A wise child makes a glad father,
    but a foolish child is a mother’s grief.^(A)
2 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit,
    but righteousness delivers from death.
³ The Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
    but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.^(B)
4 A slack hand causes poverty,
    but the hand of the diligent makes rich.^(C)
5 A child who gathers in summer is prudent,
    but a child who sleeps in harvest brings shame.^(D)
6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.^(E)
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
    but the name of the wicked will rot.^(F)
8 The wise of heart will heed commandments,
    but one with foolish lips will come to ruin.^(G)
9 Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,
    but whoever follows perverse ways will be found out.^(H)
10 Whoever winks the eye causes trouble,
    but one who rebukes boldly makes peace.^[a](I)
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,
    but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.^(J)
12 Hatred stirs up strife,
    but love covers all offenses.^(K)
13 On the lips of one who has understanding wisdom is found,
    but a rod is for the back of one who lacks sense.^(L)
14 The wise lay up knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.
¹⁵ The wealth of the rich is their fortress;
    the poverty of the poor is their ruin.^(M)
16 The wage of the righteous leads to life,
    the gain of the wicked to sin.
¹⁷ Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life,
    but one who rejects a rebuke goes astray.
¹⁸ Lying lips conceal hatred,
    and whoever utters slander is a fool.
¹⁹ When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
    but the prudent are restrained in speech.^(N)
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
    the mind of the wicked is of little worth.^(O)
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
    but fools die for lack of sense.
²² The blessing of the Lord makes rich,
    and toil adds nothing to it.^(P)
23 Doing wrong is like sport to a fool,
    but wise conduct is pleasure to a person of understanding.^(Q)
24 What the wicked dread will come upon them,
    but the desire of the righteous will be granted.^(R)
25 When the tempest passes, the wicked are no more,
    but the righteous are established forever.^(S)
26 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
    so are the lazy to their employers.^(T)
27 The fear of the Lord prolongs life,
    but the years of the wicked will be short.^(U)
28 The hope of the righteous ends in gladness,
    but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.
²⁹ The way of the Lord is a stronghold for the upright
    but destruction for evildoers.^(V)
30 The righteous will never totter,
    but the wicked will not remain on the earth.^(W)
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
    but the perverse tongue will be cut off.^(X)
32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable,
    but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.

² It is the glory of God to conceal things,
    but the glory of kings is to search things out.^(B)
3 Like the heavens for height, like the earth for depth,
    so the mind of kings is unsearchable.
⁴ Take away the dross from the silver,
    and the smith has material for a vessel;^(C)
5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
    and his throne will be established in righteousness.^(D)
6 Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence
    or stand in the place of the great,
⁷ for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”
    than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen^(E)
8     do not hastily bring into court,
for^[a] what will you do in the end,
    when your neighbor puts you to shame?^(F)
9 Argue your case with your neighbor directly,
    and do not disclose another’s secret,^(G)
10 or else someone who hears you will bring shame upon you,
    and your ill repute will have no end.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken
    is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.^(H)
12 Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
    is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.^(I)
13 Like the cold of snow in the time of harvest
    are faithful messengers to those who send them;
    they refresh the spirit of their masters.^(J)
14 Like clouds and wind without rain
    is one who boasts of a gift never given.^(K)
15 With patience a ruler may be persuaded,
    and a soft tongue can break bones.^(L)
16 If you have found honey, eat only enough for you,
    lest, having too much, you vomit it up.^(M)
17 Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house,
    lest the neighbor become weary of you and hate you.
¹⁸ Like a war club, a sword, or a sharp arrow
    is one who bears false witness against a neighbor.^(N)
19 Like a bad tooth or a lame foot
    is trust in a faithless person in time of trouble.
²⁰ Like vinegar on a wound^[b]
    is one who sings songs to a heavy heart.
Like a moth in clothing or a worm in wood,
    sorrow gnaws at the human heart.^[c]
21 If your enemies are hungry, give them bread to eat,
    and if they are thirsty, give them water to drink,^(O)
22 for you will heap coals of fire on their heads,
    and the Lord will reward you.^(P)
23 The north wind produces rain,
    and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.^(Q)
24 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop
    than in a house shared with a contentious wife.^(R)
25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul,
    so is good news from a far country.^(S)
26 Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
    are the righteous who give way before the wicked.^(T)
27 It is not good to eat much honey
    or to seek honor on top of honor.^(U)
28 Like a city breached, without walls,
    is one who lacks self-control.^(V)