⁵ A person who flatters his neighbor
is spreading a net for him to step into.
⁶ To an evil person sin is bait in a trap,
but a righteous person runs away from it and is glad.
⁷ A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor.
A wicked person does not understand this.
⁸ Mockers create an uproar in a city,
but wise people turn away anger.

⁹ When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool,
he may rant and rave,
but there is no peace and quiet.
¹⁰ Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person,
but decent people seek ⌞to protect⌟ his life.
¹¹ A fool expresses all his emotions,
but a wise person controls them.
¹² If a ruler pays attention to lies,
all his servants become wicked.

¹³ A poor person and an oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives both of them sight.
¹⁴ When a king judges the poor with honesty,
his throne will always be secure.

¹⁵ A spanking and a warning produce wisdom,
but an undisciplined child disgraces his mother.
¹⁶ When wicked people increase, crime increases,
but righteous people will witness their downfall.
¹⁷ Correct your son, and he will give you peace of mind.
He will bring delight to your soul.

¹⁸ Without prophetic vision people run wild,
but blessed are those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings.
¹⁹ A slave cannot be disciplined with words.
He will not respond, though he may understand.
²⁰ Have you met a person who is quick to answer?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
²¹ Pamper a slave from childhood,
and later he will be ungrateful.

²² An angry person stirs up a fight,
and a hothead does much wrong.
²³ A person’s pride will humiliate him,
but a humble spirit gains honor.
²⁴ Whoever is a thief’s partner hates his own life.
He will not testify under oath.
²⁵ A person’s fear sets a trap ⌞for him⌟,
but one who trusts the Lord is safe.
²⁶ Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but justice for humanity comes from the Lord.
²⁷ An unjust person is disgusting to righteous people.
A decent person is disgusting to wicked people.