A selection from the Book of Proverbs

I've grouped these as best I can...

Wisdom and foolishness

The primary characteristic of the fool seems to be that he will not learn, so this gets a subsection of its own.

[9:6] Leave the company of ignorant people, and live.
[13:20] Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.
[14:9] Foolish people don't care if they sin, but good people want to be forgiven.
[15:14] Intelligent people want to learn, but stupid people are satisfied with ignorance.
[16:21] A wise, mature person is known for his understanding. The more pleasant his words, the more persuasive he is.
[26:12] The most stupid fool is better off than someone who thinks he is wise when he is not.
[27:12] Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but an unthinking person will walk right into it and regret it later.

[31:6] Alcohol is for people who are dying, for those who are in misery. [7] Let them drink and forget their poverty and unhappiness.
[17:12] It is better to meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs than to meet some fool busy with a stupid project.
[26:4] If you answer a silly question, you are just as silly as the person who asked it.
[26:7] A fool can use a proverb about as well as a crippled man can use his legs.
[26:11] A fool doing some stupid thing a second time is like a dog going back to its vomit.

[12:16] When a fool is annoyed, he quickly lets it be known. Sensible people will ignore an insult.
[13:16] Sensible people always think before they act, but stupid people advertise their ignorance.
[14:16] Wise people are careful to stay out of trouble, but stupid people are careless and act too quickly.
[15:28] Good people think before they answer. Evil people have a quick reply, and it causes trouble.
[29:20] There is more hope for a stupid fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

[9:8] Never correct a conceited man; he will hate you for it. But if you correct a wise man, he will respect you.
[10:17] People who listen when they are corrected will live, but those who will not admit that they are wrong are in danger.
[12:15] Stupid people always think they are right. Wise people listen to advice.
[13:24] If you don't punish your son, you don't love him. If you do love him, you will correct him.
[16:22] Wisdom is a fountain of life to the wise, but trying to educate stupid people is a waste of time.
[25:12] A warning given by an experienced person to someone willing to listen is more valuable than gold rings or jewellery made of the finest gold.
[27:5] Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.
[27:17] People learn from one another, just as iron sharpens iron.
[27:22] Even if you beat a fool until he's half dead, you still can't beat his foolishness out of him.

[10:12] Hate stirs up trouble, but love overlooks all offences.
[14:17] People with a hot temper do foolish things; wiser people remain calm.
[14:29] If you stay calm, you are wise, but if you have a hot temper, you only show how stupid you are.
[15:18] Hot tempers cause arguments, but patience brings peace.
[27:4] Anger is cruel and destructive, but it is nothing compared to jealousy.
[29:22] People with quick tempers cause a lot of quarrelling and trouble.

[4:16] Wicked people cannot sleep unless they have done something wrong. They lie awake unless they have hurt someone.
[11:7] When a wicked man dies, his hope dies with him. Confidence placed in riches comes to nothing.
[13:23] Unused fields could yield plenty of food for the poor, but unjust men keep them from being farmed. (I think this describes the Common Agricultural Policy, grain mountains, etc!)
[16:30] Watch out for people who grin and wink at you; they have thought of something evil.
[28:1] The wicked run when no one is chasing them, but an honest person is as brave as a lion.
[28:5] If you have no regard for the law, you are on the side of the wicked; but if you obey it, you are against them.
[29:27] The righteous hate the wicked, and the wicked hate the righteous.

[10:32] Righteous people know the kind thing to say, but the wicked are always saying things that hurt.
[11:12] It is foolish to speak scornfully of others. If you are sensible, you will keep quiet.
[12:18] Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.
[15:23] What a joy it is to find just the right word for the right occasion!
[16:28] Gossip is spread by wicked people; they stir up trouble and break up friendships.
[17:14] The start of an argument is like the first break in a dam; stop it before it goes any further.
[20:3] Any fool can start arguments; the honourable thing is to stay out of them.
[25:11] An idea well-expressed is like a design of gold, set in silver.
[26:2] Curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are like birds that fly by and never settle.
[26:17] Getting involved in an argument that is none of your business is like going down the street and grabbing a dog by the ears.

[10:10] Someone who holds back the truth causes trouble, but one who openly criticizes works for peace.

[4:23] Be careful of how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.
[12:25] Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.
[14:10] Your joy is your own; your bitterness is your own. No one can share them with you.
[14:13] Laughter may hide sadness. When happiness is gone, sorrow is always there.
[17:22] Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.
[27:21] Fire tests gold and silver -- a person's reputation can also be tested.

[14:12] What you think is the right road may lead to death.
[15:22] Get all the advice you can, and you will succeed; without it, you will fail.

[17:17] Friends always show their love. What are brothers for if not to share trouble?
[27:6] A friend means well, even when he hurts you. But when an enemy puts his arm round your shoulder -- watch out!

[16:18] Pride leads to destruction, and arrogance to downfall.
[27:20] Human desires are like the world of the dead --- there is always room for more.
[29:25] It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you, but if you trust the Lord, you are safe.

[12:9] It is better to be an ordinary man working for a living than to play the part of a great man but go hungry.
[15:17] Better to eat vegetables with people you love than to eat the finest meat where there is hate.

[3:28] Never tell your neighbour to wait until tomorrow if you can help him now.
[6:9] How long is the lazy man going to lie in bed? When is he ever going to get up? [10] "I'll just take a short nap" he says; "I'll fold my hands and rest a while." [11] But while he sleeps, poverty will attack him like an armed robber.
[12:11] A hard-working farmer has plenty to eat, but it is stupid to waste time on useless projects.
[12:24] Hard work will give you power; being lazy will make you a slave.
[13:4] No matter how much a lazy person wants something, he will never get it. A hard worker will get everything he wants.
[13:11] The more easily you get your wealth, the sooner you will lose it. The harder it is to earn, the more you will have.
[14:23] Work and you will earn a living; if you sit around talking you will be poor.
[16:24] Some people are too lazy to put food into their mouths.

The files in this directory are listed in this index, and the starting point for this section of my web tree is here.

Last modified: Thu Jun 21 11:31:20 GMT Daylight Time 2007