To show partiality^(V) in judging is not good:^(W)
24 Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,”^(X)
    will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.
²⁵ But it will go well with those who convict the guilty,
    and rich blessing will come on them.

²⁶ An honest answer
    is like a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Put your outdoor work in order
    and get your fields ready;
    after that, build your house.

²⁸ Do not testify against your neighbor without cause^(Y)—
    would you use your lips to mislead?
²⁹ Do not say, “I’ll do to them as they have done to me;
    I’ll pay them back for what they did.”^(Z)

³⁰ I went past the field of a sluggard,^(AA)
    past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
³¹ thorns had come up everywhere,
    the ground was covered with weeds,
    and the stone wall was in ruins.
³² I applied my heart to what I observed
    and learned a lesson from what I saw:
³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,
    a little folding of the hands to rest^(AB)—
³⁴ and poverty will come on you like a thief
    and scarcity like an armed man.^(AC)

28 The wicked flee^(A) though no one pursues,^(B)
    but the righteous are as bold as a lion.^(C)

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

³ A ruler^[a] 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.^(D)

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

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

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

¹⁰ Whoever leads the upright along an evil path
    will fall into their own trap,^(J)
    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;^(K)
    but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.^(L)

¹³ Whoever conceals their sins^(M) does not prosper,
    but the one who confesses^(N) and renounces them finds mercy.^(O)

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^(P) in the grave;
    let no one hold them back.

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

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

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

²¹ To show partiality^(U) is not good^(V)—
    yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.^(W)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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