Proverbs is often seen as one of the easiest books in the Bible to read, because it’s short and filled with short statements. While there is some truth to that view, the Proverbs are also full of statements that have profound implications the more you think about them. These statements encourage us to live righteous lives, face our flaws, and live for things that are truly worth living for.
Here are 50 Proverbs quotes for you to reflect on, pray about or discuss today.
1. “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” (Proverbs 1:8-9)
2. “My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.” (Proverbs 3:1-2)
3. “Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.” (Proverbs 4:13)
4. “A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.” (Proverbs 10:1)
5. “Whoever brings ruin on their family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.” (Proverbs 11:29)
6. “Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.” (Proverbs 12:1)
7. “A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.” (Proverbs 13:1)
8. “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” (Proverbs 15:31)
9. “To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.” (Proverbs 17:21)
10. “Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.” (Proverbs 23:22)
1. “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, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.” (Proverbs 2:21-22)
2. “The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast.” (Proverbs 5:22)
3. “To fear the LORD is to hate evil.” (Proverbs 8:13)
4. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
5. “If the righteous receive their due on earth, how much more the ungodly and the sinner!” (Proverbs 11:31)
6. “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” (Proverbs 22:3)
7. “In the paths of the wicked are snares and pitfalls, but those who would preserve their life stay far from them.” (Proverbs 22:5)
8. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the LORD. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:17-18)
9. “Do not envy the wicked, do not desire their company; for their hearts plot violence, and their lips talk about making trouble.” (Proverbs 24:1-2)
10. “The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe, but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.” (Proverbs 28:18)
1. “Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: ‘How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings.’” (Proverbs 1:20-23)
2. “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding—indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORDand find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:1-5)
3. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
4. “Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain 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.” (Proverbs 3:13-15)
5. “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy.” (Proverbs 12:22)
6. “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” (Proverbs 13:20)
7. “The LORD detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.” (Proverbs 15:9)
8. “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.” (Proverbs 16:32)
9. “The one who gets wisdom loves life; the one who cherishes understanding will soon prosper.” (Proverbs 19:8)
10. “The fear of the LORD leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble.” (Proverbs 19:23)
1 “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” (Proverbs 3:27)
2. “Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.” (Proverbs 11:12)
3. “A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25)
4. “Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.” (Proverbs 14:9)
5. “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.” (Proverbs 14:21)
6. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” (Proverbs 17:17)
7. “One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Proverbs 18:24)
8. “Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.” (Proverbs 21:13)
9. “Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family, and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster strikes you— better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.” (Proverbs 27:10)
10. “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.” (Proverbs 28:27)
1. “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” (Proverbs 6:6-8)
2. “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.” (Proverbs 10:4)
3. “He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.” (Proverbs 10:5)
4. “Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor.” (Proverbs 12:24)
5. “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” (Proverbs 14:23)
6. “One who is slack in his work is brother to one who destroys.” (Proverbs 18:9)
7. “Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.” (Proverbs 19:15)
8. “Sluggards do not plow in season; so at harvest time they look but find nothing.” (Proverbs 20:4)
9. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)
10. “The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him, because his hands refuse to work.” (Proverbs 21:25)
Further Reading:
Popular Proverbs Bible Verses & Scriptures
50 Inspiring Psalm Quotes for Any Situation
Topical Bible Verses from the Psalms
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Robby Sheets
This article is part of our larger Inspiring Quotes resource meant to encourage and strengthen your faith. Visit our most popular quotes by well known Christians and theologians to find more inspiration. Remember, the Holy Spirit can work through us when we have faith and share it with others! Please pass along any quotes that touch your heart because you never know light you’ll shine on someone else’s dark day!