1 Betteristhe poor who walks in his integrity
Thanonewhoisperverse in his lips, and is a fool.
2 Also it is not goodfora soultobewithout knowledge,
And he sins who hastens withhisfeet.
3 The foolishness of a man twists his way,
And his heart frets against theLord.
4 Wealth makes many friends,
But the poor is separated from his friend.
5 Afalse witness will not go unpunished,
Andhewhospeaks lies will not escape.
6 Many entreat the favor of the nobility,
And every manisa friend to one who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;
# How much more do his friends gofar from him!
He may pursuethemwithwords,yetthey abandonhim.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
# He who keeps understandingwill find good.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished,
Andhewhospeaks lies shall perish.
10 Luxury is not fitting for a fool,
# Much lessfor a servant to rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger,
# And his gloryisto overlook a transgression.
12 The king’s wrathislike the roaring of a lion,
# But his favorislike dew on the grass.
13 A foolish sonisthe ruin of his father,
# And the contentions of a wifearea continual dripping.
14 Houses and richesarean inheritance from fathers,
# Buta prudent wifeisfrom theLord.
15 Laziness castsoneinto a deep sleep,
# And an idle person willsuffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
Buthe who is careless of his ways will die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to theLord,
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.
19 Amanofgreat wrath will suffer punishment;
For if you rescuehim,you will have to do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
# That you may be wisein your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
# Nevertheless theLord’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 theLordleadsto life,
Andhewhohasitwill abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
24 A lazymanburies his hand in the bowl,
And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Strike a scoffer, and the simplewill become wary;
# Rebuke one who has understanding,andhe will discern knowledge.
26 He who mistreatshisfatherandchases awayhismother
# Isa 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,
# Andthe mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
# And beatings for the backs of fools.