² Because of the transgression of a land, many are its princes;
But by a man of understanding and knowledge
Right will be prolonged.

^3 (B)A poor man who oppresses the poor
Is like a driving rain ^[a]which leaves no food.

^4 (C)Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
^(D)But such as keep the law contend with them.

^5 (E)Evil men do not understand justice,
But ^(F)those who seek the Lord understand all.

⁶ Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than one perverse in his ways, though he be rich.

⁷ Whoever keeps the law is a discerning son,
But a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸ One who increases his possessions by usury and extortion
Gathers it for him who will pity the poor.

⁹ One who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
^(G)Even his prayer is an abomination.

^10 (H)Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way,
He himself will fall into his own pit;
^(I)But the blameless will inherit good.

¹¹ The rich man is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding searches him out.

¹² When the righteous rejoice, there is great ^(J)glory;
But when the wicked arise, men ^[b]hide themselves.

^13 (K)He who covers his sins will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

¹⁴ Happy is the man who is always reverent,
But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

^15 (L)Like a roaring lion and a charging bear
^(M)Is a wicked ruler over poor people.

¹⁶ A ruler who lacks understanding is a great ^(N)oppressor,
But he who hates covetousness will prolong his days.

^17 (O)A man burdened with bloodshed will flee into a pit;
Let no one help him.

¹⁸ Whoever walks blamelessly will be ^[c]saved,
But he who is perverse in his ways will suddenly fall.

^19 (P)He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows frivolity will have poverty enough!

²⁰ A faithful man will abound with blessings,
^(Q)But he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.

^21 (R)To ^[d]show partiality is not good,
^(S)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²² A man with an evil eye hastens after riches,
And does not consider that ^(T)poverty will come upon him.

^23 (U)He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father or his mother,
And says, “It is no transgression,”
The same ^(V)is companion to a destroyer.

^25 (W)He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife,
^(X)But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered.

²⁶ He who ^(Y)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

^27 (Z)He who gives to the poor will not lack,
But he who hides his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked arise, ^(AA)men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.

² When the righteous ^[a]are in authority, the ^(B)people rejoice;
But when a wicked man rules, ^(C)the people groan.

³ Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,
But a companion of harlots wastes his wealth.

⁴ The king establishes the land by justice,
But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

⁵ A man who ^(D)flatters his neighbor
Spreads a net for his feet.

⁶ By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.

⁷ The righteous ^(E)considers the cause of the poor,
But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

⁸ Scoffers ^(F)set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away wrath.

⁹ If a wise man contends with a foolish man,
^(G)Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

^10 (H)The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,
But the upright seek his ^[b]well-being.

¹¹ A fool vents all his ^(I)feelings,^[c]
But a wise man holds them back.

¹² If a ruler pays attention to lies,
All his servants become wicked.

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

¹⁴ The king who judges the ^(K)poor with truth,
His throne will be established forever.

¹⁵ The rod and rebuke give ^(L)wisdom,
But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.

¹⁶ When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increases;
But the righteous will see their ^(M)fall.

¹⁷ Correct your son, and he will give you rest;
Yes, he will give delight to your soul.

^18 (N)Where there is no ^[d]revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But ^(O)happy is he who keeps the law.

¹⁹ A servant will not be corrected by mere words;
For though he understands, he will not respond.

²⁰ Do you see a man hasty in his words?
^(P)There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹ He who pampers his servant from childhood
Will have him as a son in the end.

^22 (Q)An angry man stirs up strife,
And a furious man abounds in transgression.

^23 (R)A man’s pride will bring him low,
But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

²⁴ Whoever is a partner with a thief hates his own life;
^(S)He ^[e]swears to tell the truth, but reveals nothing.

^25 (T)The fear of man brings a snare,
But whoever trusts in the Lord shall be ^[f]safe.

^26 (U)Many seek the ruler’s ^[g]favor,
But justice for man comes from the Lord.

²⁷ An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is upright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.