¹He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck,[#2 Chr. 36:16; Prov. 6:15]

Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

²When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;[#Esth. 8:15; Prov. 28:12]

But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

³Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,

But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

⁴The king establishes the land by justice,

But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

⁵A man who flatters his neighbor[#Prov. 26:28]

Spreads a net for his feet.

⁶By transgression an evil man is snared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices.

⁷The righteous considers the cause of the poor,[#Job 29:16; Ps. 41:1; Prov. 31:8, 9]

But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

⁸Scoffers set a city aflame,[#Prov. 11:11]

But wise men turn away wrath.

⁹If a wise man contends with a foolish man,

Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,[#Gen. 4:5–8; 1 John 3:12]

But the upright seek his well-being.

¹¹A fool vents all his feelings,[#Prov. 14:33]

But a wise man holds them back.

¹²If a ruler pays attention to lies,

All his servants become wicked.

¹³The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

¹⁴The king who judges the poor with truth,[#Ps. 72:4; Is. 11:4]

His throne will be established forever.

¹⁵The rod and rebuke give wisdom,[#Prov. 22:15]

But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;

But the righteous will see their fall.

¹⁷Correct your son, and he will give you rest;

Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

¹⁸Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;[#1 Sam. 3:1; Ps. 74:9; Amos 8:11, 12]

But happy is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹A servant will not be corrected by mere words;

For though he understands, he will not respond.

²⁰Do you see a man hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹He who pampers his servant from childhood

Will have him as a son in the end.

²²An angry man stirs up strife,[#Prov. 26:21]

And a furious man abounds in transgression.

²³A man’s pride will bring him low,[#Job 22:29; Prov. 15:33; 18:12; Is. 66:2; Dan. 4:30; Matt. 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14; Acts 12:23; (James 4:6–10; 1 Pet. 5:5, 6)]

But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

²⁴Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

He swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

²⁵The fear of man brings a snare,[#Gen. 12:12; 20:2; Luke 12:4; John 12:42, 43]

But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.

²⁶Many seek the ruler’s favor,[#Ps. 20:9]

But justice for man comes from the Lord .

²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.