Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him to work.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.

To the upright, the way of the LORD is a place of safety, but it's a place of ruin to those who practice evil.

The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

He who despises his neighbor lacks sense,
But a man of understanding keeps silent.

He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets,
But he who is trustworthy and faithful keeps a matter hidden.

He who puts up security and guarantees a debt for an outsider will surely suffer [for his foolishness],
But he who hates (declines) being a guarantor is secure [from its penalties].

A gracious and good woman attains honor,
And ruthless men attain riches [but not respect].

The merciful and generous man benefits his soul [for his behavior returns to bless him],
But the cruel and callous man does himself harm.

The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].

He who is steadfast in righteousness attains life,
But he who pursues evil attains his own death.

The perverse in heart are repulsive and shamefully vile to the Lord,
But those who are blameless and above reproach in their walk are His delight!

A fair woman who is without discretion, is as a gold ring in a swine's snout.

There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched,
And he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown].

Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing is for the head of him who is selling.

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

He who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will fall,
But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.

He who troubles (mismanages) his own house will inherit the wind (nothing),
And the foolish will be a servant to the wise-hearted.

The fruit of the [consistently] righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise captures and wins souls [for God—he gathers them for eternity].

Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.

The good obtains favor from Yahweh, but anyone who schemes, he condemns.

A virtuous and excellent wife [worthy of honor] is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him [with her foolishness] is like rottenness in his bones.

A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment,
But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.

Better is the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.

He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.

The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes,
But a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel.

As for a fool, {on that very day} he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult [is] prudent.

He who speaks truth [when he testifies] tells what is right,
But a false witness utters deceit [in court].

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The one who tells the truth will endure forever, but the one who lies will last only for a moment.

Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the Lord,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.

He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.

The one who guards his mouth [thinking before he speaks] protects his life;
The one who opens his lips wide [and chatters without thinking] comes to ruin.

Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.

There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth is abundant.

Only by insolence is strife set up, and wisdom [is] with those who take advice.

Wealth obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].

Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself,
But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.

Anyone who is clever will act with intelligence, but the fool will display folly.

A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.

Poverty and shame will come to him who refuses instruction and discipline,
But he who accepts and learns from reproof or censure is honored.

He who walks [as a companion] with wise men will be wise,
But the companions of [conceited, dull-witted] fools [are fools themselves and] will experience harm.

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.

Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor,
But [without protection] it is swept away by injustice.

He who withholds the rod [of discipline] hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines and trains him diligently and appropriately [with wisdom and love].

He who walks in uprightness [reverently] fears the Lord [and obeys and worships Him with profound respect],
But he who is devious in his ways despises Him.

A faithful witness does not lie, but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.

A scoffer seeks wisdom and finds none [for his ears are closed to wisdom],
But knowledge is easy for one who understands [because he is willing to learn].

Go from the presence of a foolish man, in whom thou perceivest not the lips of knowledge.

Fools mock sin [but sin mocks the fools],
But among the upright there is good will and the favor and blessing of God.

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly and without self-control,
And a man of wicked schemes is hated.

The evil bow before those who are good,
the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

A poor man is hated even by his neighbor,
but there are many who love the rich.

He who despises his neighbor sins [against God and his fellow man],
But happy [blessed and favored by God] is he who is gracious and merciful to the poor.

Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth are to those devising good,

He who saves lives [is] a witness of truth, but he who utters lies [is] a betrayer.

He who is slow to anger has great understanding [and profits from his self-control],
But he who is quick-tempered exposes and exalts his foolishness [for all to see].

He who oppresses the poor taunts and insults his Maker,
But he who is kind and merciful and gracious to the needy honors Him.

Wisdom rests [silently] in the heart of one who has understanding,
But what is in the heart of [shortsighted] fools is made known.

The king’s favor and good will are toward a servant who acts wisely and discreetly,
But his anger and wrath are toward him who acts shamefully.

The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on those who are evil and those who are good.

A [flippant, arrogant] fool rejects his father’s instruction and correction,
But he who [is willing to learn and] regards and keeps in mind a reprimand acquires good sense.

The way [of life] of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord,
But He loves one who pursues righteousness [personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character].

Chastisement is grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

A scoffer [unlike a wise man] resents one who rebukes him and tries to teach him;
Nor will he go to the wise [for counsel and instruction].

The mind of the intelligent and discerning seeks knowledge and eagerly inquires after it,
But the mouth of the [stubborn] fool feeds on foolishness.

All the days of the afflicted are bad,
But a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of the circumstances].

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.

Foolishness is joy to him who is without heart and lacks [intelligent, common] sense,
But a man of understanding walks uprightly [making his course straight].

The path of life [leads] upward for him who has insight, in order to turn away from Sheol below.

He who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,
But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.

The ear of him who listens [to] admonitions of life, in the midst of the wise it will lodge.

He who neglects and ignores instruction and discipline despises himself,
But he who learns from rebuke acquires understanding [and grows in wisdom].

An abomination of Yahweh [are] all who are arrogant of heart; {rest assured}, he will not go unpunished.

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,
And he who speaks right is loved.

The wrath of a king [is] a messenger of death, but one who is wise will appease it.

The highway of the upright turns away and departs from evil;
He who guards his way protects his life (soul).

He who pays attention to the word [of God] will find good,
And blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) is he who trusts [confidently] in the Lord.

The wise of heart is called perceptive, but he who is pleasant of lips will increase persuasiveness.

Understanding (spiritual insight) is a [refreshing and boundless] wellspring of life to those who have it,
But to give instruction and correction to fools is foolishness.

He who labors works for himself, for his mouth craves it from him.

A person of perversity will spread dissent, and he who whispers separates a close friend.

He who [slyly] winks his eyes does so to plot perverse things;
And he who compresses his lips [as if in a secret signal] brings evil to pass.

Better is the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]
And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.

He who does evil listens to lips of wickedness, [and] the liar gives heed to the tongue of mischief.

Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.

A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.

A rebuke strikes him who understands deeper than one hundred blows to a fool.

It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity.

[For] he who returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous
Are both repulsive to the Lord.

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.

He is a friend that always loveth, and in adversity a man shall know who is his brother.

A person who lacks {sense} {pledges}; he becomes security before his neighbor.