The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey,
But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].

A wise son heeds and accepts [and is the result of] his father’s discipline and instruction,
But a scoffer does not listen to reprimand and does not learn from his errors.

The ransom for a man’s life is his wealth,
But the poor man does not even have to listen to a rebuke or threats [from the envious].

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

A faithful and trustworthy witness will not lie,
But a false witness speaks lies.

Leave the presence of a [shortsighted] fool,
For you will not find knowledge or hear godly wisdom from his lips.

Do they not go astray who devise evil and wander from the way of righteousness?
But kindness and truth will be to those who devise good.

The lips of the wise spread knowledge [sifting it as chaff from the grain];
But the hearts of [shortsighted] fools are not so.

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.

A divine decision [given by God] is on the lips of the king [as His representative];
His mouth should not be unfaithful or unjust in judgment.

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.

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

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

Whoever returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.

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

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.

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).

A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes out lies will not escape.

A false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who breathes lies will perish.

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

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.

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

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a riotous brawler;
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise.

The lazy man does not plow when the winter [planting] season arrives;
So he begs at the [next] harvest and has nothing [to reap].

Even a boy is known and distinguished by his acts,
Whether his conduct is pure and right.

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.

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

An inheritance hastily gained [by greedy, unjust means] at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end.

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].

Whoever shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be answered.

He who loves [only selfish] pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves and is devoted to wine and [olive] oil will not become rich.

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

Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

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

Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless],
Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],

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

Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances],
Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]
Which your fathers have set.

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.

Do not desire his delicacies,
For it is deceptive food [offered to you with questionable motives].

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

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

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].

Do not speak in the ears of a fool,
For he will despise the [godly] wisdom of your words.

Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]
And do not go into the fields of the fatherless [to take what is theirs],

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

Do not let your heart envy sinners [who live godless lives and have no hope of salvation],
But [continue to] live in the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord day by day.

Surely there is a future [and a reward],
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

Do not associate with heavy drinkers of wine,
Or with gluttonous eaters of meat,

Listen to your father, who sired you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.

Buy truth, and do not sell it;
Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Do not look at wine when it is red,
When it sparkles in the glass,
When it goes down smoothly.

“They struck me, but I was not hurt!
They beat me, but I did not feel it!
When will I wake up?
I will seek more wine.”

Do not be envious of evil men,
Nor desire to be with them;

Wisdom is too exalted for a [hardened, arrogant] fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate [where the city’s rulers sit in judgment].

If you [claim ignorance and] say, “See, we did not know this,”
Does He not consider it who weighs and examines the hearts and their motives?
And does He not know it who guards your life and keeps your soul?
And will He not repay [you and] every man according to his works?

Know that [skillful and godly] wisdom is [so very good] for your life and soul;
If you find wisdom, then there will be a future and a reward,
And your hope and expectation will not be cut off.

Do not lie in wait, O wicked man, against the dwelling of the righteous;
Do not destroy his resting place;

Do not rejoice and gloat when your enemy falls,
And do not let your heart be glad [in self-righteousness] when he stumbles,

Do not get upset because of evildoers,
Or be envious of the wicked,

My son, fear the Lord and the king;
And do not associate with those who are given to change [of allegiance, and are revolutionary],

These also are sayings of the wise:
To show partiality in judgment is not good.

Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause,
And do not deceive with your lips [speak neither lies nor half-truths].

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

Do not be boastfully ambitious and claim honor in the presence of the king,
And do not stand in the place of great men;

Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges];
Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and]
When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?

Argue your case with your neighbor himself [before you go to court];
And do not reveal another’s secret,

Like clouds and wind without rain
Is a man who boasts falsely of gifts [he does not give].

It is not good to eat much honey,
Nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory.

Like snow in summer and like rain in harvest,
So honor is not fitting for a [shortsighted] fool.

Like the sparrow in her wandering, like the swallow in her flying,
So the curse without cause does not come and alight [on the undeserving].

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.

As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].

So is the man who deceives his neighbor (acquaintance, friend)
And then says, “Was I not joking?”

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

Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.

Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

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.

For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

Evil men do not understand justice,
But they who long for and seek the Lord understand it fully.

He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy.

A faithful (right-minded) man will abound with blessings,
But he who hurries to be rich will not go unpunished.

To have regard for one person over another and to show favoritism is not good,
Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

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

He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes [from their need] will have many curses.

A man who flatters his neighbor [with smooth words intending to do harm]
Is spreading a net for his own feet.

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

Surely I am more brutish and stupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man [for I do not know what I do not know].

I have not learned [skillful and godly] wisdom,
Nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One [who is the source of wisdom].

Do not add to His words,
Or He will reprove you, and you will be found a liar.

Two things I have asked of You;
Do not deny them to me before I die:

Do not slander or malign a servant before his master [stay out of another’s personal life],
Or he will curse you [for your interference], and you will be found guilty.

There is a generation (class of people) that curses its father
And does not bless its mother.

There is a generation (class of people) that is pure in its own eyes,
Yet is not washed from its filthiness.