The Catholic Family

[1] The words of Lemuel, king of Massa, which his mother taught him:
[2] What, my son? What, son of my womb?
What, son of my vows?
[3] Give not your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kin…

[1] The words of Agur son of Jakeh of Massa. The man says to Ith’i-el,
to Ith’i-el and Ucal:
[2] Surely I am too stupid to be a man.
I have not the understanding of a man.
[3] I have not learned wisdom,
…

[1] He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
[2] When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
[3] H…

[1] The wicked flee when no one pursues,
but the righteous are bold as a lion.
[2] When a land transgresses
it has many rulers;
but with men of understanding and knowledge
its stability will long continu…

[1] Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring forth.
[2] Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
a stranger, and not your own lips.
[3] A stone is heavy, and sand is …

[1] Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honor is not fitting for a fool.
[2] Like a sparrow in its flitting, like a swallow in its flying,
a curse that is causeless does not alight.
[3] A whip fo…

[1] These also are proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezeki’ah king of Judah copied.
[2] It is the glory of God to conceal things,
but the glory of kings is to search things out.
[3] As the heavens …

[1] Be not envious of evil men,
nor desire to be with them;
[2] for their minds devise violence,
and their lips talk of mischief.
[3] By wisdom a house is built,
and by understanding it is established;
[4…

[1] When you sit down to eat with a ruler,
observe carefully what is before you;
[2] and put a knife to your throat
if you are a man given to appetite.
[3] Do not desire his delicacies,
for they are dece…

[1] A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold.
[2] The rich and the poor meet together;
the LORD is the maker of them all.
[3] A prudent man sees dang…

[1] The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he turns it wherever he will.
[2] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
[3] To do righteousness a…

[1] Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
[2] The dread wrath of a king is like the growling of a lion;
he who provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
[…

[1] Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
than a man who is perverse in speech, and is a fool.
[2] It is not good for a man to be without knowledge,
and he who makes haste with his feet misse…

[1] He who is estranged seeks pretexts
to break out against all sound judgment.
[2] A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
[3] When wickedness comes, contempt com…

[1] Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
[2] A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,
and will share the inheritance as one of the brot…

[1] The plans of the mind belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
[2] All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the spirit.
[3] Commit your work to the LO…

[1] A soft answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
[2] The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.
[3] The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
k…

[1] Wisdom builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down.
[2] He who walks in uprightness fears the LORD,
but he who is devious in his ways despises him.
[3] The talk of a fool is a rod f…

[1] A wise son hears his father’s instruction,
but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.
[2] From the fruit of his mouth a good man eats good,
but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.
[3] He wh…

[1] Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
[2] A good man obtains favor from the LORD,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
[3] A man is not established by wicke…