Instruction from the wise is like a life-giving fountain, to turn a person from deadly snares.

Good understanding wins favor [from others],
But the way of the unfaithful is hard [like barren, dry soil].

The fear of the Lord is like a life-giving fountain, to turn people from deadly snares.

A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body,
But passion and envy are like rottenness to the bones.

Speech that heals is like a life-giving tree, but a perverse tongue breaks the spirit.

A scoffer does not like {his rebuke}; to the wise he will not go.

The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him],
But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.

Like as the clearness of the eyes rejoiceth the heart; so doth a good name feed the bones.

The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

In the light of the face of the king [there is] life, and his favor [is] like a cloud of spring rain.

Insight is like a life-giving fountain to the one who possesses it, but folly leads to the discipline of fools.

Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones.

A man of wickedness concocts evil, and his lips [are] like a scorching fire.

Gray hair is like a crown of glory; it is attained in the path of righteousness.

A discreet servant shall have more rule than the sons that have no wisdom, and shall have like heritage with the brethren.

Like as silver is tried in the fire and gold in the furnace, even so doth the LORD prove the hearts.

Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents.

A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

[Like] the release of water [is] the beginning of strife; before it breaks out, stop the quarrel.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

The words of a whisper [are] like delicious morsels, and they themselves go down [to] inner parts of the body.

The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.

The wealth of the rich [is] {his strong city}, and like a wall, it is high in his imagination.

A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

The rage of a king growls like a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

A foolish (ungodly) son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a [quarrelsome] wife are like a constant dripping [of water].

A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.

Roaring like the lion [is the] dreaded anger of a king; he who provokes him forfeits his life.

Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.

A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment
Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].

There is gold, and an abundance of rubies, but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.

The human spirit is like the lamp of the Lord, searching all his innermost parts.

The king's heart is in Yahweh's hand like the watercourses. He turns it wherever he desires.

Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth; they seek death.

The mouth of an adulteress is like a deep pit; the one against whom the Lord is angry will fall into it.

Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings, Like an eagle that flieth toward heaven.

For, like hair in his {throat}, so it is. "Eat and drink!" he will say to you, but his heart will not be with you.

for a prostitute is like a deep pit; a harlot is like a narrow well.

She [is] also like a robber lying in wait, and the faithless among mankind she increases.

At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.

And you will be like him who lies down in the heart of the sea, and like him who lies down on top of a mast.

Keep in mind that wisdom is like that for your soul; if you find it, there will be a future for you, and what you hope for won't be cut short.

Do not lie in wait [like] an outlaw against the home of the righteous; do not do violence [to] his dwelling place.

An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Don't say, "I'll do to him like he did to me, I'll be sure to pay him back for what he did."

and your poverty will come running, and your lack like an armed warrior.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold
Is a wise reprover to an ear that listens and learns.

Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest,
So is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
For he refreshes the life of his masters.

Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Have you found [pleasure sweet like] honey? Eat only as much as you need,
Otherwise, being filled excessively, you vomit it.

Like a club and a sword and a piercing arrow
Is a man who testifies falsely against his neighbor (acquaintance).

Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda,
Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.

Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
So is good news from a distant land.

Like a muddied fountain and a polluted spring
Is a righteous man who yields and compromises his integrity before the wicked.

Like as it is not good to eat too much honey; even so, he that will search out high things, it shall be too heavy for him.

He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool.

Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,
So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].

Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

[Like] cutting off feet [or] drinking violence, so [is] he who sends messages in the hand of a fool.

Like the legs which are useless to the lame,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who cannot learn from its wisdom].

Like one who [absurdly] binds a stone in a sling [making it impossible to throw],
So is he who [absurdly] gives honor to a fool.

Like a thorn that goes [without being felt] into the hand of a drunken man,
So is a proverb in the mouth of a fool [who remains unaffected by its wisdom].

Like a [careless] archer who [shoots arrows wildly and] wounds everyone,
So is he who hires a fool or those who [by chance just] pass by.

Like a dog returning to his vomit [is] a fool reverting to his folly.

Like a door that turns on its hinges, so a sluggard turns on his bed.

He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Like a madman who throws
Firebrands, arrows, and death,

that's what someone is like who lies to his neighbor and then says, "I was joking, wasn't I?"

Like breath on coals and wood on fire, so a man given to argument gets a fight started.

The words of a whisperer (gossip) are like dainty morsels [to be greedily eaten];
They go down into the innermost chambers of the body [to be remembered and mused upon].

Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross.

Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety],
So is a man who wanders from his home.

Like an unending dropping on a day of rain is a bitter-tongued woman.

restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

Like as one iron wheteth another, so doth one man comfort another.

Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts of men to one another.

Like as hell and destruction are never full, even so the eyes of men can never be satisfied.

Even though you pound a [hardened, arrogant] fool [who rejects wisdom] in a mortar with a pestle like grain,
Yet his foolishness will not leave him.

The wicked flee, but no one pursues, but the righteous is bold like a lion.

Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are increased; but by a man of wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like a fire.

A poor man that oppresseth the poor is like a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding and common sense [and his wickedness shortens his days],
But he who hates unjust gain will [be blessed and] prolong his days.

Who so robbeth his father and mother, and sayeth it is no sin; the same is like unto a murderer.

For I am more like a beast than any man, I have no power of reasoning like a man:

Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.

There is a generation whose teeth are like swords, and their jaws like knives, to devour the poor from the earth, and the needy from among men.

This generation which is like a horse-leech, hath two daughters; the one is called "fetch hither," and the other "bring hither."

This is what an immoral woman is like: she eats, wipes her mouth, then says "I've done nothing wrong."

She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.

I observed every activity done on earth. My conclusion: all of it is pointless like chasing after the wind.

So I dedicated myself to learn about wisdom and knowledge, and about insanity and foolishness. And I discovered that this is also like chasing after the wind.

Then I examined all of my accomplishments that I had brought about by my own efforts, including the work that I had labored so hard to complete and it was all pointless, like chasing after the wind, and there was nothing to be gained on earth.

Then I turned to consider wisdom, madness, and folly, for what will the man be like who comes after the king? He will do what has already been done.

And I saw that there is an advantage to wisdom above folly, like the advantage of the light above the darkness.

For, just like the fool, there is no lasting remembrance of the wise man, since in the days to come both will be forgotten. How is it that the wise man dies just like the fool?