² A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
But a man of wicked intentions He will condemn.

³ A man is not established by wickedness,
But the ^(A)root of the righteous cannot be moved.

^4 (B)An^[a] excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
But she who causes shame is ^(C)like rottenness in his bones.

⁵ The thoughts of the righteous are right,
But the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
^6 (D)The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,”
^(E)But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

^7 (F)The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
But the house of the righteous will stand.

⁸ A man will be commended according to his wisdom,
^(G)But he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.

^9 (H)Better is the one who is ^[b]slighted but has a servant,
Than he who honors himself but lacks bread.

^10 (I)A righteous man regards the life of his animal,
But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

^11 (J)He who ^[c]tills his land will be satisfied with ^(K)bread,
But he who follows ^[d]frivolity ^(L)is devoid of ^[e]understanding.

¹² The wicked covet the catch of evil men,
But the root of the righteous yields fruit.
^13 (M)The wicked is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
^(N)But the righteous will come through trouble.
^14 (O)A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth,
^(P)And the recompense of a man’s hands will be rendered to him.

^15 (Q)The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
But he who heeds counsel is wise.
^16 (R)A fool’s wrath is known at once,
But a prudent man covers shame.

^17 (S)He who speaks truth declares righteousness,
But a false witness, deceit.
^18 (T)There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise promotes health.
¹⁹ The truthful lip shall be established forever,
^(U)But a lying tongue is but for a moment.
²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.
^21 (V)No grave ^[f]trouble will overtake the righteous,
But the wicked shall be filled with evil.
^22 (W)Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

^23 (X)A prudent man conceals knowledge,
But the heart of fools proclaims foolishness.

^24 (Y)The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the lazy man will be put to forced labor.

^25 (Z)Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
But ^(AA)a good word makes it glad.

²⁶ The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting,
But diligence is man’s precious possession.

²⁸ In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death.

² The ^(B)rich and the poor have this in common,
The ^(C)Lord is the maker of them all.

³ A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself,
But the simple pass on and are ^(D)punished.

⁴ By humility and the fear of the Lord
Are riches and honor and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards his soul will be far from them.

^6 (E)Train up a child in the way he should go,
^[a]And when he is old he will not depart from it.

⁷ The ^(F)rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

⁸ He who sows iniquity will reap ^(G)sorrow,^[b]
And the rod of his anger will fail.

^9 (H)He who has a ^[c]generous eye will be ^(I)blessed,
For he gives of his bread to the poor.

^10 (J)Cast out the scoffer, and contention will leave;
Yes, strife and reproach will cease.

^11 (K)He who loves purity of heart
And has grace on his lips,
The king will be his friend.

¹² The eyes of the Lord preserve knowledge,
But He overthrows the words of the faithless.

^13 (L)The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside!
I shall be slain in the streets!”

^14 (M)The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit;
^(N)He who is abhorred by the Lord will fall there.

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
^(O)The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

¹⁶ He who oppresses the poor to increase his riches,
And he who gives to the rich, will surely come to poverty.

²² Do not rob the ^(R)poor because he is poor,
Nor oppress the afflicted at the gate;
^23 (S)For the Lord will plead their cause,
And plunder the soul of those who plunder them.

²⁴ Make no friendship with an angry man,
And with a ^(T)furious man do not go,
²⁵ Lest you learn his ways
And set a snare for your soul.

^26 (U)Do not be one of those who ^[e]shakes hands in a pledge,
One of those who is ^[f]surety for debts;
²⁷ If you have nothing with which to pay,
Why should he take away your bed from under you?

^28 (V)Do not remove the ancient ^[g]landmark
Which your fathers have set.

²⁹ Do you see a man who ^[h]excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before ^[i]unknown men.