[1] The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams,
and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure. [2] Every way of
a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. [3] To
do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering.
[4] A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin. [5] The
purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one
who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need. [6] He who gets
stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and
searching for death. [7] By their violent acts the evil-doers will be
pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right. [8] Twisted
is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is
clean, his work is upright. [9] It is better to be living in an angle of
the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house. [10] The
desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his
neighbour. [11] When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man
gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge. [12] The Upright
One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to
their destruction. [13] He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor,
will himself get no answer to his cry for help. [14] By a secret offering
wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds
of the robe. [15] It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is
destruction to the workers of evil. [16] The wanderer from the way of
knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades. [17] The lover of
pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth.
[18] The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man,
and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright. [19] It is better to
be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman. [20]
There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted
by the foolish man. [21] He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get
life, righteousness, and honour. [22] A wise man goes up into the town of
the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith.
[23] He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from
troubles. [24] The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted;
he is acting in an outburst of pride. [25] The desire of the hater of work
is death to him, for his hands will do no work. [26] All the day the sinner
goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing
back. [27] The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when
they give it with an evil purpose! [28] A false witness will be cut off,
.. [29] The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he
gives thought to his way. [30] Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions
are of no use against the Lord. [31] The horse is made ready for the day of
war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
