1
1Better is a poor person who
2walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
2
Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever
3makes haste with his feet misses his way.
3
When a man's folly
4brings his way to ruin, his heart
5rages against the LORD.
4
6Wealth brings many new friends,
7but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5
8A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who
9breathes out lies will not escape.
6
Many seek the favor of a generous man, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives
10gifts.
7
11All a poor man's brothers hate him;
12how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursues them with words, but does not have them.
8
13Whoever gets sense loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will
14discover good.
9
15A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who
16breathes out lies will perish.
10
17It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury, much less for
18a slave to rule over princes.
11
19Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
12
A king's wrath is like
20the growling of a lion, but his
21favor is like
22dew on the grass.
13
23A foolish son is ruin to his father, and
24a wife's quarreling is
25a continual dripping of rain.
14
26House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is
27from the LORD.
15
28Slothfulness casts into
29a deep sleep, and
30an idle person will suffer hunger.
16
Whoever
31keeps the commandment keeps his life; he who despises his ways will die.
17
32Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he
33will repay him for his
34deed.
18
35Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on
36putting him to death.
19
A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
20
Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in
37the future.
21
38Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but
39it is the purpose of the LORD
40 that will stand.
22
What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.
23
The fear of the LORD
41leads to life, and whoever has it rests
42satisfied; he will
43not be visited by harm.
24
44The sluggard buries his hand in
45the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25
46Strike
47a scoffer, and the simple will
48learn prudence;
49reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
26
He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother is
50a son who brings shame and reproach.
27
Cease to hear instruction, my son,
51and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28
A worthless witness mocks at justice, and the mouth of the wicked
52devours iniquity.
29
Condemnation is ready for
53scoffers, and
54beating for the backs of fools.