1 Een wat die tug liefhet, het kennis lief; maar wie die teregwysing haat, is dom.
2 Die goeie verkry 'n welbehae van die HERE, maar Hy veroordeel 'n slinkse man.
3 Geen mens kan deur goddeloosheid bestaan nie, maar die wortel van die regverdiges wankel nie.
4 'n Deugsame vrou is die kroon van haar man, maar een wat skande maak, is soos 'n verrotting in sy gebeente.
5 Die gedagtes van die regverdiges is wat reg is, die slim planne van die goddelose is bedrog.
6 Die woorde van die goddelose is om te loer op bloed, maar die mond van die opregtes red hulle.
7 Die goddelose mense word omgekeer, en hulle is daar nie meer nie; maar die huis van die regverdiges bly staan.
8 Ooreenkomstig sy insig word 'n man geprys; maar 'n verkeerde van hart sal verag word.
9 Wie gering geag word en 'n slaaf het, is beter as hy wat hom vernaam aanstel en gebrek aan brood het.
10 Die regverdige ken die natuur van sy dier, maar die barmhartigheid van die goddelose is wreed.
11 Wie sy land bewerk, het volop brood; maar hy wat nietighede najaag, het gebrek aan verstand.
12 Die goddelose begeer die vangs van verkeerde dinge, maar die wortel van die regverdiges lewer vrugte op.
13 In die oortreding van die lippe lê daar 'n gevaarlike strik; maar die regverdige ontkom aan die benoudheid.
14 Uit die vrug van iemand se mond word hy versadig met die goeie, en die daad van 'n mens se hande kom op hom terug.
15 Die weg van 'n dwaas is reg in sy eie oë, maar die wyse luister na raad.
16 Die dwaas laat sy drif op die daad bekend word, maar die skrandere verberg skande.
17 Hy wat die waarheid spreek, vertel wat reg is; maar 'n valse getuie bedrog.
18 Daar is een wat onverskillig woorde uitspreek soos swaardsteke, maar die tong van die wyse is genesing.
19 'n Betroubare lip bestaan vir altyd, maar 'n valse tong vir 'n oomblik.
20 Bedrog is in die hart van die wat onheil bewerk; maar die wat vrede aanraai, het vreugde.
21 Geen enkele onheil tref die regverdige nie, maar die goddelose is vol ongeluk.
22 Valse lippe is vir die HERE 'n gruwel, maar Hy het 'n welbehae in die wat getrou handel.
23 'n Skrander mens verberg sy kennis, maar die hart van die dwase roep hulle sotheid uit.
24 Die hand van die vlytiges sal heers, maar traagheid lei tot dwangarbeid.
25 Bekommernis in die hart van 'n mens druk dit neer, maar 'n vriendelike woord vrolik dit op.
26 Die regverdige vind sy weide uit, maar die weg van die goddelose laat hulle dwaal.
27 Hy wat traag is, jaag sy wild nie op nie, maar vlyt is 'n kosbare skat vir 'n mens.
28 Op die pad van geregtigheid is lewe, en die rigting van die pad is onsterflikheid.
1 A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a hater of teaching is like a beast.
2 A good man has grace in the eyes of the Lord; but the man of evil designs gets punishment from him.
3 No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but the root of upright men will never be moved.
4 A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones.
5 The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit.
6 The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation.
7 Evil-doers are overturned and never seen again, but the house of upright men will keep its place.
8 A man will be praised in the measure of his wisdom, but a wrong-minded man will be looked down on.
9 He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread.
10 An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel.
11 He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.
12 The resting-place of the sinner will come to destruction, but the root of upright men is for ever.
13 In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble.
14 From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food in full measure, and the work of a man's hands will be rewarded.
15 The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions.
16 A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a sharp man keeps shame secret.
17 The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of righteousness; but a false witness gives out deceit.
18 There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again.
19 True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is only for a minute.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy.
21 No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will be full of evil.
22 False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts are true are his delight.
23 A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts.
24 The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.
25 Care in the heart of a man makes it weighted down, but a good word makes it glad.
26 The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them.
27 He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.
28 In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of the evil-doer goes to death.