New King James Version (NKJV)

Wise Sayings of Solomon

1 The proverbs ofSolomon:

# A wise son makes a glad father,

But a foolish sonisthe grief of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing,

# But righteousness delivers from death.

3 TheLordwill not allow the righteous soul to famish,

But He casts away the desire of the wicked.

4 He who has a slack hand becomes poor,

# Butthe hand of the diligent makes rich.

5 He who gathers insummerisa wise son;

# He who sleeps in harvestisa son who causes shame.

6 Blessingsareon the head of the righteous,

But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the righteousisblessed,

But the name of the wicked will rot.

8 The wise in heart will receive commands,

# But a prating fool will fall.

9 He who walks with integrity walks securely,

But he who perverts his ways will become known.

10 He who winks with the eye causes trouble,

But a prating fool will fall.

11 The mouth of the righteousisa well of life,

But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirs up strife,

# Butlove covers all sins.

13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding,

# Buta rodisfor the back of him who is devoid of understanding.

14 Wisepeoplestore up knowledge,

# Butthe mouth of the foolishisnear destruction.

15 Therich man’s wealthishis strong city;

The destruction of the pooristheir poverty.

16 The labor of the righteousleadstolife,

The wages of the wicked to sin.

17 He who keeps instructionisinthe way of life,

But he who refuses correction goes astray.

18 Whoeverhides hatredhaslying lips,

# Andwhoever spreads slanderisa fool.

19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking,

# Buthe who restrains his lipsiswise.

20 The tongue of the righteousischoice silver;

The heart of the wickedisworthlittle.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,

But fools die for lack of wisdom.

22 The blessing of theLordmakesonerich,

And He adds no sorrow with it.

23 To do evilislike sport to a fool,

But a man of understanding has wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him,

# Andthe desire of the righteous will be granted.

25 When the whirlwind passes by,the wickedisnomore,

# Butthe righteoushasan everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

Soisthe lazymanto those who send him.

27 The fear of theLordprolongs days,

# Butthe years of the wicked will be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteouswillbegladness,

# But theexpectation of the wicked will perish.

29 The way of theLordisstrength for the upright,

# Butdestructionwillcometo the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous will never be removed,

But the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,

But the perverse tongue will be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wickedwhatisperverse.

1 Dishonest scalesarean abomination to theLord,

But a just weightisHis delight.

2 When pride comes, then comesshame;

But with the humbleiswisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright will guidethem,

But the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them.

4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath,

# Butrighteousness delivers from death.

5 The righteousness of the blameless will direct his way aright,

# But the wicked will fall by his ownwickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them,

But the unfaithful will be caught bytheirlust.

7 When a wicked man dies,hisexpectation willperish,

And the hope of the unjust perishes.

8 The righteous is delivered from trouble,

And it comes to the wicked instead.

9 The hypocrite withhismouth destroys his neighbor,

But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered.

10 When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices;

And when the wicked perish,thereisjubilation.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city isexalted,

But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He who is devoid of wisdom despises his neighbor,

But a man of understanding holds his peace.

13 A talebearer reveals secrets,

# But he who is of a faithful spiritconceals a matter.

14 Wherethereisno counsel, the people fall;

But in the multitude of counselorsthereissafety.

15 He who issurety for a stranger will suffer,

But one who hates being surety is secure.

16 A gracious woman retains honor,

But ruthlessmenretain riches.

17 The merciful man does good for his own soul,

Buthewhoiscruel troubles his own flesh.

18 The wickedmandoes deceptive work,

# Buthe who sows righteousnesswillhavea sure reward.

19 As righteousnessleadstolife,

# So he who pursues evilpursuesitto his owndeath.

20 Those who are of a perverse heartarean abomination to theLord,

Buttheblameless in their waysareHis delight.

21 Though they join forces, the wicked will not go unpunished;

# Butthe posterity of the righteous will be delivered.

22 Asa ring of gold in a swine’s snout,

Soisa lovely woman who lacks discretion.

23 The desire of the righteousisonly good,

# Butthe expectation of the wickediswrath.

24 There isonewhoscatters, yet increases more;

And there isonewho withholds more than is right,

But itleadsto poverty.

25 The generous soul will be made rich,

# And he who waters will also be watered himself.

26 The people will cursehim who withholds grain,

# Butblessingwillbeon the head of him who sellsit.

27 He who earnestly seeks good finds favor,

# But trouble will come to him who seeksevil.

28 He who trusts in his riches will fall,

# Butthe righteous will flourish like foliage.

29 He who troubles his own housewill inherit the wind,

# And the foolwillbeservant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteousisatree of life,

# Andhe who wins soulsiswise.

31 If the righteous will be recompensed on the earth,

How much more the ungodly and the sinner.

1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge,

But he who hates correctionisstupid.

2 A goodmanobtains favor from theLord,

But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

3 A man is not established by wickedness,

# But theroot of the righteous cannot be moved.

4 An excellent wifeisthe crown of her husband,

# But she who causes shameislike rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteousareright,

Butthe counsels of the wickedaredeceitful.

6 The words of the wickedare,“Lie in wait for blood,”

# But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown andareno more,

But the house of the righteous will stand.

8 A man will be commended according to his wisdom,

# But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

9 Betteristheonewho is slighted but has a servant,

Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

10 A righteousmanregards the life of his animal,

But the tender mercies of the wickedarecruel.

11 He who tills his land will be satisfied withbread,

# But he who follows frivolityisdevoid of understanding.

12 The wicked covet the catch of evilmen,

But the root of the righteous yieldsfruit.

13 The wicked is ensnared by the transgression ofhislips,

# But the righteous will come through trouble.

14 A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit ofhismouth,

# And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

15 The way of a foolisright in his own eyes,

But he who heeds counseliswise.

16 A fool’s wrath is known at once,

But a prudentmancovers shame.

17 Hewhospeaks truth declares righteousness,

But a false witness, deceit.

18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,

But the tongue of the wisepromoteshealth.

19 The truthful lip shall be established forever,

# But a lying tongueisbut for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

But counselors of peace have joy.

21 No grave trouble will overtake the righteous,

But the wicked shall be filled with evil.

22 Lying lipsarean abomination to theLord,

But those who deal truthfullyareHis delight.

23 A prudent man conceals knowledge,

But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent will rule,

But the lazymanwill be put to forced labor.

25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,

# Buta good word makes it glad.

26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,

For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

27 The lazymandoes not roast what he took in hunting,

But diligenceisman’s precious possession.

28 In the way of righteousnessislife,

And initspathwaythereisno death.

1 A wise sonheedshis father’s instruction,

# But a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

2 A man shall eat well by the fruit ofhismouth,

But the soul of the unfaithful feeds on violence.

3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life,

Buthe who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 The soul of a lazymandesires, andhasnothing;

But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.

5 A righteousmanhates lying,

But a wickedmanis loathsome and comes to shame.

6 Righteousness guardshimwhoseway is blameless,

But wickedness overthrows the sinner.

7 There is one who makes himself rich, yethasnothing;

Andone who makes himself poor, yethasgreat riches.

8 The ransom of a man’s lifeishis riches,

But the poor does not hear rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoices,

# But the lamp of the wicked will be put out.

10 By pride comes nothing butstrife,

But with the well-advisediswisdom.

11 Wealthgainedbydishonesty will be diminished,

But he who gathers by labor will increase.

12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,

# Butwhenthe desire comes,itisa tree of life.

13 He whodespises the word will be destroyed,

But he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.

14 The law of the wiseisa fountain of life,

# To turnoneaway fromthe snares of death.

15 Good understanding gainsfavor,

But the way of the unfaithfulishard.

16 Every prudentmanacts with knowledge,

But a fool lays openhisfolly.

17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

# Buta faithful ambassadorbringshealth.

18 Poverty and shamewillcometo him who disdains correction,

# Buthe who regards a rebuke will be honored.

19 A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul,

Butitisan abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He who walks with wisemenwill be wise,

But the companion of fools will be destroyed.

21 Evil pursues sinners,

But to the righteous, good shall be repaid.

22 A goodmanleaves an inheritance to his children’s children,

# Butthe wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

23 Much foodisinthe fallowgroundof the poor,

And for lack of justice there is waste.

24 He who spares his rod hates his son,

But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.

25 The righteous eats to the satisfying of his soul,

But the stomach of the wicked shall be in want.

1 The wise woman builds her house,

But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

2 He who walks in his uprightness fears theLord,

# Buthewhoisperverse in his ways despises Him.

3 In the mouth of a foolisa rod of pride,

# But the lips of the wise will preserve them.

4 Where no oxenare,the troughisclean;

But much increasecomesby the strength of an ox.

5 Afaithful witness does not lie,

# But a false witness will utterlies.

6 A scoffer seeks wisdom and does notfindit,

# Butknowledgeiseasy to him who understands.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man,

# When you do not perceiveinhimthe lips ofknowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudentisto understand his way,

But the folly of foolsisdeceit.

9 Fools mock at sin,

But among the uprightthereisfavor.

10 The heart knows its own bitterness,

And a stranger does not share its joy.

11 The house of the wicked will be overthrown,

But the tent of the upright will flourish.

12 There is a waythatseemsright to a man,

# Butits endisthe way ofdeath.

13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow,

# Andthe end of mirthmaybegrief.

14 The backslider in heart will befilled with his own ways,

# But a good manwillbesatisfiedfromabove.

15 The simple believes every word,

But the prudent considers well his steps.

16 A wisemanfears and departs from evil,

But a fool rages and is self-confident.

17 A quick-temperedmanacts foolishly,

And a man of wicked intentions is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly,

But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil will bow before the good,

And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poormanis hated even by his own neighbor,

# But the richhasmanyfriends.

21 He who despises his neighbor sins;

# But he who has mercy on the poor, happyishe.

22 Do they not go astray who devise evil?

But mercy and truthbelongto those who devise good.

23 In all labor there is profit,

But idle chatterleadsonly to poverty.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches,

Butthe foolishness of foolsisfolly.

25 A true witness deliverssouls,

But a deceitfulwitnessspeaks lies.

26 In the fear of theLordthereisstrong confidence,

And His children will have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of theLordisa fountain of life,

To turnoneaway from the snares of death.

28 In a multitude of peopleisa king’s honor,

But in the lack of peopleisthe downfall of a prince.

29 Hewhoisslow to wrath has great understanding,

Buthewhoisimpulsive exalts folly.

30 A sound heartislife to the body,

# Butenvyisrottenness to the bones.

31 He who oppresses the poor reproacheshis Maker,

But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy.

32 The wicked is banished in his wickedness,

# Butthe righteous has a refuge in his death.

33 Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding,

# Butwhatisin the heart of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalts anation,

But sinisa reproach toanypeople.

35 The king’s favoristoward a wise servant,

But his wrathisagainsthim who causes shame.

1 Asoft answer turns away wrath,

# Buta harsh word stirs up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

# But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

3 The eyes of theLordarein every place,

Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongueisa tree of life,

But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

5 A fool despises his father’s instruction,

# But he who receives correction is prudent.

6 Inthe house of the righteousthereismuch treasure,

But in the revenue of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge,

But the heart of the fooldoesnotdoso.

8 The sacrifice of the wickedisan abomination to theLord,

But the prayer of the uprightisHis delight.

9 The way of the wickedisan abomination to theLord,

# But He loves him whofollows righteousness.

10 Harsh disciplineisfor him who forsakes the way,

# Andhe who hates correction will die.

11 Hell and Destructionarebefore theLord;

# So how much morethe hearts of the sons of men.

12 A scoffer does not love one who corrects him,

Nor will he go to the wise.

13 A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance,

# Butby sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge,

But the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflictedareevil,

# But he who is of a merry hearthasa continual feast.

16 Betterisa little with the fear of theLord,

Than great treasure with trouble.

17 Betterisa dinner of herbs where love is,

Than a fatted calf with hatred.

18 A wrathful man stirs up strife,

Buthewhoisslow to anger allays contention.

19 The way of the lazymanislike a hedge of thorns,

But the way of the uprightisa highway.

20 A wise son makes a father glad,

But a foolish man despises his mother.

21 Follyisjoytohimwhoisdestitute of discernment,

# But a man of understanding walks uprightly.

22 Without counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth,

# Anda wordspokenin due season, how gooditis!

24 The way of lifewindsupward for the wise,

# That he mayturn away from hell below.

25 TheLordwill destroy the house of the proud,

# ButHe will establish the boundary of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wickedarean abomination to theLord,

# But the words of the purearepleasant.

27 He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house,

But he who hates bribes will live.

28 The heart of the righteousstudies how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

29 TheLordisfar from the wicked,

# ButHe hears the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

Anda good report makes the bones healthy.

31 The ear that hears the rebukes of life

Will abide among the wise.

32 He who disdains instruction despises his own soul,

But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.

33 The fear of theLordisthe instruction of wisdom,

# Andbefore honorishumility.

1 Thepreparations of the heartbelongto man,

# But the answer of the tongueisfrom theLord.

2 All the ways of a manarepure in his owneyes,

But theLordweighs the spirits.

3 Commit your works to theLord,

And your thoughts will be established.

4 TheLordhas made all for Himself,

# Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.

5 Everyone proud in heartisan abomination to theLord;

Thoughtheyjoinforces, none will go unpunished.

6 In mercy and truth

Atonement is provided for iniquity;

# Andby the fear of theLordonedeparts from evil.

7 When a man’s ways please theLord,

He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

8 Betterisa little with righteousness,

Than vast revenues without justice.

9 A man’s heart plans his way,

# But theLorddirects his steps.

10 Divinationison the lips of the king;

His mouth must not transgress in judgment.

11 Honest weights and scalesaretheLord’s;

All the weights in the bagareHis work.

12 Itisan abomination for kings to commit wickedness,

# Fora throne is established by righteousness.

13 Righteous lipsarethe delight of kings,

And they love him who speakswhatisright.

14 As messengers of deathisthe king’s wrath,

# But a wise man willappease it.

15 In the light of the king’s faceislife,

# And his favorislike acloud of the latter rain.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold!

And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

17 The highway of the uprightisto depart from evil;

He who keeps his way preserves his soul.

18 Pridegoesbefore destruction,

And a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Bettertobeof a humble spirit with the lowly,

Than to divide the spoil with the proud.

20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good,

# And whoevertrusts in theLord, happyishe.

21 The wise in heart will be called prudent,

And sweetness of the lips increases learning.

22 Understandingisa wellspring of life to him who has it.

But the correction of foolsisfolly.

23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,

And adds learning to his lips.

24 Pleasant wordsarelikea honeycomb,

Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

25 There is a waythatseemsright to a man,

# But its endisthe way ofdeath.

26 The person who labors, labors for himself,

# For hishungrymouth driveshimon.

27 An ungodly man digs up evil,

# Anditison his lips like a burningfire.

28 A perverse man sows strife,

# Anda whisperer separates the best of friends.

29 A violent man entices his neighbor,

And leads him in a waythatisnot good.

30 He winks his eye to devise perverse things;

He purses his lipsandbrings about evil.

31 The silver-haired headisa crown of glory,

Ifit is found in the way of righteousness.

32 Hewhoisslow to angerisbetter than the mighty,

And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,

But its every decisionisfrom theLord.

1 Betterisa dry morsel with quietness,

Than a house full of feastingwithstrife.

2 A wise servant will rule overa son who causes shame,

And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

3 The refining potisfor silver and the furnace for gold,

# But theLordtests the hearts.

4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips;

A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

5 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker;

# He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s childrenarethe crown of old men,

And the glory of childrenistheir father.

7 Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool,

Much less lying lips to a prince.

8 A presentisa precious stone in the eyes of its possessor;

Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who covers a transgression seeks love,

# Buthe who repeats a matter separates friends.

10 Rebuke is more effective for a wiseman

Than a hundred blows on a fool.

11 An evilmanseeks only rebellion;

Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a man meeta bear robbed of her cubs,

Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoeverrewards evil for good,

Evil will not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strifeislikereleasing water;

# Thereforestop contention before a quarrel starts.

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just,

Both of them alikearean abomination to theLord.

16 Whyistherein the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom,

Sincehehasno heartforit?

17 A friend loves at all times,

And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge,

Andbecomes surety for his friend.

19 He who loves transgression loves strife,

# Andhe who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,

# And he who hasa perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scofferdoessoto his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 Amerry heart does good,likemedicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wickedmanaccepts a bribe behind the back

To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdomisin the sight of him who has understanding,

But the eyes of a foolareon the ends of the earth.

25 Afoolish sonisa grief to his father,

And bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, to punish the righteousisnot good,

Norto strike princes fortheiruprightness.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words,

Anda man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;

Whenhe shuts his lips,heisconsideredperceptive.

1 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire;

He rages against all wise judgment.

2 A fool has no delight in understanding,

# But in expressing hisown heart.

3 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also;

And with dishonorcomesreproach.

4 The words of a man’s moutharedeep waters;

# The wellspring of wisdomisa flowing brook.

5 Itisnot good to show partiality to the wicked,

# Orto overthrow the righteous injudgment.

6 A fool’s lips enter into contention,

And his mouth calls for blows.

7 A fool’s mouthishis destruction,

# And his lipsarethe snare of hissoul.

8 The words of a talebearerarelike tasty trifles,

And they go down into the inmost body.

9 He who is slothful in his work

Is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.

10 The name of theLordisa strongtower;

The righteous run to it and are safe.

11 The rich man’s wealthishis strong city,

And like a high wall in his own esteem.

12 Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,

And before honorishumility.

13 He who answers a matter before he hearsit,

Itisfolly and shame to him.

14 The spirit of a man will sustain him in sickness,

But who can bear a broken spirit?

15 The heart of the prudent acquires knowledge,

And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.

16 A man’s gift makes room for him,

And brings him before great men.

17 The firstoneto plead his causeseemsright,

Until his neighbor comes and examines him.

18 Castinglots causes contentions to cease,

And keeps the mighty apart.

19 A brother offendedishardertowinthan a strong city,

And contentionsarelike the bars of a castle.

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth;

Fromthe produce of his lips he shall be filled.

21 Death and lifearein the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

22 Hewhofinds a wife finds a goodthing,

And obtains favor from theLord.

23 The poormanuses entreaties,

# But the rich answersroughly.

24 A manwhohasfriends must himself be friendly,

# But there is a friendwhosticks closer than a brother.

1 Betteristhe poor who walks in his integrity

Thanonewhoisperverse in his lips, and is a fool.

2 Also it is not goodfora soultobewithout knowledge,

And he sins who hastens withhisfeet.

3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,

And his heart frets against theLord.

4 Wealth makes many friends,

But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 Afalse witness will not go unpunished,

Andhewhospeaks lies will not escape.

6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,

And every manisa friend to one who gives gifts.

7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;

# How much more do his friends gofar from him!

He may pursuethemwithwords,yetthey abandonhim.

8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;

# He who keeps understandingwill find good.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

Andhewhospeaks lies shall perish.

10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,

# Much lessfor a servant to rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,

# And his gloryisto overlook a transgression.

12 The king’s wrathislike the roaring of a lion,

# But his favorislike dew on the grass.

13 A foolish sonisthe ruin of his father,

# And the contentions of a wifearea continual dripping.

14 Houses and richesarean inheritance from fathers,

# Buta prudent wifeisfrom theLord.

15 Laziness castsoneinto a deep sleep,

# And an idle person willsuffer hunger.

16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

Buthe who is careless of his ways will die.

17 He who has pity on the poor lends to theLord,

And He will pay back what he has given.

18 Chasten your son while there is hope,

And do not set your heart on his destruction.

19 Amanofgreat wrath will suffer punishment;

For if you rescuehim,you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

# That you may be wisein your latter days.

21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,

# Nevertheless theLord’s counsel—that will stand.

22 What is desired in a man is kindness,

And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of theLordleadsto life,

Andhewhohasitwill abide in satisfaction;

He will not be visited with evil.

24 A lazymanburies his hand in the bowl,

And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Strike a scoffer, and the simplewill become wary;

# Rebuke one who has understanding,andhe will discern knowledge.

26 He who mistreatshisfatherandchases awayhismother

# Isa son who causes shame and brings reproach.

27 Cease listening to instruction, my son,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A disreputable witness scorns justice,

# Andthe mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

# And beatings for the backs of fools.