heavy heart,

but when the laughter ends, the grief remains.

14Backsliders get what they deserve;

good people receive their reward.

15Only simpletons believe everything they’re told!

The prudent carefully consider their steps.

16The wise are cautious14:16 Hebrew The wise fear. and avoid danger;

fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence.

17Short-tempered people do foolish things,

and schemers are hated.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

18Simpletons are clothed with foolishness,14:18 Or inherit foolishness.

but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19Evil people will bow before good people;

the wicked will bow at the gates of the godly.

20The poor are despised even by their neighbors,

while the rich have many “friends.”

21It is a sin to belittle one’s neighbor;

blessed are those who help the poor.

22If you plan to do evil, you will be lost;

if you plan to do good, you will receive unfailing love and faithfulness.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?

23Work brings profit,

but mere talk leads to poverty!

24Wealth is a crown for the wise;

the effort of fools yields only foolishness.

25A truthful witness saves lives,

but a false witness is a traitor.

26Those who fear the Lord are secure;

he will be a refuge for their children.

27Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain;

it offers escape from the snares of death.

28A growing population is a king’s glory;

a prince without subjects has nothing.

29People with understanding control their anger;

a hot temper shows great foolishness.

30A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body;

jealousy is like cancer in the bones.

31Those who oppress the poor insult their Maker,

but helping the poor honors him.

32The wicked are crushed by disaster,

but the godly have a refuge when they die.

33Wisdom is enshrined in an understanding heart;

wisdom is not14:33 As in Greek and Syriac versions; Hebrew lacks not. found among fools.

34Godliness makes a nation great,

but sin is a disgrace to any people.

35A king rejoices in wise servants

but is angry with those who disgrace him.

Aren't you the Black King or the Black Queen?