1Better a poor person who lives with integrity
than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.
2Even zeal is not good without knowledge,
and the one who acts hastily sins.
3A person’s own foolishness leads him astray,
yet his heart rages against the Lord.
4Wealth attracts many friends,
but a poor person is separated from his friend.
5A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies will not escape.
6Many seek a ruler’s favor,
and everyone is a friend of one who gives gifts.
7All the brothers of a poor person hate him;
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,
but they are not there.
8The one who acquires good sense loves himself;
one who safeguards understanding finds success.
9A false witness will not go unpunished,
and one who utters lies perishes.
10Luxury is not appropriate for a fool —
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!
11A person’s insight gives him patience,
and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
12A king’s rage is like the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13A foolish son is his father’s ruin,
and a wife’s nagging is an endless dripping.
14A house and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15Laziness induces deep sleep,
and a lazy person will go hungry.
16The one who keeps commands preserves himself;
one who disregards his ways will die.
17Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord,
and he will give a reward to the lender.
18Discipline your son while there is hope;
don’t set your heart on being the cause of his death.
19A person with intense anger bears the penalty;
if you rescue him, you’ll have to do it again.
20Listen to counsel and receive instruction
so that you may be wise later in life.
21Many plans are in a person’s heart,
but the Lord’s decree will prevail.
22What is desirable in a person is his fidelity;
better to be a poor person than a liar.
23The fear of the Lord leads to life;
one will sleep at night without danger.
24The slacker buries his hand in the bowl;
he doesn’t even bring it back to his mouth!
25Strike a mocker, and the inexperienced learn a lesson;
rebuke the discerning, and he gains knowledge.
26The one who plunders his father and evicts his mother
is a disgraceful and shameful son.
27If you stop listening to correction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28A worthless witness mocks justice,
and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
29Judgments are prepared for mockers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.