³ May the Lord silence all flattering lips^(D)
    and every boastful tongue—^(E)
4 those who say,
    “By our tongues we will prevail;^(F)
    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

⁵ “Because the poor are plundered^(G) and the needy groan,^(H)
    I will now arise,^(I)” says the Lord.
    “I will protect them^(J) from those who malign them.”
⁶ And the words of the Lord are flawless,^(K)
    like silver purified^(L) in a crucible,^(M)
    like gold^[c] refined seven times.

⁷ You, Lord, will keep the needy safe^(N)
    and will protect us forever from the wicked,^(O)
8 who freely strut^(P) about
    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

¹² There is a way that appears to be right,^(A)
    but in the end it leads to death.^(B)

¹³ Even in laughter^(C) the heart may ache,
    and rejoicing may end in grief.

¹⁴ The faithless will be fully repaid for their ways,^(D)
    and the good rewarded for theirs.^(E)

¹⁵ The simple believe anything,
    but the prudent give thought to their steps.^(F)

¹⁶ The wise fear the Lord and shun evil,^(G)
    but a fool^(H) is hotheaded and yet feels secure.

¹⁷ A quick-tempered person^(I) does foolish things,^(J)
    and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.^(K)

¹⁸ The simple inherit folly,
    but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ Evildoers will bow down in the presence of the good,
    and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.^(L)

²⁰ The poor are shunned even by their neighbors,
    but the rich have many friends.^(M)

²¹ It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor,^(N)
    but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.^(O)

²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?^(P)
    But those who plan what is good find^[a] love and faithfulness.

²³ All hard work brings a profit,
    but mere talk leads only to poverty.

²⁴ The wealth of the wise is their crown,
    but the folly of fools yields folly.^(Q)

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,
    but a false witness is deceitful.^(R)

²⁶ Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress,^(S)
    and for their children it will be a refuge.^(T)

²⁷ The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,^(U)
    turning a person from the snares of death.^(V)

²⁸ A large population is a king’s glory,
    but without subjects a prince is ruined.^(W)

²⁹ Whoever is patient has great understanding,^(X)
    but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.^(Y)

³⁰ A heart at peace gives life to the body,
    but envy rots the bones.^(Z)

³¹ Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker,^(AA)
    but whoever is kind to the needy honors God.^(AB)

“‘the stone you builders rejected,
    which has become the cornerstone.’^[a](M)