If they say—“Come with us!
Let’s set an ambush and kill someone.
Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun!

Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol,
still healthy as they go down to the Pit.

Throw in your lot with us,
and we’ll all share our money”—

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;

Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.

Hold on to instruction; don’t let go.
Guard it, for it is your life.

The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.

Don’t let your mouth speak dishonestly,
and don’t let your lips talk deviously.

Let your eyes look forward;
fix your gaze straight ahead.

Let your fountain be blessed,
and take pleasure in the wife of your youth.

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—
let her breasts always satisfy you;
be lost in her love forever.

For a command is a lamp, teaching is a light,
and corrective discipline is the way to life.

Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyelashes.

She is loud and defiant;
her feet do not stay at home.

Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning.
Let’s feast on each other’s love!

Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways;
don’t stray onto her paths.

by me, princes lead,
as do nobles and all righteous judges.

I was there when He established the heavens,
when He laid out the horizon on the surface of the ocean,

when He set a limit for the sea
so that the waters would not violate His command,
when He laid out the foundations of the earth.

The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry,
but He denies the wicked what they crave.

The diligent hand will rule,
but laziness will lead to forced labor.

A righteous man is careful in dealing with his neighbor,
but the ways of the wicked lead them astray.

The light of the righteous shines brightly,
but the lamp of the wicked is put out.

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

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A fool’s lips lead to strife,
and his mouth provokes a beating.

Casting the lot ends quarrels
and separates powerful opponents.

The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit,
but anyone who is reckless certainly becomes poor.

Oppressing the poor to enrich oneself,
and giving to the rich—both lead only to poverty.

Let your father and mother have joy,
and let her who gave birth to you rejoice.

My son, give me your heart,
and let your eyes observe my ways.

Don’t gloat when your enemy falls,
and don’t let your heart rejoice when he stumbles,

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth—
a stranger, and not your own lips.

If one blesses his neighbor
with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.

A man burdened by bloodguilt
will be a fugitive until death.
Let no one help him.

The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
the Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

Let him drink so that he can forget his poverty
and remember his trouble no more.

Give her the reward of her labor,
and let her works praise her at the city gates.