Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World: Week One Passages from Proverbs

The passages below are a sampling of those found in Proverbs about how we can live with wisdom in our personal lives.

3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

3:13 Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, 14 for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

10:16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.

10: 26 Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers.

11: 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.

11: 4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.

11: 29 Those who trouble their households will inherit wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.

12: 15 Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to advice.

12: 16 Fools show their anger at once, but the prudent ignore an insult.

13:13 Those who despise the word bring destruction on themselves, but those who respect the commandment will be rewarded.

13: 20 Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools suffers harm.

13: 25 The righteous have enough to satisfy their appetite, but the belly of the wicked is empty.

15: 22 Without counsel, plans go wrong, but with many advisers they succeed.

19: 15 Laziness brings on deep sleep; an idle person will suffer hunger.

19: 20 Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom for the future

20: 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

21: 17 Whoever loves pleasure will suffer want; whoever loves wine and oil will not be rich.

22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

23: 4 Do not wear yourself out to get rich; be wise enough to desist. 5 When your eyes light upon it, it is gone; for suddenly it takes wings to itself, flying like an eagle toward heaven.

25: 16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you, or else, having too much, you will vomit it.

26: 12 Do you see persons wise in their own eyes? There is more hope for fools than for them.

27: 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth— a stranger, and not your own lips.

27: 12 The clever see danger and hide; but the simple go on, and suffer for it.

28: 6 Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be crooked in one's ways even though rich.

28: 18 One who walks in integrity will be safe, but whoever follows crooked ways will fall into the Pit.

28: 21 To show partiality is not good— yet for a piece of bread a person may do wrong.

28: 27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who turns a blind eye will get many a curse.

29:1 One who is often reproved, yet remains stubborn, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

29: 4 By justice a king gives stability to the land, but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.

29: 11 A fool gives full vent to anger, but the wise quietly holds it back.

29: 20 Do you see someone who is hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool than for anyone like that.

29: 23 A person's pride will bring humiliation, but one who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

29: 22 One given to anger stirs up strife, and the hothead causes much transgression.