⁶ Go watch the ants, you lazy person.
    Watch what they do and be wise.
⁷ Ants have no commander.
    They have no leader or ruler.
⁸ But they store up food in the summer.
    They gather their supplies at harvest.

¹² “I am wisdom, and I have the ability to think.
    I also have knowledge and good sense.
¹³ If you respect the Lord, you also will hate evil.
    It is wise to hate pride and bragging,
    evil ways and lies.
¹⁴ I have good sense and advice.
    I have understanding and power.
¹⁵ Kings use me to govern.
    And rulers use me to make fair laws.
¹⁶ Princes use me to lead.
    So do important men and all good judges.

⁵ The goodness of an innocent person makes his life easier.
    But a wicked person will be destroyed by his wickedness.

²³ The wishes of those who do right will come true.
    But the hopes of the wicked will be defeated by God’s anger.

²⁴ Hard workers will become leaders.
    But those who are lazy will be slaves.

² A person will be rewarded for what he says.
    But those who can’t be trusted want only violence.

¹³ Whoever rejects what he is taught will pay for it.
    But whoever does what he is told will be rewarded.

²² Plans fail without good advice.
    But plans succeed when you get advice from many others.

³ Depend on the Lord in whatever you do.
    Then your plans will succeed.