The Flourishing of the Righteous

1A reprover is better than a stiff-necked man: for when the latter is suddenly set on fire, there shall be no remedy.

2When the righteous are praised, the people will rejoice: but when the ungodly rule, men mourn.

3When a man loves wisdom, his father rejoices: but he that keeps harlots will waste wealth.

4A righteous king establishes a country: but a transgressor destroys it.

5He that prepares a net in the way of his own friend, entangles his own feet in it.

6A great snare is spread for a sinner: but the righteous shall be in joy and gladness.

7A righteous man knows how to judge for the poor: but the ungodly understands not knowledge; and the poor man has not an understanding mind.

8Lawless men burn down a city: but wise men turn away wrath.

9A wise man shall judge nations: but a worthless man being angry laughs and fears not.

10Bloody men hate a holy person, but the upright will seek his soul.

11A fool utters all is mind: but the wise reserves his in part.

12When a king hearkens to unjust language, all his subjects are transgressors.

13When the creditor and debtor meet together, the Lord oversees them both.

14When a king judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be established for a testimony.

15Stripes and reproofs give wisdom: but an erring child disgraces his parents.

16When the ungodly abound, sins abound: but when they fall, the righteous are warned.

17Chasten thy son, and he shall give thee rest; and he shall give honour to thy soul.

18There shall be no interpreter to a sinful nation: but he that observes the law is blessed.

19A stubborn servant will not be reproved by words: for even if he understands, still he will not obey.

20If thou see a man hasty in his words, know that the fool has hope rather than he.

21He that lives wantonly from a child, shall be a servant, and in the end shall grieve over himself.

22A furious man stirs up strife, and a passionate man digs up sin.

23Pride brings a man low, but the Lord upholds the humble-minded with honour.

24He that shares with a thief, hates his own soul: and if any having heard an oath uttered tell not of it,

25they fearing and reverencing men unreasonably have been overthrown, but he that trusts in the Lord shall rejoice. Ungodliness causes a man to stumble: but he that trusts in his master shall be safe.

26Many wait on the favour of rulers; but justice comes to a man from the Lord.

27A righteous man is an abomination to an unrighteous man, and the direct way is an abomination to the sinner.