²¹ When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
²² I was senseless^(A) and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast^(B) before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.^(C)
24 You guide^(D) me with your counsel,^(E)
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?^(F)
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.^(G)
26 My flesh and my heart^(H) may fail,^(I)
    but God is the strength^(J) of my heart
    and my portion^(K) forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;^(L)
    you destroy all who are unfaithful^(M) to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God.^(N)
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;^(O)
    I will tell of all your deeds.^(P)

29 Whoever remains stiff-necked^(A) after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed^(B)—without remedy.^(C)

² When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;^(D)
    when the wicked rule,^(E) the people groan.^(F)

³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,^(G)
    but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.^(H)

⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,^(I)
    but those who are greedy for^[a] bribes tear it down.

⁵ Those who flatter their neighbors
    are spreading nets for their feet.^(J)

⁶ Evildoers are snared by their own sin,^(K)
    but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.

⁷ The righteous care about justice for the poor,^(L)
    but the wicked have no such concern.

⁸ Mockers stir up a city,
    but the wise turn away anger.^(M)

⁹ If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
    the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
    and seek to kill the upright.^(N)

¹¹ Fools give full vent to their rage,^(O)
    but the wise bring calm in the end.^(P)

¹² If a ruler^(Q) listens to lies,
    all his officials become wicked.^(R)

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
    The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.^(S)

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
    his throne will be established forever.^(T)

¹⁵ A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
    but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.^(U)

¹⁶ When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
    but the righteous will see their downfall.^(V)

¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
    they will bring you the delights you desire.^(W)

¹⁸ Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
    but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.^(X)

¹⁹ Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
    though they understand, they will not respond.

²⁰ Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
    There is more hope for a fool than for them.^(Y)

²¹ A servant pampered from youth
    will turn out to be insolent.

²² An angry person stirs up conflict,
    and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.^(Z)

²³ Pride brings a person low,^(AA)
    but the lowly in spirit gain honor.^(AB)

²⁴ The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
    they are put under oath and dare not testify.^(AC)

²⁵ Fear^(AD) of man will prove to be a snare,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord^(AE) is kept safe.^(AF)

²⁶ Many seek an audience with a ruler,^(AG)
    but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.^(AH)

²⁷ The righteous detest the dishonest;
    the wicked detest the upright.^(AI)