1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge,
nor being hasty with one’s feet and missing the way.
3 The foolishness of man subverts his way;
his heart rages against Yahweh.
4 Wealth adds many friends,
but the poor is separated from his friend.
5 A false witness shall not be unpunished.
He who pours out lies shall not go free.
6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler,
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
7 All the relatives of the poor shun him;
how much more do his friends avoid him!
He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul.
He who keeps understanding shall find good.
9 A false witness shall not be unpunished.
He who utters lies shall perish.
10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool,
much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger.
It is his glory to overlook an offense.
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 calamity of his father.
A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping.
14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep.
The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh;
he will reward him.
18 Discipline your son, for there is hope;
don’t be a willing party to his death.
19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty,
for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter end.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
but Yahweh’s counsel will prevail.
22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness.
A poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment;
he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother
is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son,
you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 A corrupt witness mocks justice,
and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers,
and beatings for the backs of fools.
1 Better [is] the poor that walks in his integrity than [he that is] perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 [That] the soul [be] without wisdom [is] not good, and he that hastens with [his] feet sins.
3 The foolishness of man perverts his way, and his heart is wroth against the LORD.
4 Wealth makes many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbour.
5 A false witness shall not go unpunished, and [he that] speaks lies shall not escape.
6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince, but every man [is] a friend to him that gives.
7 All the brethren of the poor hate him; how much more shall his friends separate themselves from him? He shall seek their friendship and not find it.
8 He that gets wisdom loves his own soul; he keeps intelligence that he might find that which is good.
9 The false witness shall not go unpunished, and [he that] speaks lies shall perish.
10 Delight is not suitable for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man defers his anger, and [it is] his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king's wrath [is] as the roaring of a lion, but his favour [is] as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son [is] a pain unto his father, and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dripping.
14 House and riches [are] the inheritance from fathers, but the prudent wife [is] from the LORD.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep, and the negligent soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, [but] he that despises his ways shall die.
17 He that gives unto the poor lends unto the LORD, and he will give him his reward.
18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, but do not stir up thy soul to destroy him.
19 A man of great wrath shall suffer the consequences, for [even] if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.
20 Hear counsel, and receive chastening that thou may be wise in thy old age.
21 [There are] many thoughts in the heart of man; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD shall stand.
22 Contentment is unto men to show mercy, but [it is] better [to do it] unto the poor than to the liar.
23 The fear of the LORD [is] unto life, and [he that has it] shall live satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.
24 The slothful [man] hides his hand in [his] bosom and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will become prudent, and reproving one that has understanding, he will understand knowledge.
26 He that steals from his father [and] chases away [his] mother [is] a son that causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the teaching [that] induces one to deviate from the reasons of wisdom.
28 A witness of Belial shall scorn judgment, and the mouth of the wicked shall cover iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners and stripes for the back of fools.: