¹³ A sluggard says,^(P) “There’s a lion in the road,
    a fierce lion roaming the streets!”^(Q)
14 As a door turns on its hinges,
    so a sluggard turns on his bed.^(R)
15 A sluggard buries his hand in the dish;
    he is too lazy to bring it back to his mouth.^(S)
16 A sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
    than seven people who answer discreetly.

¹⁷ Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears
    is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own.

¹⁸ Like a maniac shooting
    flaming arrows of death
¹⁹ is one who deceives their neighbor
    and says, “I was only joking!”

²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.^(T)
21 As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.^(U)
22 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.^(V)

²³ Like a coating of silver dross on earthenware
    are fervent^[a] lips with an evil heart.
²⁴ Enemies disguise themselves with their lips,^(W)
    but in their hearts they harbor deceit.^(X)
25 Though their speech is charming,^(Y) do not believe them,
    for seven abominations fill their hearts.^(Z)
26 Their malice may be concealed by deception,
    but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
²⁷ Whoever digs a pit^(AA) will fall into it;^(AB)
    if someone rolls a stone, it will roll back on them.^(AC)
28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts,
    and a flattering mouth^(AD) works ruin.

27 Do not boast^(AE) about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.^(AF)

² Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.^(AG)

³ Stone is heavy and sand^(AH) a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

⁴ Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?^(AI)

⁵ Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
    but an enemy multiplies kisses.^(AJ)

⁷ One who is full loathes honey from the comb,
    but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet.

⁸ Like a bird that flees its nest^(AK)
    is anyone who flees from home.

⁹ Perfume^(AL) and incense bring joy to the heart,
    and the pleasantness of a friend
    springs from their heartfelt advice.

¹⁰ Do not forsake your friend or a friend of your family,
    and do not go to your relative’s house when disaster^(AM) strikes you—
    better a neighbor nearby than a relative far away.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;^(AN)
    then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.^(AO)

¹² The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.^(AP)

¹³ Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;
    hold it in pledge if it is done for an outsider.^(AQ)

¹⁴ If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning,
    it will be taken as a curse.

¹⁵ A quarrelsome wife is like the dripping^(AR)
    of a leaky roof in a rainstorm;
¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind
    or grasping oil with the hand.

¹⁷ As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

¹⁸ The one who guards a fig tree will eat its fruit,^(AS)
    and whoever protects their master will be honored.^(AT)

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
    so one’s life reflects the heart.^[b]

²⁰ Death and Destruction^[c] are never satisfied,^(AU)
    and neither are human eyes.^(AV)

²¹ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^(AW)
    but people are tested by their praise.

²² Though you grind a fool in a mortar,
    grinding them like grain with a pestle,
    you will not remove their folly from them.

²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,^(AX)
    give careful attention to your herds;
²⁴ for riches do not endure forever,^(AY)
    and a crown is not secure for all generations.
²⁵ When the hay is removed and new growth appears
    and the grass from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ the lambs will provide you with clothing,
    and the goats with the price of a field.
²⁷ You will have plenty of goats’ milk to feed your family
    and to nourish your female servants.

28 The wicked flee^(AZ) though no one pursues,^(BA)
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.^(BB)

² When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,
    but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

³ A ruler^[d] who oppresses the poor
    is like a driving rain that leaves no crops.

⁴ Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,
    but those who heed it resist them.

⁵ Evildoers do not understand what is right,
    but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

⁶ Better the poor whose walk is blameless
    than the rich whose ways are perverse.^(BC)

⁷ A discerning son heeds instruction,
    but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.^(BD)

⁸ Whoever increases wealth by taking interest^(BE) or profit from the poor
    amasses it for another,^(BF) who will be kind to the poor.^(BG)

⁹ If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,
    even their prayers are detestable.^(BH)

¹⁰ Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,^(BI)
    but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

¹¹ The rich are wise in their own eyes;
    one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;^(BJ)
    but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.^(BK)

¹³ Whoever conceals their sins^(BL) does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses^(BM) and renounces them finds mercy.^(BN)

¹⁴ Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,
    but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear
    is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

¹⁶ A tyrannical ruler practices extortion,
    but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

¹⁷ Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder
    will seek refuge^(BO) in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

¹⁸ The one whose walk is blameless is kept safe,^(BP)
    but the one whose ways are perverse will fall^(BQ) into the pit.^[e]

¹⁹ Those who work their land will have abundant food,
    but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.^(BR)

²⁰ A faithful person will be richly blessed,
    but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.^(BS)

²¹ To show partiality^(BT) is not good^(BU)—
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.^(BV)

²² The stingy are eager to get rich
    and are unaware that poverty awaits them.^(BW)

²³ Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor
    rather than one who has a flattering tongue.^(BX)

²⁴ Whoever robs their father or mother^(BY)
    and says, “It’s not wrong,”
    is partner to one who destroys.^(BZ)

²⁵ The greedy stir up conflict,^(CA)
    but those who trust in the Lord^(CB) will prosper.

²⁶ Those who trust in themselves are fools,^(CC)
    but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.^(CD)

²⁷ Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,^(CE)
    but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.^(CF)

²⁸ When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;^(CG)
    but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

29 Whoever remains stiff-necked^(CH) after many rebukes
    will suddenly be destroyed^(CI)—without remedy.^(CJ)

² When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;^(CK)
    when the wicked rule,^(CL) the people groan.^(CM)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.^(CU)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.^(DF)

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.^(DG)

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

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

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

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

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

This man’s utterance to Ithiel:

“I am weary, God,
    but I can prevail.^[g]
2 Surely I am only a brute, not a man;
    I do not have human understanding.
³ I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.^(DR)
4 Who has gone up^(DS) to heaven and come down?
    Whose hands^(DT) have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters^(DU) in a cloak?^(DV)
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name,^(DW) and what is the name of his son?
    Surely you know!

⁵ “Every word of God is flawless;^(DX)
    he is a shield^(DY) to those who take refuge in him.
⁶ Do not add^(DZ) to his words,
    or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

⁷ “Two things I ask of you, Lord;
    do not refuse me before I die:
⁸ Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
    give me neither poverty nor riches,
    but give me only my daily bread.^(EA)
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown^(EB) you
    and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’^(EC)
Or I may become poor and steal,
    and so dishonor the name of my God.^(ED)

¹⁰ “Do not slander a servant to their master,
    or they will curse you, and you will pay for it.

¹¹ “There are those who curse their fathers
    and do not bless their mothers;^(EE)
12 those who are pure in their own eyes^(EF)
    and yet are not cleansed of their filth;^(EG)
13 those whose eyes are ever so haughty,^(EH)
    whose glances are so disdainful;
¹⁴ those whose teeth^(EI) are swords
    and whose jaws are set with knives^(EJ)
to devour^(EK) the poor^(EL) from the earth
    and the needy from among mankind.^(EM)

¹⁵ “The leech has two daughters.
    ‘Give! Give!’ they cry.

“There are three things that are never satisfied,^(EN)
    four that never say, ‘Enough!’:
¹⁶ the grave,^(EO) the barren womb,
    land, which is never satisfied with water,
    and fire, which never says, ‘Enough!’

¹⁷ “The eye that mocks^(EP) a father,
    that scorns an aged mother,
will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley,
    will be eaten by the vultures.^(EQ)

¹⁸ “There are three things that are too amazing for me,
    four that I do not understand:
¹⁹ the way of an eagle in the sky,
    the way of a snake on a rock,
the way of a ship on the high seas,
    and the way of a man with a young woman.

²⁰ “This is the way of an adulterous woman:
    She eats and wipes her mouth
    and says, ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’^(ER)

²¹ “Under three things the earth trembles,
    under four it cannot bear up:
²² a servant who becomes king,^(ES)
    a godless fool who gets plenty to eat,
²³ a contemptible woman who gets married,
    and a servant who displaces her mistress.

²⁴ “Four things on earth are small,
    yet they are extremely wise:
²⁵ Ants are creatures of little strength,
    yet they store up their food in the summer;^(ET)
26 hyraxes^(EU) are creatures of little power,
    yet they make their home in the crags;
²⁷ locusts^(EV) have no king,
    yet they advance together in ranks;
²⁸ a lizard can be caught with the hand,
    yet it is found in kings’ palaces.

²⁹ “There are three things that are stately in their stride,
    four that move with stately bearing:
³⁰ a lion, mighty among beasts,
    who retreats before nothing;
³¹ a strutting rooster, a he-goat,
    and a king secure against revolt.^[h]

³² “If you play the fool and exalt yourself,
    or if you plan evil,
    clap your hand over your mouth!^(EW)
33 For as churning cream produces butter,
    and as twisting the nose produces blood,
    so stirring up anger produces strife.”

² Listen, my son! Listen, son of my womb!
    Listen, my son, the answer to my prayers!^(EY)
3 Do not spend your strength^[i] on women,
    your vigor on those who ruin kings.^(EZ)

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel—
    it is not for kings to drink wine,^(FA)
    not for rulers to crave beer,
⁵ lest they drink^(FB) and forget what has been decreed,^(FC)
    and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.
⁶ Let beer be for those who are perishing,
    wine^(FD) for those who are in anguish!
⁷ Let them drink^(FE) and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.

⁸ Speak^(FF) up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
⁹ Speak up and judge fairly;
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.^(FG)