Proverbs

31 chapters

Chapter summaries

The Douay-Rheims’ own argument for each chapter. Tap a number above to read.

1. 1Parables are profitable to those that love and will learn wisdom. 10. All are admonished not to follow the allurements of sinners: 20. but to embrace wisdom; 24. and ruin is threatened to the contemners.
2. 2Gaining of wisdom bringeth much good, 10. and avoideth much evil: 16. delivering from error of Idolaters and Heretics.
3. 3Wisdom exhorteth to keep God's law (giving long life) to observe mercy, and truth. 5. to confide in God, 7. to fear, 9. and honour him, 11. to take his correction gladly (13. for all good things follow wisdom) 27. to relieve the needy without delay, 30. not to contend with the wicked, nor to imitate them. 33. The evil shall fail, and the godly shall prosper.
4. 4The wise man exhorteth others by his own example to seek wisdom, 14. to decline from the wicked, and to imitate the just, 23. to guide well the heart, mouth, and feet.
5. 5Again wisdom dehorteth from fornication ( carnal and spiritual ) 6. shewing that in the end sinners shall see and feel the effect of their folly: 20. which God seeth and will punish.
6. 6He that is surety for another, must have care to discharge that he promiseth. 6. The slothful must learn diligence of the emmet. 12. The description of an Apostata. 16. Above other six bad things, God detesteth the sower of discord. 20. All are exhorted to keep God's law, 24. namely to flee fornication, and all occasions thereof.
7. 7He further exhorteth young men to seek wisdom, 5. especially to flee from the enticements of harlots, largely describing the same, 22. and the ruin of them that are so deluded.
8. 8Wisdom is preached in conspicuous and most frequented places, that none may pretend want of admonition, 7. her doctrine is true, godly, profitable, and necessary to all sorts of men. 12. wisdom (increated which is God himself) is eternal. 32. and bringeth eternal happiness.
9. 9Wisdom having built her house with seven pillars, inviteth all to a prepared banquet, 11. promising to multiply joyful days. 13. Folly inciteth to her contrary banquet of stolen water and hidden bread.
10. 10Wisdom in general. Justice. Confidence in God. Industry. Truth. Diligence. Equity. Good fame. Desire to learn. Sincerity. Unfeigned friendship. Wholesome talk. Charity. Prudent speech. Discretion in speaking. Just gain. Just intention. Love to be corrected. Internal and external charity. Moderate speech. Sincerity of heart. Love of doctrine. Spiritual riches. Sorrow for sin. Remorse of conscience. Justice in general. Diligence. Fear of God. Piety. Observation of God's law, fulfilling all justice. Speaking and meditating good things.
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16. 16God's grace necessary in every good action. Man's judgment is not secure. Commend thine affairs to God. God's providence. Punishment of sin. Equity. Mercy. Devotion. Just gain. Necessity of God's grace. God assisteth superiors in governing their subjects. Just balance do please God and good kings. Righteousness. Fear, and reverence of authority. Love of wisdom. Justice in general. Humility. Meekness. Hope in God. Mildness. Teaching others. Sincere heart. Sweetness in conversation. True faith and religion. Proper industry. Charity. Common good. True friendship. Sincere thoughts. Holy old age. Patience. God's providence.
17. 17Peace. Wisdom in general. Purification. Fellowship with the good. Commiseration. Succession. Gravity in speech. Desire of eternal life. Remitting offences. Discreet correction. Concord. Gentleness. Gratitude. Conservation of peace. Just censure. Spiritual riches. Humility. Constancy. Carefulness in promising. Concord. Sincerity. Education of youth. Alacrity of heart. Just judgment. Contempt of the world. Filial obedience. Obedience to Magistrates. Discretion in speaking. Moderate silence.
18. 18Constant amity. Hearken to good counsel. Speedy repentance. Wise discourse. Equity. Study of peace. Guard of the tongue. Avoid secret bate-makers. Fortitude. Constant labour. Confidence in God. Spiritual riches. Humility. Consideration in answering. Quietness of spirit. Desire to learn. Alms-deeds. Acknowledging of faults. Use of lot to make agreement. Fraternal concord. Godly instructions. Right use of the tongue. A wife's virtue is her best dowry. Meekness. Amity with affability.
19. 19The per-verse virtue-summaries, in order: Honest poverty. Knowledge of ourselves. Man's own will the cause of evil. Spiritual riches secure. True testimony. Liberality. Industrious travail. Solid doctrine. True testimony. Wise and fit magistrates. Patience in teachers. Loyalty to kings and princes. Domestical peace. A good wife is God's gift. Diligence. Obedience. Alms-deeds. Moderate chastisement. Patience. Follow good counsel. Trust in God. Good will to help the poor. Fear of God. Diligent travail. Just correction. Honour of parents. Desire to learn. True testimony. Fear of eternal punishment.
20. 20The per-verse virtue-summaries, in order: Sobriety. Obedience to Princes. Concord. Industry. Profound counsel. Fidelity. Sincerity. Execution of Justice. Necessity of grace. Equity. Good toward lives. Right use of senses. Diligent travail. Prudence. Knowledge is a jewel. Security in suretyship. Truth. Counsel in war. Consult with the faithful. Honour of parents. Lawful gain. Meekness. Equity. Trust in God's providence. Performance of vows. Public justice. Purity of mind. Three kingly virtues. Prudence with fortitude. Punishment of sins.
21. 21God's providence. Mercy and judgement. Humility. Fortitude. Truth. Equity. Right in heart. Domestical peace. Commiseration. Chastisement of sin. Charity. Alms deeds. Alms in secret. Just punishment. Observation of orders. Temperance and parsimony. Piety. Domestical peace. Frugality. Justice, and mercy. Fortitude. Guard of the tongue. Modesty. Diligent travail. Liberality. Sincerity in religion. True testimony, and sound doctrine. Amendment of faults. Conformity to God's will. God's grace necessary.
22. 22Honest fame. Contentment with our state. Prudence. Poverty of spirit. Care of the soul's health. Good custom in virtues. Diligent travail. Equity. Alms deeds. Better to give than to take. Expel the incorrigible. Cleanness of heart. The godly prosper. Fortitude. Care of chastity. Chastisement. Compassion. Rules of wisdom are necessary, profitable, and upon practice found pleasant: rightly directing all our thoughts, words and deeds. Care of the poor, because they are dear to God. Flee from evil company which may corrupt thee. Avoid suretyship, lest thou fall into distress. Keep ancient traditions. Diligent travail.
23. 23Modesty and discretion at the table of great persons. Mediocrity of riches, and contentment with mean state. Eat not with a niggard, lest he be secretly grieved, outwardly dissembling, and thyself repent it. Advise not the incapable. Hurt not orphans: for they are dear to God. Diligent study of wisdom. Moderate chastisement profiteth youth. Virtues of children are joyful to the parents. Contentment with God's will. Hope of reward. Learn and practise wisdom. Sobriety and Temperance. Honour of parents. Wisdom most precious. Bodily and spiritual purity. Sobriety always necessary. Detest drunkenness. Drunkenness is deceitful, dangerous, beastly, hurtful to others, senseless, and unsatiable.
24. 24Flee evil company, lest thou be allured to vice. Wisdom and virtues, not wickedness, do prosper temporally and spiritually. Counsel in wars, and other great affairs. Good purposes. Report well of others. Fortitude. Works of mercy, according to our ability. Wisdom is sweet: and giveth hope. Toleration of others' imperfections, without which none liveth. Charity towards enemies. Have peace with all: so much as may be. Loyalty to God and king. Equity in judgment, condemning the guilty, and delivering the innocent, is very grateful to all. Order in all affairs. Discretion in bearing witness. Revenge not. Diligent labour, and vigilance to provide necessaries, and to avoid beggary.
25. 25The 2nd part. More Parables of Salomon written by others. God's works are not all revealed. Kings have some secrets. Public justice and punishment of sin. Modesty, and humility. Care of others' fame. Compose controversies secretly, rather than contend in public court. Speak in due time. Prudent admonition. Diligence in public affairs. Performance of promised industry. Meekness. Temperance. Modesty. True testimony. Trust not a dissembler. Strive not with the incorrigible. Alacrity. Charity towards enemies. Hear not detraction. Domestical peace. Joy of well doing. Profession of truth. Humility in knowledge. Government of the tongue.
26. 26Advance not the vicious. Patience in false slander. Chastisement. Answer a fool wisely: detecting his folly. Place fit men in office: Wise men in authority: Virtuous in honour: and learned to teach. Make fools to keep silence. Return not to former sins. Humble opinion of thyself. Fortitude. Profitable labours. At least some good work. Love not idleness. Intermeddle not in brawls. Unfeigned friendship, especially in familiar acquaintance. Punish bate-makers. Pacify the wrathful. Hear not whisperers of evil reports. Flee from hypocrites. Whose flattery and soft speech are suspicious, they will fall at last into their own traps, truth prevailing.
27. 27The marginal virtue-summaries, in order: Trust not to future uncertainties. Praise not thyself. Beware of a fool's wrath: for it hath no mercy. Love friendly severity not enemies' flattery. Temperance in meat. Just care of thy family. Esteem friendly counsel. Old friends are better, and surer than a kinsman. Be wise even for thy father's sake. Foresee and prevent dangers. Trust not enemies. Suspect extraordinary courtesy. Tolerate incorrigible brawlers with patience; lest they become worse, by thy striving to amend them. Conserve that is good. Conscience is best witness. Contentment with our state. Humility desireth not praise. Right of heart. Strive not to teach a fool. Discharge thy duty: Whiles thou art in this life. Be content with things necessary, and they shall be given to thee.
28. 28The marginal virtue-summaries, in order: Innocence is without fear. General piety of the people procureth God's favour. Neighbourly compassion. Zeal of justice. Remember the day of judgement. Honesty and poverty. No want nor waste. Just gain in traffic. Obedience to magistrates. Give counsel sincerely. Humility in authority. Place the godly in office. Acknowledge thy faults. Fear to offend. Clemency in princes, and prudent liberality. Revenge bloodshed. Harmless life. Diligent labour. Just dealing. Just judgement. Moderate gain. Friendly correption. To rob parents is a grievous crime. Exalt not thyself. Trust not thine own judgement. Alms deeds. Godly magistrates.
29. 29The marginal virtue-summaries, in order: Love to be corrected. Choose godly magistrates. Love wisdom. Just and liberal magistrates. Sincere amity. Just joy of the wicked's fall. Compassion of the poor. Care of common good. Contend not with a fool. Defend the just. Discretion in just anger. Detestation of lying. Contentment in state of life. Equity in judgement. Chastisement of youth. God never permitteth all to be evil. Instruct children. Pray to have good Pastors. Compel the froward to obey. Consideration in speaking. Subdue the flesh to the spirit. Meekness. Humility. Participate not with sin. Fear not men in God's cause remembering that God is Judge of all. Hate all wickedness. Obey spiritual and temporal parents.
30. 30A right wiseman thinketh humbly of himself. 4. knowing that God's works are inscrutable, and perfect: 8. desireth truth in all things, and mediocrity in riches. 11. Abhorreth certain sorts of men, 15. and certain execrable things 18. noteth certain things hard to be known: 21. other things intolerable: 24. others admirable. 32. the tongue dangerous.
31. 31An exhortation to chastity, temperance, 8. and to works of mercy. 10. with praise of a valiant wise woman.