1 Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is perverse in his speech and is a fool.

2 It is dangerous to have zeal without knowledge,

and the one who acts hastily makes poor choices.

3 A person’s folly subverts his way,

and his heart rages against the Lord.

4 Wealth adds many friends,

but a poor person is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and the one who spouts out lies will not escape punishment.

6 Many people entreat the favor of a generous person,

and everyone is the friend of the person who gives gifts.

7 All the relatives of a poor person hate him;

how much more do his friends avoid him—

one who chases words, which are nothing.

8 The one who acquires understanding loves himself;

the one who preserves understanding will prosper.

9 A false witness will not go unpunished,

and the one who spouts out lies will perish.

10 Luxury is not appropriate for a fool;

how much less for a servant to rule over princes!

11 A person’s wisdom has made him slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12 A king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13 A foolish child is the ruin of his father,

and a contentious wife is like a constant dripping.

14 A house and wealth are inherited from parents,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.

15 Laziness brings on a deep sleep,

and the idle person will go hungry.

16 The one who obeys commandments guards his life;

the one who despises his ways will die.

17 The one who is gracious to the poor lends to the Lord,

and the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

18 Discipline your child, for there is hope,

but do not set your heart on causing his death.

19 A person with great anger bears the penalty,

but if you deliver him from it once, you will have to do it again.

20 Listen to advice and receive discipline,

that you may become wise by the end of your life.

21 There are many plans in a person’s mind,

but it is the counsel of the Lord that will stand.

22 What is desirable for a person is to show loyal love,

and a poor person is better than a liar.

23 Fearing the Lord leads to life,

and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.

24 The sluggard has plunged his hand into the dish,

and he will not even bring it back to his mouth!

25 Flog a scorner, and as a result the simpleton will learn prudence;

correct a discerning person, and as a result he will understand knowledge.

26 The one who robs his father and chases away his mother

is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

27 If you stop listening to instruction, my child,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28 A crooked witness scorns justice,

and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.

29 Penalties have been prepared for scorners,

and floggings for the backs of fools.

20:1 Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler;

whoever goes astray by them is not wise.

2 The king’s terrifying anger is like the roar of a lion;

whoever provokes him sins against himself.

3 It is an honor for a person to cease from strife,

but every fool quarrels.

4 The sluggard will not plow during the planting season,

so at harvest time he asks for grain but has nothing.

5 Counsel in a person’s heart is like deep water,

but an understanding person draws it out.

6 Many people profess their loyalty,

but a faithful person—who can find?

7 The righteous person behaves in integrity;

blessed are his children after him.

8 A king sitting on the throne to judge

separates out all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart clean;

I am pure from my sin”?

10 Diverse weights and diverse measures—

the Lord abhors both of them.

11 Even a young man is known by his actions,

whether his activity is pure and whether it is right.

12 The ear that hears and the eye that sees—

the Lord has made them both.

13 Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished;

open your eyes so that you might be satisfied with food.

14 “It’s worthless! It’s worthless!” says the buyer,

but when he goes on his way, he boasts.

15 There is gold and an abundance of rubies,

but words of knowledge are like a precious jewel.

16 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger,

and hold him in pledge on behalf of strangers.

17 Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet to a person,

but afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18 Plans are established by counsel,

so make war with guidance.

19 The one who goes about gossiping reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with someone who is always opening his mouth.

20 The one who curses his father and his mother,

his lamp will be extinguished in the blackest darkness.

21 An inheritance gained easily in the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, “I will pay back evil!”

Wait for the Lord, so that he may vindicate you.

23 The Lord abhors differing weights,

and dishonest scales are wicked.

24 The steps of a person are ordained by the Lord—

so how can anyone understand his own way?

25 It is a snare for a person to rashly cry, “Holy!”

and only afterward to consider what he has vowed.

26 A wise king separates out the wicked;

he turns the threshing wheel over them.

27 The human spirit is like the lamp of the Lord,

searching all his innermost parts.

28 Loyal love and truth preserve a king,

and his throne is upheld by loyal love.

29 The glory of young men is their strength,

and the splendor of old men is gray hair.

30 Beatings and wounds cleanse away evil,

and floggings cleanse the innermost being.

21:1 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water;

he turns it wherever he wants.

2 All a person’s ways seem right in his own opinion,

but the Lord evaluates his thoughts.

3 To do righteousness and justice

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 Haughty eyes and a proud heart—

what the wicked cultivate is sin.

5 The plans of the diligent lead only to plenty,

but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

6 Making a fortune by a lying tongue is like a vapor driven back and forth;

they seek death.

7 The violence done by the wicked will drag them away

because they have refused to do what is right.

8 The way of the guilty person is devious,

but as for the pure, his way is upright.

9 It is better to live on a corner of the housetop

than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10 The appetite of the wicked has desired evil;

his neighbor is shown no favor in his eyes.

11 When a scorner is punished, the naive becomes wise;

when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12 The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked;

he overthrows the wicked to their ruin.

13 The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,

he too will cry out and will not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret subdues anger,

and a bribe given secretly subdues strong wrath.

15 Doing justice brings joy to the righteous

and terror to those who do evil.

16 The one who wanders from the way of wisdom

will end up in the company of the departed.

17 The one who loves pleasure will be a poor person;

whoever loves wine and anointing oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,

and the treacherous are taken in the place of the upright.

19 It is better to live in the wilderness

than with a quarrelsome and easily provoked woman.

20 There is desirable treasure and olive oil in the dwelling of the wise,

but a foolish person devours all he has.

21 The one who pursues righteousness and love

finds life, bounty, and honor.

22 A wise man went up against the city of the mighty

and brought down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 The one who guards his mouth and his tongue

keeps his life from troubles.

24 A proud and arrogant person, whose name is “Scoffer,”

acts with overbearing pride.

25 What the sluggard desires will kill him,

for his hands have refused to work.

26 All day long he has craved greedily,

but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.

27 The wicked person’s sacrifice is an abomination;

how much more when he brings it with evil intent!

28 A lying witness will perish,

but the one who reports accurately speaks forever.

29 A wicked person has put on a bold face,

but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.

30 There is no wisdom and there is no understanding,

and there is no counsel against the Lord.

31 A horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but the victory is from the Lord.