¹ A man may make plans in his heart,
    but the Lord provides the words that his tongue utters.^[a]
2 A man’s ways may seem honorable to him,
    but the Lord weighs his motives.
³ Entrust everything that you do to the Lord,
    and your plans will turn out to be successful.
⁴ The Lord has made everything for his own purposes,
    even the wicked for the day of disaster.^[b]
5 The Lord abhors the proud man;
    be assured that such a man will not go unpunished.
⁶ Iniquity is expiated by kindness and faithfulness,
    and by fear of the Lord^[c] man turns away from evil.
⁷ When the Lord is pleased with someone’s conduct.
    he makes even that man’s enemies friends with him.^[d]
8 It is better to have little and be righteous
    than to acquire great riches with injustice.
⁹ A man may plan his own course,
    but the Lord makes his steps secure.^[e]

¹⁰ The lips of a king utter inspired oracles;
    he does not err when he pronounces judgment.
¹¹ Accurate scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag^[g] are his concern.
¹² Kings regard wrongdoing as abhorrent,
    for their throne’s foundation depends upon righteousness.
¹³ Honest speech is the delight of a king,
    and he loves a man who speaks truthfully.
¹⁴ A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death,
    but one who is wise will appease it.
¹⁵ When a king’s face brightens it spells life,
    and his favor is like a rain shower^[h] in spring.

¹⁶ It is better to acquire wisdom rather than gold,
    and more desirable to acquire understanding rather than silver.
¹⁷ The path of the upright avoids evil;
    he who treads carefully preserves his life.
¹⁸ Pride goes before disaster,
    and a haughty spirit goes before a fall.
¹⁹ It is better to live humbly among the lowly
    than to share plunder with the proud.
²⁰ The one who pays heed to instruction prospers,
    and blessed^[j] is he who trusts in the Lord.
²¹ A wise man is esteemed for being pleasant,
    and his friendly words increase his influence.
²² Wisdom is a fountain of life to one who possesses it,
    but folly is the punishment of fools.
²³ A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
    and his lips increase learning.
²⁴ Pleasing words are like a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and affording health to the body.^[k]
25 Sometimes a path may seem to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.
²⁶ The laborer’s appetite works on his behalf,
    as hunger spurs him on.^[l]
27 A scoundrel^[m] concocts evil,
    and his lips are like a scorching fire.
²⁸ A perverse man sows strife,
    and a tale-bearer destroys close friendships.
²⁹ One who indulges in violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him into evil ways.
³⁰ One who winks his eye is plotting perverse deeds;
    one who purses his lips is bent on mischief.
³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory;
    it is gained by a righteous life.
³² It is better to be a patient man rather than a warrior,
    one who controls his temper rather than one who captures a city.
³³ The lot^[n] is cast into the lap,
    but the decision comes from the Lord.