Chronological
13 A wise son listens to his father's teaching.
But if you tell a proud person that he is wrong, he will not listen.
2 If you say kind words, you will eat good things.
But wicked people only want to be cruel.
3 Someone who thinks before he speaks will keep his life safe.
But someone who talks too much will destroy himself.
4 A lazy person always wants to have more, but he will not get it.
If a person works hard, he will have more than he needs.
5 Honest people hate anything that is false.
But wicked people do things that bring them shame.
6 When honest people do what is right, it keeps them safe.
But when sinners do evil things, it destroys them.
7 Somebody who has nothing may still pretend to be rich.
Somebody else may pretend to be poor, but he is very rich.
8 A rich person may have to use his money to save his life.
But poor people do not have that problem.
9 Righteous people have joy that shines like a bright light.
But wicked people have a light that will quickly go out.
10 A person who boasts only causes trouble.
But if you accept good advice, it shows that you are wise.
11 If you try to get money quickly, you will not stay rich for long.
But if you are patient, you will become rich little by little.
12 When you do not receive the things that you hope for, it makes you sad.
But when you receive what you have always wanted, you are very happy.
13 If you do not accept good teaching, you will destroy yourself.
If you accept good advice, it will help you to do well.
14 The teaching of wise people is like a spring of water that gives life.
It will keep you away from death's dangerous traps.
15 People respect a person who has wise thoughts.
But the way that wicked people live destroys them.
16 Careful people need to understand what they are doing.
But a fool quickly shows how foolish he is.
17 If you send a message with a wicked person, he will cause trouble.
But if you send someone that you can trust, he will bring peace.
18 Anyone who turns away from good teaching will become poor and ashamed.
But if you accept advice when you do something wrong, people will respect you.
19 It is very nice to receive the things that you want.
But foolish people refuse to stop doing evil things.
20 If you have wise people as your friends, you will become wise yourself.
But if you have foolish friends, you will hurt yourself.
21 Trouble chases sinners and it catches them.
But righteous people will receive good things.
22 When a good person dies, he leaves good things for his grandchildren.
But a sinner's riches will belong to righteous people in the end.
23 Even a poor man's field may give him enough food.
But he loses it because wicked people rob him.
24 If you do not punish your child, you show that you hate him.
If you really love your child, you will punish him when he does something wrong.
25 Righteous people have plenty of food to eat.
But wicked people have an empty stomach.
14 Every wise woman makes her home strong.
But a foolish woman destroys her home with her own hands.
2 An honest person respects and obeys the Lord.
But anyone who deceives other people shows that he does not respect the Lord.
3 When fools boast, they bring punishment on themselves.
But the words of wise people keep them safe.
4 When a farmer has no oxen to plough his fields,
he does not have to feed them.
But he needs strong oxen to grow plenty of crops.
5 A faithful person will not tell lies in court.
But someone who says false things, always deceives.
6 If you only pretend that you want wisdom, you will not find it.
But if you are careful, you will easily understand what is right.
7 Stay away from foolish people.
They will stop you from learning anything that is wise.
8 A careful person understands what is right and he does it.
But a foolish person's silly thoughts deceive him.
9 Fools think that they do not need to do anything about their sins.
But God is pleased with people who do what is right.
10 When you are upset, you yourself know how sad you are.
No one else can know what you are feeling, sad or happy.
11 A wicked person's home will come to an end.
But the home of a good person will continue to be strong.
12 You may think that you are on a good, straight road.
But in the end, that road may lead you to death.
13 Somebody may be upset, even when he is laughing.
After his joy has gone, he will still be sad.
14 If someone turns away from what is right,
he will receive the punishment that he deserves.
But good people will receive the good things that they deserve.
15 A silly person will believe anything.
But a careful person will think before he does anything.
16 A wise person is careful to keep away from trouble.
But a fool is careless and he thinks that he is always right.
17 A person who quickly becomes angry does silly things.
And people hate anyone with cruel ideas.
18 Silly people do foolish things, and they receive what they deserve.
But wise people receive honour for their knowledge.
19 Evil people will respect good people.
Wicked people will ask righteous people to be kind to them.
20 Even the neighbours of poor people do not like them.
But rich people have many friends.
21 It is a sin if you do not respect your neighbour.
But if you are kind to helpless people, God will bless you.
22 People who want to do evil things have lost their way.
But those who want to do good things show faithful love.
23 If you work hard, something good will come.
But if you only talk about it, you will become poor.
24 For wise people, their riches are like a crown of honour.
But fools only work to get foolish things.
25 Someone who speaks the truth in court may save a life.
But someone who always tells lies deceives everyone.
26 Someone who respects and obeys the Lord knows that he will be safe.
His family also will be in a safe place.
27 If you respect and obey the Lord,
that is like a spring of water that gives you life.
It will keep you safe from death's traps.
28 A king who rules many people will receive great honour.
But a ruler with only a few people will have nothing in the end.
29 A patient man shows that he understands what is right.
But someone who quickly becomes angry shows that he is foolish.
30 If you have peace in your mind, your body will be healthy.
But if you are jealous, it will eat away your body.
31 If you are cruel to poor people,
you are insulting God who created them.
But if you are kind to helpless people,
it shows that you respect God.
32 When wicked people are in trouble, they cannot stand.
But righteous people still trust God,
even when they are in danger of death.
33 People who understand what is right have true wisdom.
Even fools may sometimes show wisdom.[a]
34 A nation will receive honour when its people do what is right.
But sin will bring shame on its people.
35 A king will be pleased with a wise servant.
But he will be angry with any servant who brings shame.
15 If you answer people in a kind way, it stops them being angry.
But if you say cruel things, it makes people angry.
2 When wise people speak, they show that knowledge is good.
But when fools speak, they only say foolish things.
3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere.
He is watching what evil people do, and good people too.
4 Kind words are like the fruit of a tree that gives life.
But words that are not honest make people sad and weak.
5 A fool hates his father's rules.
But a wise child learns when his father warns him.
6 Righteous people have many valuable things in their homes.
But the riches of wicked people bring trouble to them.
7 When wise people speak, they give knowledge,
but the minds of fools have nothing to give.
8 When wicked people offer sacrifices to the Lord, he hates it.
But he is pleased when good people pray to him.
9 The Lord hates the way that wicked people live.
But he loves people who want to do what is right.
10 If you leave God's way, you will receive strong punishment.
When people warn you, accept it or you will die.
11 The Lord sees clearly into the deep hole of death.
So you can be sure that he knows people's secret thoughts.
12 Proud people do not like it when someone warns them.
They will not ask wise people to give them advice.
13 When someone is happy, their face smiles.
But when someone is sad, their spirit hurts.
14 Wise people want to learn more.
But fools only want to know useless things.
15 Every day is difficult, if you have trouble in your mind.
But if you are happy, every day is like a feast.
16 You may be poor, but you respect and obey the Lord.
That is better than if you are very rich, but you have a lot of trouble.
17 It is better to eat vegetables with people who love each other
than to eat good meat with people who hate each other.
18 Angry people bring quarrels,
but patient people bring peace.
19 A lazy person always has problems,
as if he is walking through thorn bushes.
But an honest person walks on a straight road through life.
20 A wise child makes his father happy.
But a foolish person does not respect his mother.
21 Stupid people are happy when they do foolish things.
But wise people walk on a straight path.
22 Without good advice, your ideas will never happen.
But you will do well if you have many advisors.
23 It makes you happy when you give a good answer to a question.
It is good when you find the right thing to say at the right time.
24 A wise person walks on a path that leads him up to a long life.
He keeps away from the path that would lead him down to death.
25 The Lord destroys the homes of proud men.
But he keeps the land of widows safe.
26 The Lord hates the thoughts of wicked people.
But kind words please him.
27 Anyone who cheats people to become rich
will cause trouble for his family.
But anyone who refuses to accept bribes
will live safely.
28 Righteous people think carefully before they answer someone.
But when wicked people speak, the result is only trouble.
29 The Lord does not answer the prayers of wicked people.
But when righteous people pray, he listens.
30 If someone smiles at you, it makes you happy.
Good news makes you feel strong.
31 If anyone accepts teaching that helps him to live in a good way,
he becomes a friend of wise people.
32 If you refuse to accept it when people warn you,
you are hurting yourself.
But if you agree to listen,
you will learn to do what is right.
33 If you respect and obey the Lord,
that will teach you wisdom.
If you want to receive honour,
first learn to be humble.
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