The Priorities of Life Contrasted

1A poor man who walks blamelessly is better

than a fool who speaks perversely.

2Furthermore, it isn’t good to be ignorant,a

and whoever rushes into thingsb misses the mark.

3A man’s foolishness ruins his life,c

yet his heart rages against the LORD.

4Wealth brings many friends,

but a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5A witness to lies will not go unpunished;

the teller of falsehoods will not escape.

6Many curry favor of an official;

everyone is a friend of the gift giver.

7All the relatives of a poor person shun him—

how much more do his friends avoid him!

Though he runs after them pleading,

they aren’t around.

8Whoever obtains wisdom loves himself,

and whoever treasures understanding will prosper.

9A witness to lies will not go unpunished;

the teller of falsehoods will perish.

10It’s not fitting for a fool to live in luxury;

neither is it for a servant to rule over princes.

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

and it is to his credit that he ignores an offence.

12The king’s anger is like the roaring of a lion,

but his goodwill is like dew on the grass.

13A father’s ruin is a foolish son,

and a wife’s quarreling is liked dripping water that never stops.

14A house and self-sufficiency are a father’s inheritance,

but from the LORD comes an insightful wife.

15Laziness puts one to sleep,

and an idle person will go hungry.

16Whoever obeys a commandment keeps himself safe,e

but someone who is contemptuous in conductf will die.

17Whoever is kind to the poor is lending to the LORD—

the benefit of his gift will return to him in abundance.

18Discipline your son while there is still hope—

but don’t set your heart on his destruction.

19The person who has great anger must pay the consequences,

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

20Listen to advice and accept discipline,

and you’ll be wise for the rest of your life.g

21Many plans occupy the mindh of a man,

but the LORD’s purposes will prevail.i

22Human beings long for grace,

and it’s better to be poor than a man of deceit.

23The fear of the LORD leadsj to life;

whoever is satisfied with it will rest,

untouched by evil.

24The lazy person buries his hand in his dish

and doesn’t bother to bring it back to his mouth.

25If you scourge a scoffer,

the simple person may learn to be discreet;

rebuke a discerning man

and he will gain understanding.

26Whoever mistreats his father

and alienates his mother

is a son who brings both shame and disrespect.

27My son, if you stop listening to instruction,

you will stray from the principles of knowledge.

28A corrupt witnessk mocks justice,

and the wicked person feeds on iniquity.

29Condemnation is appropriate for mockers,

just as beatings are for the backs of fools.