1A wise judge teaches the laws

to the people,

and a smart ruler

gets things organized.

2The people of a town

and its lower officials

usually follow the example

set by the judges and rulers.

3A stupid king

destroys his nation,

but a city grows

if its leaders can rule well.

4The Lord controls

all authorities on earth,

and he appoints the best rulers

for each situation and time.

5God alone gives the success

that brings honor to those

who write the laws.

Why Are We Humans So Proud?

6When neighbors harm you,

don't be angry or proud.

7The Lord and all people

hate pride and become angry

with injustice.

8A wealthy and arrogant nation

that fails to show justice

will soon be conquered.

9Why are we humans so proud?

We are only dust and ashes,

and we easily lose

our health and strength.

10A long illness mocks the skill

of physicians,

and even a king

can die without warning.

11Then after our death,

our bodies are eaten

by wild animals and maggots

and worms.

12We humans start to be arrogant

when our hearts turn away

from the Lord our Creator.

13Sins are the source of pride,

and if we hold on to it,

our lives will be flooded

with more disgusting sins.

So the Lord destroys the proud

by punishing them with disasters

they never dreamed possible.

14 He removes powerful rulers,

replacing them with

the humble.

15When God decides to give land

to a humble nation,

he pulls up others by the roots

16and plows through their fields

until nothing remains.

17The Lord destroys some of them

so completely, that no one

remembers they ever lived.

18When the Lord created humans,

he did not intend for us

to be proud and angry.

19We deserve honor

only when we fear the Lord,

but we should not be honored

if we break his laws.

20A family should give honor

to its leader,

but God honors all

who fear him.

21He accepts them,

but he rejects those

who are proud and stubborn.

22Fearing the Lord is something

to be proud of--

whether you are poor,

or rich and famous,

a Jew, or a Gentile.

23Don't look down on those

who are wise but poor,

and don't honor sinners.

24Honor always comes to judges

and people in power,

but anyone who fears the Lord

is even more deserving.

25So if you are smart,

you will understand

when you see a master

serving a wise servant.

26Don't spend your time thinking

of ways to avoid work,

and don't pretend to be well off

if you are short of money.

27It's better to work

and have more than enough

than to boast and go hungry.

28Students, be humble

but remember to have

proper self-esteem.

29Who will think you are innocent

if you call yourself guilty?

And who will give you honor

if you refuse

to respect yourself?

30The poor receive honor

if they are educated,

while the wealthy are praised

because they have money.

31So when the poor become rich

they will be praised more,

but the disgrace of the wealthy

will become much worse

if they lose their money.