Beginning

27 Don’t boast about tomorrow,
for you don’t know what a day might bring.^(A)

² Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.^(B)

³ A stone is heavy and sand, a burden,
but aggravation from a fool outweighs them both.

⁴ Fury is cruel, and anger a flood,
but who can withstand jealousy?^(C)

⁵ Better an open reprimand
than concealed love.^(D)

⁶ The wounds of a friend are trustworthy,^(E)
but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.^(F)

⁷ A person who is full tramples on a honeycomb,^(G)
but to a hungry person, any bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ A man wandering from his home
is like a bird wandering from its nest.^(H)

⁹ Oil^(I) and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the sweetness of a friend is better than self-counsel.^[a]

¹⁰ Don’t abandon your friend or your father’s friend,^(J)
and don’t go to your brother’s house
in your time of calamity;
better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.^(K)

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and bring my heart joy,^(L)
so that I can answer anyone who taunts me.^(M)

¹² A sensible person sees danger and takes cover;
the inexperienced keep going and are punished.^(N)

¹³ Take his garment,^[b]
for he has put up security for a stranger;
get collateral if it is for foreigners.^[c](O)

¹⁴ If one blesses his neighbor
with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.

¹⁵ An endless dripping on a rainy day
and a nagging wife are alike.^(P)
16 The one who controls her controls the wind
and grasps oil with his right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.^[d]

¹⁸ Whoever tends a fig tree^(Q) will eat its fruit,^(R)
and whoever looks after his master will be honored.

¹⁹ As water reflects the face,
so the heart reflects the person.

²⁰ Sheol and Abaddon^(S) are never satisfied,^(T)
and people’s eyes are never satisfied.^(U)

²¹ A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,
and a man for the words of his praise.^[e](V)

²² Though you grind a fool
in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,
you will not separate his foolishness from him.^(W)

²³ Know well the condition of your flock,^(X)
and pay attention to your herds,
²⁴ for wealth is not forever;^(Y)
not even a crown lasts for all time.
²⁵ When hay is removed and new growth appears
and the grain from the hills is gathered in,
²⁶ lambs will provide your clothing,
and goats, the price of a field;
²⁷ there will be enough goat’s milk for your food—
food for your household
and nourishment for your female servants.^(Z)

28 The wicked flee when no one is pursuing them,^(AA)
but the righteous are as bold as a lion.^(AB)

² When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers,^(AC)
but with a discerning and knowledgeable person, it endures.

³ A destitute leader^[f] who oppresses the poor
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.^(AD)

⁴ Those who reject the law praise the wicked,^(AE)
but those who keep the law battle against them.^(AF)

⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,^(AG)
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.^(AH)

⁶ Better a poor man who lives with integrity^(AI)
than a rich man who distorts right and wrong.^[g](AJ)

⁷ A discerning son keeps the law,
but a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.^(AK)

⁸ Whoever increases his wealth through excessive interest^(AL)
collects it for one who is kind to the poor.^(AM)

⁹ Anyone who turns his ear away from hearing the law—
even his prayer is detestable.^(AN)

¹⁰ The one who leads the upright into an evil way
will fall into his own pit,^(AO)
but the blameless will inherit what is good.^(AP)

¹¹ A rich man is wise in his own eyes,
but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.

¹² When the righteous triumph,
there is great rejoicing,^[h]
but when the wicked come to power,
people hide themselves.^(AQ)

¹³ The one who conceals his sins
will not prosper,^(AR)
but whoever confesses and renounces them
will find mercy.^(AS)

¹⁴ Happy is the one who is always reverent,^(AT)
but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.^(AU)

¹⁵ A wicked ruler over a helpless people^(AV)
is like a roaring lion or a charging bear.^(AW)

¹⁶ A leader who lacks understanding
is very oppressive,
but one who hates dishonest profit
prolongs his life.^(AX)

¹⁷ A man burdened by bloodguilt^[i]
will be a fugitive until death.^(AY)
Let no one help him.^(AZ)

¹⁸ The one who lives with integrity will be helped,
but one who distorts right and wrong^[j]
will suddenly fall.^(BA)

¹⁹ The one who works his land
will have plenty of food,^(BB)
but whoever chases fantasies
will have his fill of poverty.^(BC)

²⁰ A faithful man will have many blessings,^(BD)
but one in a hurry to get rich^(BE)
will not go unpunished.

²¹ It is not good to show partiality^(BF)—
yet a man may sin for a piece of bread.^(BG)

²² A greedy man^[k] is in a hurry for wealth;
he doesn’t know that poverty will come to him.^(BH)

²³ One who rebukes a person will later find more favor^(BI)
than one who flatters^[l] with his tongue.^(BJ)

²⁴ The one who robs his father or mother^(BK)
and says, “That’s no sin,”^(BL)
is a companion to a man who destroys.^(BM)

²⁵ A greedy person provokes conflict,^(BN)
but whoever trusts in the Lord will prosper.^(BO)

²⁶ The one who trusts in himself^[m] is a fool,
but one who walks in wisdom will be safe.^(BP)

²⁷ The one who gives to the poor
will not be in need,
but one who turns his eyes away^[n]
will receive many curses.^(BQ)

²⁸ When the wicked come to power,
people hide,
but when they are destroyed,
the righteous flourish.^(BR)

29 One who becomes stiff-necked,
after many reprimands
will be shattered instantly—
beyond recovery.^(BS)

² When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, people groan.^(BT)

³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,^(BU)
but one who consorts with prostitutes destroys his wealth.^(BV)

⁴ By justice a king brings stability to a land,^(BW)
but a man who demands “contributions”^[o]
demolishes it.^(BX)

⁵ A man who flatters^[p] his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.^(BY)

⁶ An evil man is caught by sin,^(BZ)
but the righteous one sings and rejoices.^(CA)

⁷ The righteous person knows the rights^[q] of the poor,^(CB)
but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

⁸ Mockers inflame a city,^(CC)
but the wise turn away anger.

⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.^[r](CD)

¹⁰ Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person,^(CE)
but the upright care about him.^[s]

¹¹ A fool gives full vent to his anger,^[t](CF)
but a wise man holds it in check.^(CG)

¹² If a ruler listens to lies,^(CH)
all his officials will be wicked.

¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:^[u]
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.^(CI)

¹⁴ A king who judges the poor with fairness—
his throne will be established forever.^(CJ)

¹⁵ A rod of correction imparts wisdom,^(CK)
but a youth left to himself^[v]
is a disgrace to his mother.^(CL)

¹⁶ When the wicked increase, rebellion increases,
but the righteous will see their downfall.^(CM)

¹⁷ Discipline your son, and it will bring you peace of mind^(CN)
and give you delight.

¹⁸ Without revelation^[w](CO) people run wild,^(CP)
but one who listens to instruction will be happy.^(CQ)

¹⁹ A slave cannot be disciplined by words;
though he understands, he doesn’t respond.^(CR)

²⁰ Do you see a man who speaks too soon?^(CS)
There is more hope for a fool than for him.^(CT)

²¹ A slave pampered from his youth
will become arrogant^[x] later on.

²² An angry man stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered man^[y] increases rebellion.^(CU)

²³ A person’s pride will humble him,^(CV)
but a humble spirit will gain honor.^(CW)

²⁴ To be a thief’s partner is to hate oneself;
he hears the curse but will not testify.^[z](CX)

²⁵ The fear of man is a snare,^(CY)
but the one who trusts in the Lord is protected.^[aa](CZ)

²⁶ Many seek a ruler’s favor,^(DA)
but a man receives justice from the Lord.^(DB)

²⁷ An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright
is detestable to the wicked.^(DC)