Knox Bible

1

By his father’s teaching a son grows wise; only the headstrong will not listen to a warning.

2

Fair words yield a crop to content a man’s heart; but not for the treacherous; they have no stomach but for wrong-doing.

3

Guard thy tongue, guard thy soul; thoughtless speech may bring ruin.

4

Idleness will and will not, both at once; it is hard work that gives a full belly.

5

Honesty shuns the false word; the sinner disappointment gives and gets.✻

6

The upright heart is protected by its own innocence; guilt trips the heel of the wrong-doer.

7

Some are rich that nothing have; some with a well-lined purse are yet poor.

8

A man’s wealth may be his own life’s ransom; yet will not the poor man be chidden for his poverty.✻

9

Welcome the shining beams of a life well lived; the rush-light of the wicked glimmers and is gone.

10

Ever there is wrangling among the proud; wisdom’s part is to be guided by other men’s counsel.

11

Riches soon won are soon spent; the patient hoard breeds best.

12

Hope deferred, how it crushes a man’s spirits! The granted wish, a tree of life-giving fruit!

13

Neglect thy errand, whatever it be,✻ and thou art in default; carry out thy orders, and be at peace.

Faithless hearts wander far in their transgressions, but the just are ever pitying, ever merciful.

14

The teaching of the wise is a fountain where men may drink life far removed from all mortal perils.

15

Good instruction breeds gracious thoughts; the headstrong are for the morass.

16

For the prudent, skill guides every action; ignorance betrays the fool.

17

Who runs a sinner’s errand, falls into mischief by the way; a faithful envoy mends all.

18

Comes want, comes shame from warnings unheeded; he achieves great things who will accept reproof.

19

Each man loves his own way best, and to a fool, there is no shame like sin’s avoiding.

20

Wise company brings wisdom; fool he ends that fool befriends.

21

Calamity is hard on the heels of wickedness, and honest men shall yet be rewarded.

22

Son and grandson shall be the good man’s heirs; the sinner lays up wealth for nobler men;

23

the rich harvest of those ancestral fields, lack he honest worth, shall be reaped for strangers.✻

24

Spare the rod, and thou art no friend to thy son; ever a kind father is quick to punish.

25

The just man eats his fill; the godless craves and never has enough.