1Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

Than a person who is perverse in [a]speech and is a fool.

2Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,

And one who hurries [b]his footsteps [c]errs.

3The foolishness of a person ruins his way,

And his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth adds many friends,

But a poor person is separated from his friend.

5A false witness will not go unpunished,

And one who declares lies will not escape.

6Many will seek the favor of a [d]generous person,

And every person is a friend to him who gives gifts.

7All the brothers of a poor person hate him;

How much more do his friends abandon him!

He pursues them with words, but they are [e]gone.

8One who gets [f]wisdom loves his own soul;

One who keeps understanding will find good.

9A false witness will not go unpunished,

And one who declares lies will perish.

10Luxury is not fitting for a fool;

Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11A person’s discretion makes him slow to anger,

And it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12A king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,

But his favor is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is destruction to his father,

And the quarrels of a wife are a constant dripping.

14House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,

But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

15Laziness casts one into a deep sleep,

And [g]a lazy [h]person will suffer hunger.

16One who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,

But one who [i]is careless of [j]conduct will die.

17One who is gracious to a poor person lends to the LORD,

And He will repay him for his [k]good deed.

18Discipline your son while there is hope,

And do not desire [l]his death.

19A person of great anger will suffer the penalty,

For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

20Listen to advice and accept discipline,

So that you may be wise [m]the rest of your days.

21Many plans are in a person’s heart,

But the advice of the LORD will stand.

22What is desirable in a person is his [n]kindness,

And it is better to be a poor person than a liar.

23[o]The fear of the LORD leads to life,

So that one may sleep satisfied, [p]untouched by evil.

24The [q]lazy one buries his hand in the dish,

But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

25Strike a scoffer and the naive may become clever,

But rebuke one who has understanding, and he will [r]gain knowledge.

26He who assaults his father and drives his mother away

Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

27Stop listening, my son, to discipline,

And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

28A worthless witness makes a mockery of justice,

And the mouth of the wicked [s]swallows wrongdoing.

29[t]Judgments are prepared for scoffers,

And beatings for the backs of fools.