A man who hardens his neck after amuch reproof
Will bsuddenly be broken beyond healing.
2 When the arighteous increase, the people are glad,
But when a wicked man rules, people groan.
3 A man who aloves wisdom makes his father glad,
But he who bbefriends harlots destroys his wealth.
4 By justice the aking causes the land to stand,
But a man of bribes tears it down.
5 A man who aflatters his neighbor
Is spreading a net for his steps.
6 By transgression an evil man is aensnared,
But the righteous bsings with joy and is glad.
7 The arighteous knows the cause of the poor,
The wicked does not understand that knowledge.
8 Scoffers aset a city aflame,
But bwise men turn away anger.
9 When a wise man is brought into judgment with a man who is an ignorant fool,
The ignorant fool both rages and laughs, and there is no rest.
10 Men of abloodshed hate the blameless,
But the upright seek the well‑being of his soul.
11 A afool lets out all of his spirit,
But a bwise man holds it back.
12 If a aruler pays attention to a lying word,
All his ministers become wicked.
13 The apoor man and the oppressor meet together in this—
Yahweh gives blight to the eyes of both.
14 If a aking judges the poor with truth,
His bthrone will be established forever.
15 The arod and reproof give wisdom,
But a child left to himself bbrings shame to his mother.
16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases;
But the arighteous will see their fall.
17 aDiscipline your son, and he will give you rest;
And he will bgive delight to your soul.
18 Where there is ano vision, the people bare out of control,
But how cblessed is he who keeps the law.
19 A slave will not be corrected by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no answer.
20 Do you behold a man who is ahasty in his words?
There is bmore hope for a fool than for him.
21 He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will in the end find him to be arrogant.
22 An aangry man stirs up strife,
And a hot‑tempered man abounds in transgression.
23 A man’s alofty pride will bring him low,
But a blowly spirit will take hold of glory.
24 He who divides the spoil with a thief hates his own soul;
He ahears the oath but declares nothing.
25 aTrembling before man brings a snare,
But he who btrusts in Yahweh will be set securely on high.
26 aMany seek the face of a ruler,
But bjustice for man comes from Yahweh.
27 An aunjust man is an abomination to the righteous,
And he who is bupright in the way is an abomination to the wicked.