21 The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,

Like the 1rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

2 aEvery way of a man is right in his own eyes,

bBut the Lord weighs the hearts.

3 cTo do righteousness and justice

Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 dA haughty look, a proud heart,

And the 2plowing of the wicked are sin.

5 eThe plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,

But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.

6 fGetting treasures by a lying tongue

3Is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.

7 The violence of the wicked will 4destroy them,

Because they refuse to do justice.

8 The way of 5a guilty man is perverse;

But as for the pure, his work is right.

9 Better to dwell in a corner of a housetop,

Than in a house shared with ga contentious woman.

10 hThe soul of the wicked desires evil;

His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise;

But when the iwise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

12 The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked,

Overthrowing the wicked for their wickedness.

13 jWhoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor

Will also cry himself and not be heard.

14 A gift in secret pacifies anger,

And a bribe 6behind the back, strong wrath.

15 It is a joy for the just to do justice,

But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.

16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding

Will rest in the assembly of the kdead.

17 He who loves pleasure will be a poor man;

He who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous,

And the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to dwell 7in the wilderness,

Than with a contentious and angry woman.

20 lThere is desirable treasure,

And oil in the dwelling of the wise,

But a foolish man squanders it.

21 mHe who follows righteousness and mercy

Finds life, righteousness and honor.

22 A nwise man 8scales the city of the mighty,

And brings down the trusted stronghold.

23 oWhoever guards his mouth and tongue

Keeps his soul from troubles.

24 A proud and haughty man—“Scoffer” is his name;

He acts with arrogant pride.

25 The pdesire of the lazy man kills him,

For his hands refuse to labor.

26 He covets greedily all day long,

But the righteous qgives and does not spare.

27 rThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

How much more when he brings it with wicked intent!

28 A false witness shall perish,

But the man who hears him will speak endlessly.

29 A wicked man hardens his face,

But as for the upright, he 9establishes his way.

30 sThere is no wisdom or understanding

Or counsel against the Lord.

31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But tdeliverance is of the Lord.

22 A agood name is to be chosen rather than great riches,

Loving favor rather than silver and gold.

2 The brich and the poor have this in common,

The cLord is the maker of them all.

3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,

But the simple pass on and are dpunished.

4 By humility and the fear of the Lord

Are riches and honor and life.

5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;

He who guards his soul will be far from them.

6 eTrain up a child in the way he should go,

1And when he is old he will not depart from it.

7 The frich rules over the poor,

And the borrower is servant to the lender.

8 He who sows iniquity will reap gsorrow, 2

And the rod of his anger will fail.

9 hHe who has a 3generous eye will be iblessed,

For he gives of his bread to the poor.

10 jCast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;

Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

11 kHe who loves purity of heart

And has grace on his lips,

The king will be his friend.

12 The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,

But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

13 lThe lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!

I shall be slain in the streets!”

14 mThe mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;

nHe who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;

oThe rod of correction will drive it far from him.

16 He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,

And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

Sayings of the Wise

17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,

And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you;

Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

19 So that your trust may be in the Lord;

I have instructed you today, even you.

20 Have I not written to you excellent things

Of counsels and knowledge,

21 pThat I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,

qThat you may answer words of truth

To those who 4send to you?

22 Do not rob the rpoor because he is poor,

Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;

23 sFor the Lord will plead their cause,

And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

24 Make no friendship with an angry man,

And with a tfurious man do not go,

25 Lest you learn his ways

And set a snare for your soul.

26 uDo not be one of those who 5shakes hands in a pledge,

One of those who is 6surety for debts;

27 If you have nothing with which to pay,

Why should he take away your bed from under you?

28 vDo not remove the ancient 7landmark

Which your fathers have set.

29 Do you see a man who 8excels in his work?

He will stand before kings;

He will not stand before 9unknown men.