Twenty-Five Proverbs to Mull Over

 Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

       and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him,
       and he will make your paths straight. (3:5-6)

 

Work

Lazy hands make a man poor,
       but diligent hands bring wealth. (10:4)

 He who works his land will have abundant food,
       but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment. (12:11)

Words

He who guards his lips guards his life,
       but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (13:3)

The tongue has the power of life and death,
       and those who love it will eat its fruit. (18:21)

 For lack of guidance a nation falls,
       but many advisers make victory sure. (11:14)

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke
       will be at home among the wise. (15:31)

A gossip betrays a confidence;
       so avoid a man who talks too much. (20:19)

Wages

Dishonest money dwindles away,
       but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow. (13:11)

A generous man will prosper;
       he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed. (11:25)

If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
       he too will cry out and not be answered. (21:13)

How much better to get wisdom than gold,
       to choose understanding rather than silver! (16:16)

Will

Commit to the LORD whatever you do,
       and your plans will succeed. (16:3)

Plans fail for lack of counsel,
       but with many advisers they succeed. (15:22)

A wife of noble character is her husband's crown,
       but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones. (12:4)

Pride goes before destruction,
       a haughty spirit before a fall. (16:18)

It is not good to have zeal without knowledge,
       nor to be hasty and miss the way. (19:2)

Many are the plans in a man's heart,
       but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (19:21)

Wisdom

He who walks with the wise grows wise,
       but a companion of fools suffers harm. (13:20)

Many a man claims to have unfailing love,
       but a faithful man who can find? (20:6)

A fool shows his annoyance at once,
       but a prudent man overlooks an insult. (12:16)

A man of many companions may come to ruin,
       but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. (18:24)

He who conceals his sins does not prosper,
       but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. (28:13)

The first to present his case seems right,
       till another comes forward and questions him. (18:17)

The glory of young men is their strength,
       gray hair the splendor of the old. (20:29)