he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.
2
All a man's ways seem right to him,
but the LORD
weighs the heart.
3
To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD
than sacrifice.
4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
5
The plans of the diligent lead to profit
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
6
A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.1
7
The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
for they refuse to do what is right.
8
The way of the guilty is devious,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
9
Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
10
The wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor gets no mercy from him.
11
When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
when a wise man is instructed, he gets
knowledge.
12
The Righteous One2
takes note of the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
13
If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too will cry out and not be answered.
14
A gift given in secret soothes anger,
and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies
great wrath.
15
When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
but terror to evildoers.
16
A man who strays from the path of understanding
comes to rest in the company of the dead.
17
He who loves pleasure will become poor;
whoever loves wine and oil will never be
rich.
18
The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the unfaithful for the upright.
19
Better to live in a desert
than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered
wife.
20
In the house of the wise are stores of choice food
and oil,
but a foolish man devours all he has.
21
He who pursues righteousness and love
finds life, prosperity3
and honor.
22
A wise man attacks the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they
trust.
23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.
24
The proud and arrogant man-"Mocker" is his name;
he behaves with overweening pride.
25
The sluggard's craving will be the death of him,
because his hands refuse to work.
26
All day long he craves for more,
but the righteous give without sparing.
27
The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with evil
intent!
28
A false witness will perish,
and whoever listens to him will be destroyed
forever.4
29
A wicked man puts up a bold front,
but an upright man gives thought to his ways.
30
There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan
that can succeed against the LORD.
31
The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but victory rests with the LORD.
Footnotes:
1 verse
6 Some Hebrew
manuscripts, Septuagint and Vulgate; most Hebrew
manuscripts vapor for those who seek death
2 verse 12
Or The righteous man
3 verse 21
Or righteousness
4 verse 28
Or / but the words of an
obedient man will live on