On Life and Conduct

¹Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler;

And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. [Prov 23:29, 30; Is 28:7; Hos 4:11]

²The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;

Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

³It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],

But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].

⁴The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives;

So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].

⁵A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,

But a man of understanding draws it out. [Prov 18:4]

⁶Many a man proclaims his own loyalty and goodness,

But who can find a faithful and trustworthy man?

⁷The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—

How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].

⁸A [discerning] king who sits on the throne of judgment

Sifts all evil [like chaff] with his eyes [and cannot be easily fooled].

⁹Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart,

I am pure from my sin?” [1 Kin 8:46; 2 Chr 6:36; Job 9:30; 14:4; Ps 51:5; 1 John 1:8]

¹⁰Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures,

Both of them are detestable and offensive to the Lord . [Deut 25:13; Mic 6:10, 11]

¹¹Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts,

Whether his conduct is pure and right.

¹²The hearing ear and the seeing eye,

The [omnipotent] Lord has made both of them.

¹³Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;

Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴“It is [almost] worthless, it is [almost] worthless,” says the buyer [as he negotiates the price];

But when he goes his way, then he boasts [about his bargain].

¹⁵There is gold, and an abundance of pearls,

But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness [the most precious of all]. [Job 28:12, 16-19; Prov 3:15; 8:11]

¹⁶[The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger;

And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.” [Prov 27:13]

¹⁷Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair].

¹⁸Plans are established by counsel;

So make war [only] with wise guidance.

¹⁹He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;

Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters]. [Rom 16:17, 18]

²⁰Whoever curses his father or his mother,

His lamp [of life] will be extinguished in time of darkness.

²¹An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning

Will not be blessed in the end. [Prov 28:20; Hab 2:6]

²²Do not say, “I will repay evil”;

Wait [expectantly] for the Lord , and He will rescue and save you. [Deut 32:35; 2 Sam 16:12; Rom 12:17-19; 1 Thess 5:15; 1 Pet 3:9]

²³Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the Lord ,

And fraudulent scales are not good.

²⁴Man’s steps are ordered and ordained by the Lord .

How then can a man [fully] understand his way?

²⁵It is a trap for a man to [speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, “It is holy!”[#20:25 Such a vow would single out an item for sacrifice or for the use of the temple or the priests. The classic example of a careless vow was Jephthah’s promise to sacrifice to the Lord whatever came out of his house to meet him on his return from a successful battle (Judg 11:30-35).]

And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].

²⁶A wise king sifts out the wicked [from among the good]

And drives the [threshing] wheel over them [to separate the chaff from the grain].

²⁷The spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the Lord ,[#20:27 Lit breath .]

Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being. [1 Cor 2:11]

²⁸Loyalty and mercy, truth and faithfulness, protect the king,

And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.

²⁹The glory of young men is their [physical] strength,

And the honor of aged men is their gray head [representing wisdom and experience].

³⁰Blows that wound cleanse away evil,

And strokes reach to the innermost parts.