¹A king's heart is like sources of water in the Lord's hand;

He inclines it to whatever he wishes.

²Every way of man is right in his own eyes,

But it is the Lord who tests hearts.

³To do righteousness and justice

Is preferable with the Lord to sacrifice.

⁴Haughty eyes and arrogance

– The field of work of the wicked –

Are preferable to them than a sin-offering.

⁵The thoughts of a diligent man assuredly lead to plentifulness,

But as for everyone who is hasty,

His actions assuredly lead to lack.

⁶Acquiring treasure by a lying tongue

Is mist blown around

By those who seek death.

⁷The rapacity of the wicked drags them away,

For they refuse to act justly.

⁸The way of man is crooked and outlandish,

But as for the pure man,

His work is upright.

⁹It is better to live in a corner of a roof

Than in a mansion,

But with a contentious wife.

¹⁰A wicked person craves wrongdoing;

His neighbour does not find favour in his eyes.

¹¹By the punishment of the mocker,

The naive man becomes wise,

And by the instruction to the wise man,

He obtains knowledge.

¹²The righteous one is prudent with the house of the wicked;

He overthrows the wicked to their detriment.

¹³He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor

Will in turn call out,

But he will not be answered.

¹⁴A gift given in private appeases anger,

And a present put into the lap assuages strong fury.

¹⁵It is joy to the righteous to act justly,

But a dreadful thing to those who commit iniquity.

¹⁶A man who strays from a prudent way

Comes to rest in the company of the Rephaim.

¹⁷He who loves merrymaking

Will be a man in penury;

He who loves wine and fine food

Will not become rich.

¹⁸The wicked will be a ransom for the righteous,

And the traitor in the place of the upright.

¹⁹It is better to live in a desert land

Than with a contentious and bad-tempered wife.

²⁰There is delightful treasure and oil

In the abode of the wise,

But a foolish man dissipates it.

²¹He who pursues righteousness and kindness

Will find life, righteousness and honour.

²²The wise man can ascend into a city of warriors,

And shatter its great confidence.

²³He who guards his mouth and his tongue

Guards himself from adversities.

²⁴As for the arrogant and haughty man,

His name is Mocker;

He deals in insolent presumption.

²⁵The inclination of the lazy man will kill him,

For his hands refuse to work.

²⁶All day long he craves what his heart desires,

But a just man gives and does not spare.

²⁷The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination

– All the more so

When he brings it in deceit.

²⁸A false witness will perish,

But a man who listens

Will speak steadfast words.

²⁹The wicked man puts on a bold front,

But the upright man prepares his ways.

³⁰There is no wisdom and there is no expertise,

And there is no counsel

Which can prevail against the Lord.

³¹The horse may be prepared for the day of war,

But salvation belongs to the Lord.