1Better to be poor and walk in integrity

than rich and crooked in one’s ways.a

2Desire without knowledge is not good;

and whoever acts hastily, blunders.*

3Their own folly leads people astray;

in their hearts they rage against the Lord.*

4Wealth adds many friends,

but the poor are left friendless.b

5The false witness will not go unpunished,

and whoever utters lies will not escape.* c

6Many curry favor with a noble;

everybody is a friend of a gift giver.

7All the kin of the poor despise them;

how much more do their friends shun them!*

8Those who gain sense truly love themselves;

those who preserve understanding will find success.*

9The false witness will not go unpunished,

and whoever utters lies will perish.

10Luxury is not befitting a fool;

much less should a slave rule over princes.

11It is good sense to be slow to anger,

and an honor to overlook an offense.*

12The king’s wrath is like the roar of a lion,

but his favor, like dew on the grass.* d

13The foolish son is ruin to his father,e

and a quarrelsome wife is water constantly dripping.*

14Home and possessions are an inheritance from parents,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.f

15Laziness brings on deep sleep,

and the sluggard goes hungry.g

16Those who keep commands keep their lives,

but those who despise these ways will die.h

17Whoever cares for the poor lends to the Lord,i

who will pay back the sum in full.

18Discipline your son, for there is hope;

but do not be intent on his death.* j

19A wrathful person bears the penalty;

after one rescue, you will have it to do again.

20Listen to counsel and receive instruction,

that you may eventually become wise.

21Many are the plans of the human heart,

but it is the decision of the Lord that endures.k

22What is desired of a person is fidelity;

rather be poor than a liar.*

23The fear of the Lord leads to life;

one eats and sleeps free from any harm.

24The sluggard buries a hand in the dish;

not even lifting it to the mouth.l

25Beat a scoffer and the naive learn a lesson;

rebuke the intelligent and they gain knowledge.m

26Whoever mistreats a father or drives away a mother,

is a shameless and disgraceful child.* n

27My son, stop attending to correction;

start straying from words of knowledge.*

28An unprincipled witness scoffs at justice,

and the mouth of the wicked pours out iniquity.

29Rods are prepared for scoffers,

and blows for the backs of fools.o