“How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance?
How long will you mockers enjoy mocking
and you fools hate knowledge?

and you will say, “How I hated discipline,
and how my heart despised correction.

How long will you stay in bed, you slacker?
When will you get up from your sleep?

If the righteous will be repaid on earth,
how much more the wicked and sinful.

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Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord—
how much more, human hearts.

A man takes joy in giving an answer;
and a timely word—how good that is!

Get wisdom—
how much better it is than gold!
And get understanding—
it is preferable to silver.

Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;
how much worse are lies for a ruler.

All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
how much more do his friends
keep their distance from him!
He may pursue them with words,
but they are not there.

Luxury is not appropriate for a fool—
how much less for a slave to rule over princes!

A man’s steps are determined by the Lord,
so how can anyone understand his own way?

The sacrifice of a wicked person is detestable—
how much more so
when he brings it with ulterior motives!

There is a generation—how haughty its eyes
and pretentious its looks.