The Sutta Nipata (”The Sutta Collection”), the fifth book of the Khuddaka Nikaya, consists of 71 short suttas divided into five vaggas (chapters).

A useful printed translation of the complete Sutta Nipata is K.R. Norman’s The Group of Discourses (2^nd ed.) (Oxford: Pali Text Society, 2001). Excerpts from the Sutta Nipata also appear in Handful of Leaves (Vol. 4), Thanissaro Bhikkhu, trans. (available from Metta Forest Monastery). Another popular (though occasionally inaccurate) translation is H. Saddhatissa’s The Sutta-Nipata (London: Curzon Press, 1985). Some of the passages listed below originally appeared in John Ireland’s The Discourse Collection: Selected Texts from the Sutta Nipata, (BPS “Wheel” Publication No. 82).

The braces {} contain the corresponding verse numbers in the original Pali text, as listed in H. Saddhatissa’s The Sutta-Nipata (London: Curzon Press, 1985).

1. Uragavagga — The Snake Chapter  

• Sn 1.1: Uraga Sutta — The Serpent/The Snake
  {Sn 1-17}
  [Nyanaponika | Thanissaro].
  One who advances far along the path sheds unwholesome states of mind, as a snake sheds its dried up old skin.
• Sn 1.2: Dhaniya Sutta — Dhaniya the Cattleman
  {Sn 18-34}
  [Thanissaro].
  A poetic dialogue contrasting the wealth and
  security of lay life with the wealth and security of a person who has
  lived the renunciate life to its culmination. If you have trouble
  relating to someone like Dhaniya who measures his wealth in cattle, then
  when reading this poem substitute stocks and bonds for cows and bulls,
  and economic downturn for rain. [TB]
• Sn 1.3: Khaggavisana Sutta — A Rhinoceros
  {Sn 35-75}
  [Thanissaro].
  On the value of living the solitary wandering life of a forest monk.
• Sn 1.4: Kasi Bharadvaja Sutta — To the Plowing Bharadvaja/Discourse to Bharadvaja, the Farmer
  {Sn 76-82}
  [Olendzki (excerpt) | Piyadassi | Thanissaro].
  The Buddha answers a farmer who asserts that monks do no useful work, and thus don’t deserve to eat.
• Sn 1.5: Cunda Sutta — To Cunda
  {Sn 83-90}
  [Thanissaro].
  Four different types of contemplatives and how to recognize them.
• Sn 1.6: Parabhava Sutta — Downfall/Discourse on Downfall
  {Sn 91-115}
  [Narada | Piyadassi].
  On the various causes of spiritual decline that the aspirant must avoid.
• Sn 1.7: Vasala Sutta — Discourse on Outcasts
  {Sn 116-142}
  [Piyadassi].
  The Buddha explains to a brahman what qualities really make one worthy of being branded an “outcast.”
• Sn
  1.8: Karaniya Metta Sutta — The Buddha’s Words on Loving-Kindness/The
  Hymn of Universal Love/Loving-Kindness/The Discourse on
  Loving-kindness/Good Will
  {Sn 143-152}
  [Amaravati | Buddharakkhita | Ñanamoli | Piyadassi | Thanissaro].
  The Buddha’s words on cultivating a heart filled with loving-kindness (metta) towards all beings.
• Sn 1.10: Alavaka Sutta — Discourse to Alavaka/To the Alavaka Yakkha
  {Sn 181-192}
  [Piyadassi | Thanissaro].
  A yakkha challenges the Buddha with riddles and threatens to beat him up.
• Sn 1.11: Vijaya Sutta — Victory
  {Sn 193-206}
  [Thanissaro].
  Reflecting on the unattractiveness of the body as a way to gain insight.
• Sn 1.12: Muni Sutta — The Sage
  {Sn 207-221}
  [Thanissaro].
  The Buddha describes the characteristics of
  the ideal sage, who finds greater happiness and security not in
  relationships but in living the solitary contemplative life. (This is
  one of the suttas selected by King Asoka (r. 270-232 BCE) to be studied
  and reflected upon frequently by all practicing Buddhists. See That the True Dhamma Might Last a Long Time: Readings Selected by King Asoka, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.)

2. Culavagga — The Lesser Chapter  

• Sn 2.1: Ratana Sutta — The Jewel Discourse/Treasures
  {Sn 222-238}
  [Piyadassi | Thanissaro].
  The Buddha enumerates the many treasures to be found within the Triple Gem.
• Sn 2.3: Hiri Sutta — On Friendship/Conscience
  {Sn 253-257}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  What is a true friend?
• Sn 2.4: Maha-mangala Sutta — Blessings/Protection
  {Sn 258-269}
  [Narada | Piyadassi | Soni | Thanissaro].
  An enumeration of the blessings that result from leading a skillful life.
• Sn 2.6: Dhammacariya Sutta — Wrong Conduct
  {Sn 274-283}
  [Ireland].
  The monks are encouraged to avoid monks who conduct their lives in unwholesome ways.
• Sn 2.8: Nava Sutta — The Simile of the Boat/A Boat
  {Sn 316-323}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  A teacher, like a skilled boatman, is one who knows firsthand how to cross to the opposite shore.
• Sn 2.9: Kimsila Sutta — Right Conduct/With What Virtue?
  {Sn 324-330}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  The attitudes and behavior that enable one best to learn and benefit from the Dhamma.
• Sn 2.10: Utthana Sutta — On Vigilance/Initiative
  {Sn 331-334}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  A stirring exhortation to rekindle your efforts. Wake up!
• Sn 2.11: Rahula Sutta — Advice to Rahula
  {Sn 337-342}
  [Ireland (excerpt)].
  The Buddha recommends the recluse way of life to his son, Rahula.
• Sn 2.14: Dhammika Sutta — Dhammika
  {Sn 376-378, 383-404}
  [Ireland (excerpt)].
  A lay follower asks the Buddha how a disciple should act virtuously. The Buddha explains.

3. Mahavagga — The Great Chapter  

• Sn 3.1: Pabbaja Sutta — The Going Forth
  {Sn 405-424}
  [Thanissaro].
  King Bimbisara, struck by the young Buddha’s
  radiant demeanor, follows him to the mountains to discover who he is
  and whence he comes.
• Sn 3.2: Padhana Sutta — The Great Struggle/Exertion
  {Sn 425-449}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  The ten armies of Mara approach the Bodhisatta (Buddha-to-be) in an unsuccessful attempt to lure him from his meditation seat.
• Sn 3.3: Subhasita Sutta — Well-Spoken
  {Sn 450-454}
  [Thanissaro].
  Four characteristics of well-spoken speech.
• Sn 3.8: Salla Sutta — The Arrow
  {Sn 574-593}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  Death and loss are inevitable, but is grief?
• Sn 3.11: Nalaka Sutta — Gurgling Loudly/To Nalaka
  {Sn 679-723}
  [Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro].
  A sutta in two parts. The first part gives
  an account of events soon after the birth of the Bodhisatta
  (Buddha-to-be). The second part describes the way of the sage.
• Sn 3.12: Dvayatanupassana Sutta — The Noble One’s Happiness/A Teaching Hard to Know/The Contemplation of Dualities
  {Sn 724-765}
  [Ireland (excerpt) | Olendzki (excerpt) | Thanissaro].
  Not all dualities are misleading. This sutta
  teaches ways to contemplate the duality of the origination and
  cessation of stress and suffering so as to reach Awakening. [TB]

4. Atthaka Vagga — The Octet Chapter    

See The Atthaka Vagga — The Octet Chapter: An Introduction, by Thanissaro Bhikkhu.

• Sn 4.1: Kama Sutta — Sensual Pleasure
  {Sn 766-771}
  [Thanissaro].
  The drawbacks of sensual desires.
• Sn 4.2: Guhatthaka Sutta — The Cave of the Body
  {Sn 772-779}
  [Thanissaro].
  Those who remain attached to the body and to
  sensuality will have a hard time freeing themselves from fear of death
  and from further becoming.
• Sn 4.3: Dutthatthaka Sutta — Corrupted
  {Sn 780-787}
  [Thanissaro].
  Freedom isn’t to be found by boasting of your precepts and practices or by debating your views.
• Sn 4.4: Suddhatthaka Sutta — On Purity/Pure
  {Sn 788-795}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  Although freedom is found by means of knowledge and meditation, in ultimate terms it lies beyond both.
• Sn 4.5: Paramatthaka Sutta — On Views/Supreme
  {Sn 796-803}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  The conceit that comes from identifying with
  practices or views — even if they’re supreme — is a fetter preventing
  full freedom.
• Sn 4.6: Jara Sutta — On Decay/Old Age
  {Sn 804-813}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  Life is short. Possessiveness brings grief. Freedom comes from abandoning any sense of mine.
• Sn 4.7: Tissa Metteyya Sutta — Tissa Metteyya
  {Sn 814-823}
  [Thanissaro].
  The drawbacks of falling away from the celibate life.
• Sn 4.8: Pasura Sutta — To Pasura
  {Sn 824-834}
  [Thanissaro].
  The Buddha points out the drawbacks of disputes, for winners and losers, alike.
• Sn 4.9: Magandiya Sutta — To Magandiya
  {Sn 835-847}
  [Thanissaro].
  Magandiya offers the Buddha his daughter in
  marriage. The Buddha refuses and further subdues Magandiya’s pride by
  describing attainments of purity that Magandiya can’t yet understand.
• Sn 4.10: Purabheda Sutta — Before the Break-up of the Body
  {Sn 848-861}
  [Thanissaro].
  What enables a person to live at peace?
• Sn 4.11: Kalaha-vivada Sutta — Further Questions/Quarrels & Disputes
  {Sn 862-877}
  [Ireland | Thanissaro].
  The Buddha is questioned on the source of quarrels and disputes, and on the highest level of spiritual attainment.
• Sn 4.12: Cula-viyuha Sutta — The Lesser Array
  {Sn 878-894}
  [Thanissaro].
  If there is one truth, how should a person behave in a world where many different truths are taught?
• Sn 4.13: Maha-viyuha Sutta — The Great Array
  {Sn 895-914}
  [Thanissaro].
  How to maintain freedom in a world full of disputes.
• Sn 4.14: Tuvataka Sutta — Quickly
  {Sn 915-934}
  [Thanissaro].
  A detailed description of the attitudes and behavior of a monk training for the sake of total liberation.
• Sn 4.15: Attadanda Sutta — The Training/Arming Oneself/The Rod Embraced
  {Sn 935-954}
  [Ireland | Olendzki | Thanissaro].
  The Buddha speaks in poignant terms of the samvega
  that led him to abandon the home life. He concludes with
  recommendations for practice and a description of the person who has
  attained the goal of true peace and security.
• Sn 4.16: Sariputta Sutta — To Sariputta
  {Sn 955-975}
  [Thanissaro].
  When a monk, disaffected with the world,
  takes up the life of seclusion, what fears should he overcome? How
  should he train to annihilate the darkness in his heart?