On Life and Conduct
1Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in [a]speech and is a fool.
2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries [b]his footsteps [c]errs.
3The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against the Lord.
4Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.
5A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who [d]tells lies will not escape.
6Many will seek the favor of a [e]generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues them with words, but they are [f]gone.
8He who gets [g]wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good.
9A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who [h]tells lies will perish.
10Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.
11A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression.
12The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass.
13A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.
14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle [i]man will suffer hunger.
16He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who [j]is careless of [k]conduct will die.
17One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord,
And He will repay him for his [l]good deed.
18Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire [m]his death.
19A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.
20Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise [n]the rest of your days.
21Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the Lord will stand.
22What is desirable in a man is his [o]kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.
23The [p]fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, [q]untouched by evil.
24The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25Strike a scoffer and the [r]naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will [s]gain knowledge.
26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.
27Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked [t]spreads iniquity.
29[u]Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.