The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
he aturns it wherever he will.
2 aEvery way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lord bweighs the heart.
3 aTo do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 aHaughty eyes and a proud heart,
bthe lamp of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans of athe diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is bhasty comes conly to poverty.
6 aThe getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is a bfleeting cvapor and a dsnare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked will asweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guilty ais crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It is abetter to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 When aa scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous One aobserves the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 aWhoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 aA gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
abut terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
awill rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 aThe wicked is a bransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19 It is abetter to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 aPrecious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling,
but a foolish man bdevours it.
21 Whoever apursues righteousness and kindness
will find blife, righteousness, and honor.
22 aA wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 aWhoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
bkeeps himself out of ctrouble.
24 a“Scoffer” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire of athe sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteous agives and does not hold back.
27 aThe sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much more bwhen he brings it with evil intent.
28 aA false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the upright agives thought to his ways.
30 aNo wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 aThe horse is made ready for the day of battle,
but bthe victory belongs to the Lord.