1 Better a poor man whose life is blameless
than one who is crooked, although he be rich.
2 To act without knowledge is foolish;
the hasty foot misses the goal.
3 A man ruins his life by his folly,
And then he fumes against God.
4 Wealth adds many friends,
but the friend of the poor man withdraws.
5 A false witness will not go unpunished;
he that utters lies will not escape.
6 To the liberal many pay court;
all are friends of the man who gives.
7 A poor man's brothers all hate him;
much more do his friends stand aloof.
8 He loves his life who acquires wisdom,
and he finds good who observes understanding.
9 A false witness will not go unpunished;
he that utters lies will perish.
10 A luxurious life for a fool is unseemly;
much more for a servant to rule over princes.
11 By forbearance a man shows his wisdom;
to ignore an offence is his glory.
12 The wrath of a king is like the growl of a lion,
his favour like dew on the grass.
13 A silly son is his father's ruin,
and a quarrelsome wife is an endless drip.
14 House and wealth come to men from their fathers,
but a prudent wife is the gift of the Lord.
15 Indolence ends in a deep heavy sleep,
and the man that is slack will be hungry.
16 He that keeps the commandment preserves his life;
he that spurns the word will die.
17 To be kind to the poor is to lend to the Lord,
who will pay the good deed back.
18 Chastise your son, while yet there is hope,
and set not your heart on having him ruined.
19 He who pays a fine is very angry.
but, if he should scoff, he must pay still more.
20 Listen to counsel, receive instruction,
so that you may be wise in the days to come.
21 A man has many a plan in his mind;
but the Lord has his purpose — and that will stand.
22 A man's kindness brings him return;
better be poor than a cheat.
23 The fear of the Lord is the pathway to life,
to that quiet content which no evil can visit.
24 The lazy man buries his hand in the dish,
and refuses to carry it back to his mouth.
25 When a scoffer is beaten, a simpleton learns,
but reproof is enough to teach sensible men.
26 That son is a thorough disgrace and scoundrel
who maltreats his father and drives out his mother.
27 Cease, my son, to despise instruction,
to wander away from the words of knowledge.
28 An unprincipled witness scoffs at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked pours out wrong.
29 The scourgeo is prepared for the scoffer.
and stripes for the back of the fool.