Bible Reading Plan

¹ Better a poor man who lives with integrity^(a)
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.

² Even zeal is not good without knowledge,^(b)
and the one who acts hastily^[a] sins.^(c)

³ A man's own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord .^(d)

⁴ Wealth attracts many friends,^(e)
but a poor man is separated from his friend.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,^(f)
and one who utters lies will not escape.^(g)

⁶ Many seek a ruler's favor,^(h)
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.⁽ⁱ⁾

⁷ All the brothers of a poor man hate him;^(j)
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,^(k)
but they are not there.^[b]

⁸ The one who acquires good sense^[c] loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.^(l)

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.^(m)

¹⁰ Luxury is not appropriate for a fool⁽ⁿ⁾—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!^(o)

¹¹ A person's insight gives him patience,^(p)
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.^(q)

¹² A king's rage is like the roaring of a lion,^(r)
but his favor is like dew on the grass.^(s)

¹³ A foolish son is his father's ruin,^(t)
and a wife's nagging is an endless dripping.^(u)

¹⁴ A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,^(v)
but a sensible wife is from the Lord .

¹⁵ Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.^(w)

¹⁶ The one who keeps commands preserves himself;^(x)
one who disregards^[d] his ways will die.^(y)

¹⁷ Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord ,^(z)
and He will give a reward to the lender.^[e](aa)

¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope;
don't be intent on killing him.^[f](ab)

¹⁹ A person with great anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you'll have to do it again.^(ac)

²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.^[g](ad)

²¹ Many plans are in a man's heart,
but the Lord 's decree will prevail.^(ae)

²² What is desirable in a man is his fidelity;
better to be a poor man than a liar.^(af)

²³ The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night^[h] without danger.^(ag)

²⁴ The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn't even bring it back to his mouth.^(ah)

²⁵ Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;^(ai)
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.^(aj)

²⁶ The one who assaults his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.

²⁷ If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.^(ak)

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.^(al)