19 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
2 Also, it is not good for the soul to be without knowledge,
and he who hastens with his feet sins.
3 The foolishness of man perverts his way,
and his heart frets against the Lord.
4 Wealth makes many friends,
but the poor is separated from his neighbor.
5 A false witness will not be unpunished,
and he who speaks lies will not escape.
6 Many will entreat the favor of the prince,
and every man is a friend to him who gives gifts.
7 All the brothers of the poor hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words,
yet they abandon him.
8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will find good.
9 A false witness will not be unpunished,
and he who speaks lies will perish.
10 Delight is not seemly for a fool,
much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
11 The discretion of a man defers his anger,
and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.
12 The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion,
but his favor is as dew upon the grass.
13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father,
and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping of water.
14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers,
and a prudent wife is from the Lord.
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul,
but he who is careless in his ways will die.
17 He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord,
and He will repay what he has given.
18 Chasten your son while there is hope,
and let not your soul spare for his crying.
19 A man of great wrath will suffer punishment;
for if you deliver him, yet you must do it again.
20 Hear counsel and receive instruction,
that you may be wise in your latter days.
21 There are many plans in a man’s heart,
nevertheless the counsel of the Lord will stand.
22 The desire of a man is his kindness,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
23 The fear of the Lord tends to life,
and he who has it will abide satisfied; he will not be visited with evil.
24 A slothful man hides his hand in his bowl,
and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware;
and reprove one who has understanding, and he will understand knowledge.
26 He who mistreats his father and chases away his mother
is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction
that causes to err from the words of knowledge.
28 An ungodly witness scorns judgment,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
29 Judgments are prepared for scorners,
and beatings for the back of fools.
