²⁰ Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,^[a](A)
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.^(B)

²¹ The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.^[b](C)

²² Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,^(D)
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

²³ The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,^(E)
    and their lips promote instruction.^[c](F)

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,^(G)
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.^(H)

²⁵ There is a way that appears to be right,^(I)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(J)

²⁶ The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

²⁷ A scoundrel^(K) plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.^(L)

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict,^(M)
    and a gossip separates close friends.^(N)

²⁹ A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.^(O)

³⁰ Whoever winks^(P) with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of splendor;^(Q)
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

³² Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

³³ The lot is cast^(R) into the lap,
    but its every decision^(S) is from the Lord.^(T)

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.^(U)

² A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

³ The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,^(V)
    but the Lord tests the heart.^(W)

⁴ A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

⁵ Whoever mocks the poor^(X) shows contempt for their Maker;^(Y)
    whoever gloats over disaster^(Z) will not go unpunished.^(AA)

⁶ Children’s children^(AB) are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

⁷ Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!^(AC)

⁸ A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.^(AD)

⁹ Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,^(AE)
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.^(AF)

¹⁰ A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

¹¹ Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

¹² Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.^(AG)

¹³ Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil^(AH) for good.^(AI)

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.^(AJ)

¹⁵ Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent^(AK)—
    the Lord detests them both.^(AL)

¹⁶ Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?^(AM)

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.^(AN)

¹⁸ One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.^(AO)

¹⁹ Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

²⁰ One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

²¹ To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.^(AP)

²² A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed^(AQ) spirit dries up the bones.^(AR)

²³ The wicked accept bribes^(AS) in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.^(AT)

²⁴ A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes^(AU) wander to the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.^(AV)

²⁶ If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,^(AW)
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

²⁷ The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,^(AX)
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.^(AY)

²⁸ Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.^(AZ)

18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
    and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.