¹Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool .

²It isn’t good to have zeal without knowledge ,

nor being hasty with one ’s feet and missing the way.

³The foolishness of man subverts his way ;

his heart rages against the LORD .

⁴Wealth adds many friends ,

but the poor is separated from his friend .

⁵A false witness shall not be unpunished .

He who pours out lies shall not go free .

⁶Many will entreat the favour of a ruler,

and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts .

⁷All the relatives of the poor shun him ;

how much more do his friends avoid him !

He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone .

⁸He who gets wisdom loves his own soul .

He who keeps understanding shall find good .

⁹A false witness shall not be unpunished .

He who utters lies shall perish.

¹⁰Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool ,

much less for a servant to have rule over princes .

¹¹The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger .

It is his glory to overlook an offence.

¹²The king ’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion ,

but his favour is like dew on the grass .

¹³A foolish son is the calamity of his father .

A wife’s quarrels are a continual dripping .

¹⁴House and riches are an inheritance from fathers,

but a prudent wife is from the LORD .

¹⁵Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep .

The idle soul shall suffer hunger .

¹⁶He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul ,

but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die .

¹⁷He who has pity on the poor lends to the LORD ;

he will reward him .

¹⁸Discipline your son , for there is hope ;

don’t be a willing party to his death .

¹⁹A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty ,

for if you rescue him , you must do it again .

²⁰Listen to counsel and receive instruction ,

that you may be wise in your latter end .

²¹There are many plans in a man ’s heart ,

but the LORD ’s counsel will prevail.

²²That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness .

A poor man is better than a liar .

²³The fear of the LORD leads to life , then contentment;

he rests and will not be touched by trouble .

²⁴The sluggard buries his hand in the dish ;

he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again .

²⁵Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;

rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge .

²⁶He who robs his father and drives away his mother

is a son who causes shame and brings reproach .

²⁷If you stop listening to instruction , my son ,

you will stray from the words of knowledge .

²⁸A corrupt witness mocks justice ,

and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.

²⁹Penalties are prepared for scoffers,

and beatings for the backs of fools .