¹ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.
² Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge,
And he sins who hastens with his feet.
³ The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against the LORD.
⁴ Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies will not escape.
⁶ Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every man is a friend to one who gives gifts.
⁷ All the brothers of the poor hate him;
How much more do his friends go far from him!
He may pursue them with words, yet they abandon him.
⁸ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who speaks lies shall perish.
¹⁰ Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
Much less for a servant to rule over princes.
¹¹ The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
And his glory is to overlook a transgression.
¹² The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
¹³ A foolish son is the ruin of his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
¹⁴ Houses and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.
¹⁵ Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,
And an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless^[a] of his ways will die.
¹⁷ He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD,
And He will pay back what he has given.
¹⁸ Chasten your son while there is hope,
And do not set your heart on his destruction.^[b]
19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again.
²⁰ Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
That you may be wise in your latter days.
²¹ There are many plans in a man’s heart,
Nevertheless the LORD’s counsel—that will stand.
²² What is desired in a man is kindness,
And a poor man is better than a liar.
²³ The fear of the LORD leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
²⁴ A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,^[c]
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
²⁵ Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary;
Rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
²⁶ He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
²⁷ Cease listening to instruction, my son,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
²⁸ A disreputable witness scorns justice,
And the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And beatings for the backs of fools.