The Righteous Stand Firm For Ever

Words Of Solomon ..

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
But the speech of the upright rescues them.

Wicked men are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous stands firm.

A righteous man cares for the needs of his animal,
But the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.

An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk,
But a righteous man escapes trouble.

A fool shows his annoyance at once,
But a prudent man overlooks an insult.

Truthful lips endure for ever,
But a lying tongue lasts only a moment.

There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil,
But joy for those who promote peace.

The Lord detests lying lips,
But he delights in men who are truthful.

Ill-gotten treasures are of no value,
But righteousness delivers from death.

The man of integrity walks securely,
But he who takes crooked paths will be found out.

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
But violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.

Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you.
Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,
For she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honour.
Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her.
Those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

The wages of the righteous bring them life,
But the income of the wicked brings them punishment.

He who heeds discipline shows the way to life,
But whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

When words are many, sin is not absent,
But he who holds his tongue is wise.

Preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight.
They will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.
Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble.
When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
But the heart of the wicked is of little value.

The lips of the righteous nourish many,
But fools die for lack of judgment.

Keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Bind them upon your heart for ever.
Fasten them around your neck.
When you walk, they will guide you.
When you sleep, they will watch over you.
When you awake, they will speak to you.
For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

A fool finds pleasure in evil conduct,
But a man of understanding delights in wisdom.

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone,
But the righteous stand firm for ever.

In the way of righteousness there is life.
Along that path is immortality.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
But the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

He who walks with the wise grows wise,
But a companion of fools suffers harm.

Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
From men whose words are perverse,
Who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
Who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
Whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.
Thus you will walk in the ways of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous.
For the upright will live in the land,
And the blameless will remain in it.
But the wicked will be cut off from the land.

Stay away from a foolish man,
For you will not find knowledge on his lips.

Each heart knows its own bitterness,
And no-one else can share its joy.

There is a way that seems right to a man,
But in the end it leads to death.

Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,
For the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
But he blesses the home of the righteous.

Even in laughter the heart may ache,
And joy may end in grief.

Evil men will bow down in the presence of the good,
And the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

A heart at peace gives life to the body,
But envy rots the bones.

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not travel on it.
Turn from it and go on your way.

The eyes of the Lord are everywhere,
Keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

A greedy man brings trouble to his family,
But he who hates bribes will live.

Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed,
Than to share plunder with the proud.

The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
Shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness.
They do not know what makes them stumble.

A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
And his lips promote instruction.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life,
But a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

The righteousness of the blameless makes a straight way for them,
But the wicked are brought down by their own wickedness.

An anxious heart weighs a man down,
But a kind word cheers him up.

A righteous man is cautious in friendship,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

He who guards his lips guards his life,
But he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.

The righteous hate what is false,
But the wicked bring shame and disgrace.

Pride only breeds quarrels,
But wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Misfortune pursues the sinner,
But prosperity is the reward of the righteous.

He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,
But whoever is kind to the needy honours God.

When calamity comes, the wicked are brought down,
But even in death the righteous have a refuge.

Solomon, son of King David, c.990 BCE – c.931 BCE