The sacrifice of the wicked is hateful and exceedingly offensive to the Lord,
But the prayer of the upright is His delight!

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].

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

A wise son makes a father glad,
But a foolish man despises his mother.

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 [chosen] path of life leads upward for the wise,
That he may keep away from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) below.

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

The heart of the righteous thinks carefully about how to answer [in a wise and appropriate and timely way],
But the [babbling] mouth of the wicked pours out malevolent things.

The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke (reprimand, censure)
Will remain among the wise.

The plans and reflections of the heart belong to man,
But the [wise] answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

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].

The Lord has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked [according to their role] for the day of evil.

Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord;
Be assured he will not go unpunished.

By mercy and lovingkindness and truth [not superficial ritual] wickedness is cleansed from the heart,
And by the fear of the Lord one avoids evil.

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

It is repulsive [to God and man] for kings to behave wickedly,
For a throne is established on righteousness (right standing with God).

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud (haughty, arrogant).

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.

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth [in wisdom]
And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweet and delightful to the soul and healing to the body.

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 [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.

He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier],
And he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city.

An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.

Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.

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

Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?

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 wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocket
To pervert the ways of justice.

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

It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

He who [willfully] separates himself [from God and man] seeks his own desire,
He quarrels against all sound wisdom.

When the wicked man comes [to the depth of evil], contempt [of all that is pure and good] also comes,
And with inner baseness (dishonor) comes outer shame (scorn).

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters [copious and difficult to fathom];
The fountain of [mature, godly] wisdom is like a bubbling stream [sparkling, fresh, pure, and life-giving].

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

A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.

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.

To cast lots puts an end to quarrels
And decides between powerful contenders.

A brother offended is harder to win over than a fortified city,
And contentions [separating families] are like the bars of a castle.

Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries with his feet [acting impulsively and proceeding without caution or analyzing the consequences] sins (misses the mark).

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.

Luxury is not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a slave to rule over princes.

Good sense and discretion make a man slow to anger,
And it is his honor and glory to overlook a transgression or an offense [without seeking revenge and harboring resentment].

The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass.

He who keeps and obeys the commandment [of the Lord] keeps (guards) his own life,
But he who is careless of his ways and conduct will die.

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.

Discipline and teach your son while there is hope,
And do not [indulge your anger or resentment by imposing inappropriate punishment nor] desire his destruction.

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.

Listen to counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction,
That you may be wise in the time to come.

The fear of the Lord leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.

The lazy man buries his hand in the [food] dish,
But will not even bring it to his mouth again.

He who assaults his father and chases away his mother
Is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

Cease listening, my son, to instruction and discipline
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

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

It is an honor for a man to keep away from strife [by handling situations with thoughtful foresight],
But any fool will [start a] quarrel [without regard for the consequences].

Differing weights [one for buying and another for selling] and differing measures,
Both of them are detestable and offensive to the Lord.

Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel [just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair].

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

Do not say, “I will repay evil”;
Wait [expectantly] for the Lord, and He will rescue and save you.

Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the Lord,
And fraudulent scales are not good.

It is a trap for a man to [speak a vow of consecration and] say rashly, “It is holy!”
And [not until] afterward consider [whether he can fulfill it].

A wise king sifts out the wicked [from among the good]
And drives the [threshing] wheel over them [to separate the chaff from the grain].

Blows that wound cleanse away evil,
And strokes reach to the innermost parts.

To do righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice [for wrongs repeatedly committed].

Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The lamp of the wicked [their self-centered pride], is sin [in the eyes of God].

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.

Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of death.

The violence of the wicked will [return to them and] drag them away [like fish caught in a net],
Because they refuse to act with justice.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.

The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—
How the wicked are cast down to ruin.

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God),
But to the evildoers it is disaster.

It is better to dwell in a desert land
Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.

He who earnestly seeks righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor.

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

He craves all the day long [and does no work],
But the righteous [willingly] gives and does not withhold [what he has].

The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive [to the Lord].
How much more [unacceptable and insulting can it be] when he brings it with evil intention?

The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance and victory belong to the Lord.

A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches;
And favor is better than silver and gold.

The rich rules over the poor,
And the borrower is servant to the lender.

He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.

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.

He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself
Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.

Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your mind to my knowledge;

For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles];
Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].

So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the Lord,
I have taught these things to you today, even to you.

Have I not written to you excellent things
In counsels and knowledge,

To let you know the certainty of the words of truth,
That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?

Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts;
Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man,

If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults],
Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?

Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work?
He will stand [in honor] before kings;
He will not stand before obscure men.

When you sit down to dine with a ruler,
Consider carefully what is [set] before you;

For you will put a knife to your throat
If you are a man of great appetite.

Do not weary yourself [with the overwhelming desire] to gain wealth;
Cease from your own understanding of it.

For as he thinks in his heart, so is he [in behavior—one who manipulates].
He says to you, “Eat and drink,”
Yet his heart is not with you [but it is begrudging the cost].