[1] Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth
whose ways are twisted. [2] Further, without knowledge desire is not good;
and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way. [3] By his
foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is
bitter against the Lord. [4] Wealth makes a great number of friends; but
the poor man is parted from his friend. [5] A false witness will not go
without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free. [6]
Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every
man is the special friend of him who has something to give. [7] All the
brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go
far from him! ... [8] He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who
keeps good sense will get what is truly good. [9] A false witness will not
go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off. [10]
Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be
put over rulers. [11] A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the
overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory. [12] The king's wrath is like the
loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass. [13] A
foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a
wife are like drops of rain falling without end. [14] House and wealth are
a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord. [15]
Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go
without food. [16] He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be
the fate of him who takes no note of the word. [17] He who has pity on the
poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward. [18] Give
your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his
death. [19] A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if
you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again. [20] Let your ear
be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be
wise. [21] A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the
Lord is unchanging. [22] The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man
is better than one who is false. [23] The fear of the Lord gives life: and
he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way. [24]
The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take
it to his mouth again. [25] When blows overtake the man of pride, the
simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be
made clear to him. [26] He who is violent to his father, driving away his
mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name. [27] A son who no longer
gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.
[28] A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and
the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream. [29] Rods are being
made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
