He stores away sound wisdom for the righteous [those who are in right standing with Him];
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity [those of honorable character and moral courage],

In all your ways know and acknowledge and recognize Him,
And He will make your paths straight and smooth [removing obstacles that block your way].

For the devious are repulsive to the Lord;
But His private counsel is with the upright [those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].

Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him;
Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God].

These six things the Lord hates;
Indeed, seven are repulsive to Him:

He will not accept any ransom [offered to buy him off from demanding full punishment];
Nor will he be satisfied though you offer him many gifts (bribes).

And there a woman met him,
Dressed as a prostitute and sly and cunning of heart.

So she caught him and kissed him
And with a brazen and impudent face she said to him:

He has taken a bag of money with him,
And he will come home on the appointed day.”

With her many persuasions she caused him to yield;
With her flattering lips she seduced him.

Until an arrow pierced his liver [with a mortal wound];
Like a bird fluttering straight into the net,
He did not know that it would cost him his life.

“They are all straightforward to him who understands [with an open and willing mind],
And right to those who find knowledge and live by it.

Then I was beside Him, as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight;
Rejoicing before Him always,

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says,

“Whoever is naive or inexperienced, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks understanding (common sense), she says,

On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found,
But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.

What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.

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

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 people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

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

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 satisfied with good from the fruit of his words,
And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him [as a harvest].

Righteousness (being in right standing with God) guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness undermines and overthrows the sinner.

The light of the righteous [within him—grows brighter and] rejoices,
But the lamp of the wicked [is a temporary light and] goes out.

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 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 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].

There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him,
But its end is the way of death.

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 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].

There is severe discipline for him who turns from the way [of righteousness];
And he who hates correction will die.

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.

The way of the lazy is like a hedge of thorns [it pricks, lacerates, and entangles him],
But the way [of life] of the upright is smooth and open like a highway.

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].

Evil plans and thoughts of the wicked are exceedingly vile and offensive to the Lord,
But pure words are pleasant words to Him.

The Lord is far from the wicked [and distances Himself from them],
But He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous [that is, those with spiritual integrity and moral courage].

The light of the eyes rejoices the hearts of others,
And good news puts fat on the bones.

Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].

When a man’s ways please the Lord,
He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

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

There is a way which seems right to a man and appears straight before him,
But its end is the way of death.

The appetite of a worker works for him,
For his hunger urges him on.

A violent and exceedingly covetous man entices his neighbor [to sin],
And leads him in a way that is not good.

The lot is cast into the lap,
But its every decision is from the Lord.

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

A rebellious man seeks only evil;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.

A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

To show respect to the wicked person is not good,
Nor to push aside and deprive the righteous of justice.

He who is careless in his work
Is a brother to him who destroys.

He who answers before he hears [the facts]—
It is folly and shame to him.

The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?

A man’s gift [given in love or courtesy] makes room for him
And brings him before great men.

The first one to plead his case seems right,
Until another comes and cross-examines him.

Many will seek the favor of a generous and noble man,
And everyone is a friend to him who gives gifts.

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.

He who is gracious and lends a hand to the poor lends to the Lord,
And the Lord will repay him for his good deed.

A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control];
For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again.

Many plans are in a man’s mind,
But it is the Lord’s purpose for him that will stand (be carried out).

The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.

The righteous man who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his [godly] beliefs—
How blessed [happy and spiritually secure] are his children after him [who have his example to follow].

[The judge tells the creditor], “Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge [when he guarantees a loan] for foreigners.”

He who goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with a gossip [who talks freely or flatters].

The desire of the lazy kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor;

The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it,
But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable];
He who is cursed by the Lord [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.

Do not eat the bread of a selfish man,
Or desire his delicacies;

Do not withhold discipline from the child;
If you swat him with a reed-like rod [applied with godly wisdom], he will not die.

You shall swat him with the reed-like rod
And rescue his life from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who sires a wise child will have joy in him.

Or the Lord will see your gloating and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from your enemy.

He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous,”
Peoples will curse him, nations will denounce him;

Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me;
I will pay the man back for his deed.”

Like the cold of snow [brought from the mountains] in the time of harvest,
So is a faithful messenger to those who send him;
For he refreshes the life of his masters.

Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda,
Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.

If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat;
And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink;

Do not answer [nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of] a [closed-minded] fool according to his folly,
Otherwise you, even you, will be like him.

Do you see a man [who is unteachable and] wise in his own eyes and full of self-conceit?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

The lazy person buries his hand in the dish [losing opportunity after opportunity];
It wearies him to bring it back to his mouth.

When he speaks graciously and kindly [to conceal his malice], do not trust him,
For seven abominations are in his heart.

Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.

[The judge tells the creditor,] “Take the garment of one who is surety (guarantees a loan) for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman [for it is unlikely the debt will be repaid].”

He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be counted as a curse to him [for it will either be annoying or his purpose will be suspect].

Even though you pound a [hardened, arrogant] fool [who rejects wisdom] in a mortar with a pestle like grain,
Yet his foolishness will not leave him.

He who increases his wealth by interest and usury (excessive interest)
Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

The rich man [who is conceited and relies on his wealth instead of God] is wise in his own eyes,
But the poor man who has understanding [because he relies on God] is able to see through him.

A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.

He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.

A servant will not be corrected by words alone;
For though he understands, he will not respond [nor pay attention].

Do you see a [conceited] man who speaks quickly [offering his opinions or answering without thinking]?
There is more hope for a [thickheaded] fool than for him.

He who pampers his slave from childhood
Will find him to be a son in the end.

A man’s pride and sense of self-importance will bring him down,
But he who has a humble spirit will obtain honor.