On Life and Conduct

1
Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in speech and is a fool. 2
Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries his footsteps errs. 3
The foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart rages against the LORD. 4
Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend. 5
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will not escape. 6
Many will seek the favor of a generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who gives gifts. 7
All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his friends abandon him!
He pursues {them with} words, {but} they are gone. 8
He who gets wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will find good. 9
A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who tells lies will perish. 10
Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes. 11
A man’s discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory to overlook a transgression. 12
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like dew on the grass. 13
A foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping. 14
House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15
Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle man will suffer hunger. 16
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
{But} he who is careless of conduct will die. 17
One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his good deed. 18
Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire his death. 19
{A man of} great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue {him,} you will only have to do it again. 20
Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise the rest of your days. 21
Many plans are in a man’s heart,
But the counsel of the LORD will stand. 22
What is desirable in a man is his kindness,
And {it is} better to be a poor man than a liar. 23
The fear of the LORD {leads} to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. 24
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish,
{But} will not even bring it back to his mouth. 25
Strike a scoffer and the naive may become shrewd,
But reprove one who has understanding and he will gain knowledge. 26
He who assaults {his} father {and} drives {his} mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son. 27
Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
{And you will} stray from the words of knowledge. 28
A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked spreads iniquity. 29
Judgments are prepared for scoffers,
And blows for the back of fools.