1 On Life and Conduct The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the L;He turns it whichever way He wishes.
2 Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,But the Lweighsandexamines the hearts [of people and their motives].
3 To do righteousness and justiceIs more acceptable to the Lthan sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed].
4 Haughtyandarrogant eyes and a proud heart,The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundanceandadvantage,But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.
6 Acquiring treasures by a lying tongueIs a fleeting vapor, the seekingandpursuit of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a net],Because they refuse to act with justice.
8 The way of the guilty is [exceedingly] crooked,But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9 It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil [like an addictive substance];His neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the naive [observes the lesson and] becomes wise;But when the wiseandteachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12 The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—How the wicked are cast down to ruin.
13 Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poorWill cry out himself and not be answered.
14 A gift in secret subdues anger,And a bribe [hidden] in the pocket, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God),But to the evildoers it is disaster.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom)Will remain in the assembly of the dead.
17 He who loves [only selfish] pleasurewill becomea poor man;He who lovesandis devoted toI.e. items associated with lavish feasting and excessive luxury.wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.
18 The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,And the treacherous in the place of the upright [for they fall into their own traps].
19 It is better to dwell in a desert landThan with a contentious and troublesome woman.
20 There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future],But a short-sightedandfoolish man swallows it upandwastes it.
21 He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyaltyFinds life, righteousness, and honor.
22 A wise man scales the city [walls] of the mightyAnd brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 He who guards his mouth and his tongueGuards himself from troubles.
24 “Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his namesWho acts with overbearingandinsolent pride.
25 The desire of the lazy kills him,For his hands refuse to labor;
26 He craves all the day long [and does no work],But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is detestableandoffensive [to the L].How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?
28 A false witness will perish,But a man who listensto the truthwill speak foreverandgo unchallenged.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,But as for the upright, he considers, directs,andestablishes his way [with the confidence of integrity].
30 There is no [human] wisdom or understandingOr counsel [that can prevail] against the L.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,But deliveranceandvictory belong to the L.