¹⁰ I said, “In the prime of my life^(P)
    must I go through the gates of death^(Q)
    and be robbed of the rest of my years?^(R)”
¹¹ I said, “I will not again see the Lord himself^(S)
    in the land of the living;^(T)
no longer will I look on my fellow man,
    or be with those who now dwell in this world.
¹² Like a shepherd’s tent^(U) my house
    has been pulled down^(V) and taken from me.
Like a weaver I have rolled^(W) up my life,
    and he has cut me off from the loom;^(X)
    day and night^(Y) you made an end of me.
¹³ I waited patiently^(Z) till dawn,
    but like a lion he broke^(AA) all my bones;^(AB)
    day and night^(AC) you made an end of me.
¹⁴ I cried like a swift or thrush,
    I moaned like a mourning dove.^(AD)
My eyes grew weak^(AE) as I looked to the heavens.
    I am being threatened; Lord, come to my aid!”^(AF)

¹⁵ But what can I say?^(AG)
    He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.^(AH)
I will walk humbly^(AI) all my years
    because of this anguish of my soul.^(AJ)
16 Lord, by such things people live;
    and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health
    and let me live.^(AK)
17 Surely it was for my benefit^(AL)
    that I suffered such anguish.^(AM)
In your love you kept me
    from the pit^(AN) of destruction;
you have put all my sins^(AO)
    behind your back.^(AP)
18 For the grave^(AQ) cannot praise you,
    death cannot sing your praise;^(AR)
those who go down to the pit^(AS)
    cannot hope for your faithfulness.
¹⁹ The living, the living—they praise^(AT) you,
    as I am doing today;
parents tell their children^(AU)
    about your faithfulness.

²⁰ The Lord will save me,
    and we will sing^(AV) with stringed instruments^(AW)
all the days of our lives^(AX)
    in the temple^(AY) of the Lord.

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.^(A)

² A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

³ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^(B)
    but the Lord tests the heart.^(C)

⁴ A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

⁵ Whoever mocks the poor^(D) shows contempt for their Maker;^(E)
    whoever gloats over disaster^(F) will not go unpunished.^(G)

⁶ Children’s children^(H) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

⁷ Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!^(I)

⁸ A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.^(J)

⁹ Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,^(K)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.^(L)

¹⁰ A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

¹¹ Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

¹² Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.^(M)

¹³ Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil^(N) for good.^(O)

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.^(P)

¹⁵ Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent^(Q)—
    the Lord detests them both.^(R)

¹⁶ Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?^(S)

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.^(T)

¹⁸ One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.^(U)

¹⁹ Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

²⁰ One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

²¹ To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.^(V)

²² A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed^(W) spirit dries up the bones.^(X)

²³ The wicked accept bribes^(Y) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.^(Z)

²⁴ A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes^(AA) wander to the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.^(AB)

²⁶ If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,^(AC)
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

²⁷ The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,^(AD)
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.^(AE)

²⁸ Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.^(AF)