18 People who do not get along with others are interested only in themselves; they will disagree with what everyone else knows is right.

2 A fool does not care whether he understands a thing or not; all he wants to do is to show how clever he is.

3 Sin and shame go together. Lose your honour, and you will get scorn in its place.

4 A person’s words can be a source of wisdom, deep as the ocean, fresh as a flowing stream.

5 It is not right to favour the guilty and prevent the innocent from receiving justice.

6 When some fool starts an argument, he is asking for a beating.

7 When a fool speaks, he is ruining himself; he gets caught in the trap of his own words.

8 Gossip is so tasty—how we love to swallow it!

9 A lazy person is as bad as someone who is destructive.

10 The Lord is like a strong tower, where the righteous can go and be safe. 11Rich people, however, imagine that their wealth protects them like high, strong walls round a city.

12 No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin.

13 Listen before you answer. If you don’t you are being stupid and insulting.

14 Your will to live can sustain you when you are sick, but if you lose it, your last hope is gone.

15 Intelligent people are always eager and ready to learn.

16 Do you want to meet an important person? Take a gift and it will be easy.

17 The first to speak in court always seems right until his opponent begins to question him.

18 If two powerful men are opposing each other in court, casting lots can settle the issue.

19 Help your relatives and they will protect you like a strong city wall,e but if you quarrel with them, they will close their doors to you.

20 You will have to live with the consequences of everything you say. 21What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.

22 Find a wife and you find a good thing; it shows that the Lord is good to you.

23 When the poor speak, they have to beg politely, but when the rich answer, they are rude.

24 Some friendships dof not last, but some friends are more loyal than brothers.

19 It is better to be poor but honest than to be a lying fool.

2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good; impatience will get you into trouble.

3 Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame the Lord.

4 Rich people are always finding new friends, but the poor cannot keep the few they have.

5 If you tell lies in court, you will be punished—there will be no escape.

6 Everyone tries to gain the favour of important people; everyone claims the friendship of those who give out favours.

7 Even the relatives of a poor person have no use for him; no wonder he has no friends. No matter how hard he tries, he cannot win any.g

8 Do yourself a favour and learn all you can; then remember what you learn and you will prosper.

9 No one who tells lies in court can escape punishment; he is doomed.

10 Fools should not live in luxury, and slaves should not rule over noblemen.

11 If you are sensible, you will control your temper. When someone wrongs you, it is a great virtue to ignore it.

12 The king’s anger is like the roar of a lion, but his favour is like welcome rain.

13 Stupid children can bring their parents to ruin. A nagging wife is like water going drip-drip-drip.

14 A man can inherit a house and money from his parents, but only the Lord can give him a sensible wife.

15 Be lazy if you want to; sleep on, but you will go hungry.

16 Keep God’s laws and you will live longer; if you ignore them, you will die.

17 When you give to the poor, it is like lending to the Lord, and the Lord will pay you back.

18 Discipline your children while they are young enough to learn. If you don’t, you are helping them to destroy themselves.h

19 If someone has a hot temper, let him take the consequences. If you get him out of trouble once, you will have to do it again.i

20 If you listen to advice and are willing to learn, one day you will be wise.

21 People may plan all kinds of things, but the Lord’s will is going to be done.

22 It is a disgrace to be greedy;j poor people are better off than liars.

23 Obey the Lord and you will live a long life, content and safe from harm.

24 Some people are too lazy to put food in their own mouths.

25 Arrogance should be punished, so that people who don’t know any better can learn a lesson. If you are wise, you will learn when you are corrected.

26 Only a shameful, disgraceful person would ill-treat his father or turn his mother away from his home.

27 Son, when you stop learning, you will soon neglect what you already know.

28 There is no justice where a witness is determined to hurt someone. Wicked people love the taste of evil.

29 A conceited fool is sure to get a beating.

20 Drinking too much makes you loud and foolish. It’s stupid to get drunk.

2 Fear an angry king as you would a growling lion; making him angry is suicide.

3 Any fool can start arguments; the honourable thing is to stay out of them.

4 A farmer who is too lazy to plough his fields at the right time will have nothing to harvest.

5 A person’s thoughts are like water in a deep well, but someone with insight can draw them out.

6 Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is!

7 Children are fortunate if they have a father who is honest and does what is right.

8 The king sits in judgement and knows evil when he sees it.

9 Can anyone really say that his conscience is clear, that he has got rid of his sin?

10 The Lord hates people who use dishonest weights and measures.

11 Even children show what they are by what they do; you can tell if they are honest and good.

12 The Lord has given us eyes to see with and ears to listen with.

13 If you spend your time sleeping, you will be poor. Keep busy and you will have plenty to eat.

14 The customer always complains that the price is too high, but then he goes off and brags about the bargain he got.

15 If you know what you are talking about, you have something more valuable than gold or jewels.

16 Anyone stupid enough to promise to be responsible for a stranger’s debts ought to have his own property held to guarantee payment.

17 What you get by dishonesty you may enjoy like the finest food, but sooner or later it will be like a mouthful of sand.

18 Get good advice and you will succeed; don’t go charging into battle without a plan.

19 A gossip can never keep a secret. Stay away from people who talk too much.

20 If you curse your parents, your life will end like a lamp that goes out in the dark.

21 The more easily you get your wealth, the less good it will do you.

22 Don’t take it on yourself to repay a wrong. Trust the Lord and he will make it right.

23 The Lord hates people who use dishonest scales and weights.

24 The Lord has determined our path; how then can anyone understand the direction his own life is taking?

25 Think carefully before you promise an offering to God. You might regret it later.

26 A wise king will find out who is doing wrong, and will punish him without pity.

27 The Lord gave us mind and conscience; we cannot hide from ourselves.

28 A king will remain in power as long as his rule is honest, just, and fair.

29 We admire the strength of youth and respect the grey hair of age.

30 Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways.