¹ Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. ² Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries his footsteps errs. ³ The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against the LORD. ⁴ Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend. ⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape. ⁶ Many will seek the favor of a generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. ⁷ All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are gone. ⁸ He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good. ⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish. ¹⁰ Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes. ¹¹ A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. 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 destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. ¹⁴ House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD. ¹⁵ Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger. ¹⁶ He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who is careless of conduct will die. ¹⁷ One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his good deed. ¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire his death. ¹⁹ A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again. ²⁰ Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days. ²¹ Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand. ²² What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar. ²³ The fear of the LORD leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. ²⁴ The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth. ²⁵ Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge. ²⁶ He who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son. ²⁷ Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge. ²⁸ A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity. ²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.