Proverbs Contemporary English Version (CEV)

⁵ If you are already wise,
    you will become even wiser.
And if you are smart,
you will learn to understand
⁶     proverbs and sayings,
as well as words of wisdom
    and all kinds of riddles.
⁷ Respect and obey the Lord!
This is the beginning
    of knowledge.^[a]
    Only a fool rejects wisdom
    and good advice.

¹⁵ Don’t follow anyone like that
    or do what they do.
¹⁶ They are in a big hurry
to commit some crime,
    perhaps even murder.
¹⁷ They are like a bird
that sees the bait,
    but ignores the trap.^[b]
18 They gang up to murder someone,
    but they are the victims.
¹⁹ The wealth you get from crime
    robs you of your life.

²⁶ “So when you are struck
    by some terrible disaster,
²⁷ or when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
    I will laugh and make fun.
²⁸ You will ask for my help,
    but I won’t listen;
    you will search,
    but you won’t find me.
²⁹ No, you would not learn,
    and you refused
    to respect the Lord.
³⁰ You rejected my advice
and paid no attention
    when I warned you.

³¹ “Now you will eat the fruit
    of what you have done,
    until you are stuffed full
    with your own schemes.
³² Sin and self-satisfaction
bring destruction and death
    to stupid fools.
³³ But if you listen to me,
you will be safe and secure
    without fear of disaster.”

⁶ All wisdom comes from the Lord,
    and so do common sense
    and understanding.
⁷ God gives helpful advice^[a]
    to everyone who obeys him
    and protects all of those
    who live as they should.
⁸ God sees that justice is done,
    and he watches over everyone
    who is faithful to him.
⁹ With wisdom you will learn
    what is right
    and honest and fair.

¹⁰ Wisdom will control your mind,
    and you will be pleased
    with knowledge.
¹¹ Sound judgment and good sense
    will watch over you.
¹² Wisdom will protect you
    from evil schemes
and from those liars
¹³     who turned from doing good
    to live in the darkness.
¹⁴ Most of all they enjoy
    being mean and deceitful.
¹⁵ They are dishonest themselves,
    and all they do is crooked.

²⁰ Follow the example
of good people
    and live an honest life.
²¹ If you are honest and innocent,
    you will keep your land;
²² if you do wrong
and can never be trusted,
    you will be rooted out.

⁷ My son, listen to me
    and do everything I say.
⁸ Stay away from a bad woman!
    Don’t even go near the door
    of her house.
⁹ You will lose your self-respect
    and end up in debt
    to some cruel person
    for the rest of your life.
¹⁰ Strangers will get your money
    and everything else
    you have worked for.
¹¹ When it’s all over,
your body will waste away,
    as you groan ¹² and shout,
“I hated advice and correction!
¹³ I paid no attention
    to my teachers,
¹⁴     and now I am disgraced
    in front of everyone.”

¹⁵ You should be faithful
    to your wife,
    just as you take water
    from your own well.^[a]
16 And don’t be like a stream
    from which just any woman
    may take a drink.
¹⁷ Save yourself for your wife
    and don’t have sex
    with other women.
¹⁸ Be happy with the wife
you married
    when you were young.
¹⁹ She is beautiful and graceful,
    just like a deer;
    you should be attracted to her
    and stay deeply in love.

²⁰ Don’t go crazy over a woman
    who is unfaithful
    to her own husband!
²¹ The Lord sees everything,
    and he watches us closely.
²² Sinners are trapped and caught
    by their own evil deeds.
²³ They get lost and die
because of their foolishness
    and lack of self-control.

⁶ You lazy people can learn
    by watching an anthill.
⁷ Ants don’t have leaders,
⁸     but they store up food
    during harvest season.
⁹ How long will you lie there
    doing nothing at all?
    When are you going to get up
    and stop sleeping?
¹⁰ Sleep a little. Doze a little.
    Fold your hands
    and twiddle your thumbs.
¹¹ Suddenly, everything is gone,
    as though it had been taken
    by an armed robber.

¹² Worthless liars go around
¹³ winking
    and giving signals
    to deceive others.
¹⁴ They are always thinking up
something cruel and evil,
    and they stir up trouble.
¹⁵ But they will be struck
by sudden disaster
    and left without a hope.

¹⁶ There are six or seven
kinds of people
    the Lord doesn’t like:
¹⁷ Those who are too proud
    or tell lies or murder,
¹⁸     those who make evil plans
    or are quick to do wrong,
¹⁹ those who tell lies in court
    or stir up trouble
    in a family.

²⁰ Obey the teaching
    of your parents—
²¹     always keep it in mind
    and never forget it.
²² Their teaching will guide you
    when you walk,
protect you when you sleep,
    and talk to you
    when you are awake.

²³ The Law of the Lord is a lamp,
    and its teachings
    shine brightly.
Correction and self-control
    will lead you through life.
²⁴ They will protect you
    from the flattering words
    of someone else’s wife.^[a]
25 Don’t let yourself be attracted
by the charm
    and lovely eyes
    of someone like that.
²⁶ A woman who sells her love
can be bought
    for as little
    as the price of a meal.
But making love
to another man’s wife
    will cost you everything.
²⁷ If you carry burning coals,
    you burn your clothes;
²⁸     if you step on hot coals,
    you burn your feet.
²⁹ And if you go to bed
with another man’s wife,
    you pay the price.

³⁰ We don’t put up with thieves,
    not even^[b] with one who steals
    for something to eat.
³¹ And thieves who get caught
    must pay back
    seven times what was stolen
    and lose everything.
³² But if you go to bed
    with another man’s wife,
    you will destroy yourself
    by your own stupidity.
³³ You will be beaten
    and forever disgraced,
³⁴ because a jealous husband
can be furious and merciless
    when he takes revenge.
³⁵ He won’t let you pay him off,
    no matter what you offer.

⁶ From the window of my house,
    I once happened to see
⁷     some foolish young men.
⁸ It was late in the evening,
    sometime after dark.
⁹ One of these young men
    turned the corner
    and was walking by the house
    of an unfaithful wife.
¹⁰ She was dressed fancy
like a woman of the street
    with only one thing in mind.
¹¹ She was one of those women
who are loud and restless
    and never stay at home,
¹²     who walk street after street,
    waiting to trap a man.

¹³ She grabbed him and kissed him,
    and with no sense of shame,
    she said:
¹⁴ “I had to offer a sacrifice,
    and there is enough meat
    left over for a feast.
¹⁵ So I came looking for you,
    and here you are!
¹⁶ The sheets on my bed
    are bright-colored cloth
    from Egypt.
¹⁷ And I have covered it
with perfume
    made of myrrh,
    aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸ “Let’s go there
    and make love all night.
¹⁹     My husband is traveling,
    and he’s far away.
²⁰ He took a lot of money along,
    and he won’t be back home
    before the middle
    of the month.”

²¹ And so, she tricked him
    with all of her sweet talk
    and her flattery.
²² Right away he followed her
    like an ox on the way
    to be slaughtered,
or like a fool on the way
to be punished^[a]
23     and killed with arrows.
He was no more than a bird
    rushing into a trap,
    without knowing
    it would cost him his life.

²⁴ My son, pay close attention
    to what I have said.
²⁵ Don’t even think about
    that kind of woman
    or let yourself be misled
    by someone like her.
²⁶ Such a woman has caused
the downfall
    and destruction
    of a lot of men.
²⁷ Her house is a one-way street
leading straight down
    to the world of the dead.

⁹ “If you have understanding,
    you will see that my words
    are just what you need.
¹⁰ Let instruction and knowledge
mean more to you
    than silver
    or the finest gold.
¹¹ Wisdom is worth much more
than precious jewels
    or anything else you desire.”

¹⁷ I love everyone who loves me,
    and I will be found by all
    who honestly search.
¹⁸ I can make you rich and famous,
    important and successful.
¹⁹ What you receive from me
    is more valuable
    than even the finest gold
    or the purest silver.
²⁰ I always do what is right,
²¹     and I give great riches
    to everyone who loves me.

²² From the beginning,
    I was with the Lord.^[c]
    I was there before he began
²³     to create the earth.
At the very first,
    the Lord gave life to^[d] me.
²⁴ When I was born,
    there were no oceans
    or springs of water.
²⁵ My birth was before
mountains were formed
    or hills were put in place.
²⁶ It happened long before God
    had made the earth
    or any of its fields
    or even the dust.

²⁷ I was there when the Lord
    put the heavens in place
    and stretched the sky
    over the surface of the sea.
²⁸ I was with him when he placed
    the clouds in the sky
    and created the springs
    that fill the ocean.
²⁹ I was there when he set
boundaries for the sea
    to make it obey him,
    and when he laid foundations
    to support the earth.

³⁰ I was right beside the Lord,
    helping him plan and build.^[e]
I made him happy each day,
    and I was happy at his side.
³¹     I was pleased with his world
    and pleased with its people.

³² Pay attention, my children!
    Follow my advice,
    and you will be happy.
³³ Listen carefully
to my instructions,
    and you will be wise.

³⁴ Come to my home each day
and listen to me.
    You will find happiness.
³⁵ By finding me, you find life,
    and the Lord will be pleased
    with you.
³⁶ But if you don’t find me,
    you hurt only yourself,
    and if you hate me,
    you are in love with death.

³ She has sent her servant women
    to announce her invitation
    from the highest hills:
⁴ “Everyone who is ignorant
    or foolish is invited!
⁵     All of you are welcome
    to my meat and wine.
⁶ If you want to live,
    give up your foolishness
    and let understanding
    guide your steps.”

¹⁰ Respect and obey the Lord!
    This is the beginning
    of wisdom.^[a]
To have understanding,
    you must know the Holy God.
¹¹ I am Wisdom.
    If you follow me,
    you will live a long time.
¹² Good sense is good for you,
    but if you brag,
    you hurt yourself.

³ If you obey the Lord,
    you won’t go hungry;
if you are wicked,
    God won’t let you have
    what you want.
⁴ Laziness leads to poverty;
    hard work makes you rich.
⁵ At harvest season
it’s smart to work hard,
    but stupid to sleep.

⁶ Everyone praises good people,
    but evil hides behind
    the words of the wicked.
⁷ Good people are remembered
    long after they are gone,
    but the wicked
    are soon forgotten.

⁸ If you have good sense,
    you will listen and obey;
    if all you do is talk,
    you will destroy yourself.
⁹ You will be safe,
    if you always do right,
    but you will get caught,
    if you are dishonest.
¹⁰ Deceit causes trouble,
    and foolish talk
    will bring you to ruin.^[b]
11 The words of good people
    are a source of life,
    but evil hides behind
    the words of the wicked.

¹² Hatred stirs up trouble;
    love overlooks the wrongs
    that others do.
¹³ If you have good sense,
    it will show when you speak.
    But if you are stupid,
you will be beaten
    with a stick.
¹⁴ If you have good sense,
    you will learn all you can,
    but foolish talk
    will soon destroy you.

¹⁵ Great wealth can be a fortress,
    but poverty
    is no protection at all.
¹⁶ If you live right,
    the reward is a good life;
    if you are evil,
    all you have is sin.

¹⁷ Accept correction,
    and you will find life;
    reject correction,
    and you will miss the road.
¹⁸ You can hide your hatred
    by telling lies,
    but you are a fool
    to spread lies.
¹⁹ You will say the wrong thing
    if you talk too much—
    so be sensible and watch
    what you say.
²⁰ The words of a good person
    are like pure silver,
    but the thoughts
of an evil person
    are almost worthless.
²¹ Many are helped
    by useful instruction,
    but fools are killed
    by their own stupidity.

²² When the Lord blesses you
with riches,
    you have nothing to regret.^[c]
23 Fools enjoy doing wrong,
    but anyone with good sense
    enjoys acting wisely.
²⁴ What evil people dread most
    will happen to them,
    but good people will get
    what they want most.
²⁵ Those crooks will disappear
    when a storm strikes,
    but God will keep safe
    all who obey him.
²⁶ Having a lazy person on the job
    is like a mouth full of vinegar
    or smoke in your eyes.

²⁷ If you respect the Lord,
    you will live longer;
    if you keep doing wrong,
    your life will be cut short.
²⁸ If you obey the Lord,
    you will be happy,
    but there is no future
    for the wicked.
²⁹ The Lord protects everyone
    who lives right,
    but he destroys anyone
    who does wrong.
³⁰ Good people will stand firm,
    but the wicked
    will lose their land.
³¹ Honest people speak sensibly,
    but deceitful liars
    will be silenced.
³² If you obey the Lord,
    you will always know
    the right thing to say.
But no one will trust you
    if you tell lies.

⁴ When God is angry,
    money won’t help you.
    Obeying God is the only way
    to be saved from death.
⁵ If you are truly good,
    you will do right;
if you are wicked,
    you will be destroyed
    by your own sin.
⁶ Honesty can keep you safe,
    but if you can’t be trusted,
    you trap yourself.
⁷ When the wicked die,
    their hopes die with them.
⁸ Trouble goes right past
the Lord’s people
    and strikes the wicked.

⁹ Dishonest people use gossip
    to destroy their neighbors;
    good people are protected
    by their own good sense.
¹⁰ When honest people prosper
and the wicked disappear,
    the whole city celebrates.
¹¹ When God blesses his people,
    their city prospers,
    but deceitful liars
    can destroy a city.

¹² It’s stupid to say bad things
    about your neighbors.
    If you are sensible,
    you will keep quiet.
¹³ A gossip tells everything,
    but a true friend
    will keep a secret.
¹⁴ A city without wise leaders
    will end up in ruin;
    a city with many wise leaders
    will be kept safe.

¹⁵ It’s a dangerous thing
    to guarantee payment
for someone’s debts.
    Don’t do it!
¹⁶ A gracious woman
    will be respected,
    but a man must work hard
    to get rich.^[a]
17 Kindness is rewarded—
    but if you are cruel,
    you hurt yourself.
¹⁸ Meanness gets you nowhere,
    but goodness is rewarded.
¹⁹ Always do the right thing,
    and you will live;
    keep on doing wrong,
    and you will die.

²⁰ The Lord hates sneaky people,
    but he likes everyone
    who lives right.
²¹ You can be sure of this:
    All crooks will be punished,
    but God’s people won’t.
²² A beautiful woman
    who acts foolishly
    is like a gold ring
    on the snout of a pig.
²³ Good people want what is best,
    but troublemakers
    hope to stir up trouble.^[b]

²⁴ Sometimes you can become rich
by being generous
    or poor by being greedy.
²⁵ Generosity will be rewarded:
    Give a cup of water,
    and you will receive
    a cup of water in return.
²⁶ Charge too much for grain,
    and you will be cursed;
    sell it at a fair price,
    and you will be praised.
²⁷ Try hard to do right,
    and you will win friends;
    go looking for trouble,
    and you will find it.
²⁸ Trust in your wealth,
    and you will be a failure,
    but God’s people will prosper
    like healthy plants.

²⁹ Fools who cause trouble
in the family
    won’t inherit a thing.
    They will end up as slaves
    of someone with good sense.
³⁰ Live right, and you will eat
    from the life-giving tree.
    And if you act wisely,
    others will follow.^[c]
31 If good people are rewarded^[d]
    here on this earth,
    all who are cruel and mean
    will surely be punished.

⁵ Good people have kind thoughts,
    but you should never trust
    the advice of someone evil.
⁶ Bad advice is a deadly trap,
    but good advice
    is like a shield.
⁷ Once the wicked are defeated,
    they are gone forever,
    but no one who obeys God
    will ever be thrown down.
⁸ Good sense is worthy of praise,
    but stupidity is a curse.
⁹ It’s better to be ordinary
    and have only one servant^[a]
    than to think you are somebody
    and starve to death.
¹⁰ Good people are kind
to their animals,
    but a mean person is cruel.

¹¹ Hard working farmers have more
    than enough food;
    daydreamers are nothing more
    than stupid fools.
¹² An evil person tries to hide
    behind evil;^[b]
    good people are like trees
    with deep roots.
¹³ We trap ourselves
    by telling lies,
    but we stay out of trouble
    by living right.
¹⁴ We are rewarded or punished
    for what we say and do.
¹⁵ Fools think they know
    what is best,
    but a sensible person
    listens to advice.

¹⁶ Losing your temper is foolish;
    ignoring an insult is smart.
¹⁷ An honest person
    tells the truth in court,
    but a dishonest person
    tells nothing but lies.
¹⁸ Sharp words cut like a sword,
    but words of wisdom heal.
¹⁹ Truth will last forever;
    lies are soon found out.
²⁰ An evil mind is deceitful,
    but gentle thoughts
    bring happiness.
²¹ Good people never have trouble,
    but troublemakers
    have more than enough.
²² The Lord hates every liar,
    but he is the friend of all
    who can be trusted.
²³ Be sensible and don’t tell
    everything you know—
    only fools spread
    foolishness everywhere.

²⁴ Work hard, and you
    will be a leader;
    be lazy, and you
    will end up a slave.
²⁵ Worry is a heavy burden,
    but a kind word
    always brings cheer.
²⁶ You are better off to do right,
    than to lose your way
    by doing wrong.^[c]
27 Anyone too lazy to cook
    will starve,
    but a hard worker
    is a valuable treasure.^[d]
28 Follow the road to life,
    and you won’t be bothered
    by death.

⁷ Some who have nothing
    may pretend to be rich,
    and some who have everything
    may pretend to be poor.
⁸ The rich may have
    to pay a ransom,
    but the poor don’t have
    that problem.
⁹ The lamp of a good person
    keeps on shining;
    the lamp of an evil person
    soon goes out.
¹⁰ Too much pride causes trouble.
    Be sensible and take advice.

¹¹ Money wrongly gotten
    will disappear bit by bit;
    money earned little by little
    will grow and grow.
¹² Not getting what you want
    can make you feel sick,
    but a wish that comes true
    is a life-giving tree.
¹³ If you reject God’s teaching,
    you will pay the price;
    if you obey his commands,
    you will be rewarded.

¹⁴ Sensible instruction
    is a life-giving fountain
    that helps you escape
    all deadly traps.
¹⁵ Sound judgment is praised,
    but people without good sense
    are on the way to disaster.^[a]
16 If you have good sense,
you will act sensibly,
    but fools act like fools.
¹⁷ Whoever delivers your message
    can make things better
    or worse for you.

¹⁸ All who refuse correction
    will be poor and disgraced;
    all who accept correction
    will be praised.
¹⁹ It’s a good feeling
    to get what you want,
    but only a stupid fool
    hates to turn from evil.
²⁰ Wise friends make you wise,
    but you hurt yourself
    by going around with fools.
²¹ You are in for trouble
    if you sin,
    but you will be rewarded
    if you live right.
²² If you obey God,
    you will have something
    to leave your grandchildren.
If you don’t obey God,
    those who live right
    will get what you leave.

²³ Even when the land of the poor
    produces good crops,
    they get cheated
    out of what they grow.^[b]
24 If you love your children,
    you will correct them;
    if you don’t love them,
    you won’t correct them.
²⁵ If you live right,
    you will have plenty to eat;
    if you don’t live right,
    you will go away empty.

⁶ Make fun of wisdom,
    and you will never find it.
    But if you have understanding,
    knowledge comes easily.
⁷ Stay away from fools,
    or you won’t learn a thing.
⁸ Wise people have enough sense
to find their way,
    but stupid fools get lost.
⁹ Fools don’t care
    if they are wrong,^[a]
    but God is pleased
    when people do right.

¹⁰ No one else can really know
    how sad or happy you are.
¹¹ The tent of a good person
stands longer
    than the house
    of someone evil.
¹² You may think you are
on the right road
    and still end up dead.
¹³ Sorrow may hide
    behind laughter,
    and happiness may end
    in sorrow.
¹⁴ You harvest what you plant,
    whether good or bad.

¹⁵ Don’t be stupid
    and believe all you hear;
    be smart and know
    where you are headed.
¹⁶ Only a stupid fool
    is never cautious—
    so be extra careful
    and stay out of trouble.
¹⁷ Fools have quick tempers,
    and no one likes you
    if you can’t be trusted.
¹⁸ Stupidity leads to foolishness;
    be smart and learn.

¹⁹ The wicked will come crawling
    to those who obey God.
²⁰ You have no friends
    if you are poor,
    but you have lots of friends
    if you are rich.
²¹ It’s wrong to hate others,
    but God blesses everyone
    who is kind to the poor.
²² It’s a mistake
    to make evil plans,
    but you will have loyal friends
    if you want to do right.
²³ Hard work is worthwhile,
    but empty talk
    will make you poor.
²⁴ Wisdom can make you rich,
    but foolishness leads
    to more foolishness.
²⁵ An honest witness
can save your life,
    but liars can’t be trusted.

²⁶ If you respect the Lord,
you and your children
    have
a strong fortress
²⁷ and a life-giving fountain
    that keeps you safe
    from deadly traps.

²⁸ Rulers of powerful nations
    are held in honor;
    rulers of weak nations
    are nothing at all.
²⁹ It’s smart to be patient,
    but it’s stupid
    to lose your temper.
³⁰ It’s healthy to be content,
    but envy can eat you up.
³¹ If you mistreat the poor,
    you insult your Creator;
    if you are kind to them,
    you show him respect.
³² In times of trouble
    the wicked are destroyed,
    but even at death
    the innocent have faith.^[b]

³³ Wisdom is found in the minds
of people with good sense,
    but fools don’t know it.^[c]
34 Doing right brings honor
to a nation,
    but sin brings disgrace.
³⁵ Kings reward servants
    who act wisely,
    but they punish those
    who act foolishly.

⁴ The Lord has a reason
    for everything he does,
    and he lets evil people live
    only to be punished.
⁵ The Lord doesn’t like
    anyone who is conceited—
    you can be sure
    they will be punished.
⁶ If we truly love God,
    our sins will be forgiven;
    if we show him respect,
    we will keep away from sin.
⁷ When we please the Lord,
    even our enemies
    make friends with us.
⁸ It’s better to be honest
    and poor
    than to be dishonest
    and rich.

⁹ We make our own plans,
    but the Lord decides
    where we will go.
¹⁰ Rulers speak with authority
    and are never wrong.
¹¹     The Lord doesn’t like it
    when we cheat in business.
¹² Justice makes rulers powerful.
    They should hate evil
¹³     and like honesty and truth.
¹⁴ An angry ruler
    can put you to death.
So be wise!
    Don’t make one angry.
¹⁵ When a ruler is happy
    and pleased with you,
    it’s like refreshing rain,
    and you will live.

¹⁶ It’s much better to be wise
and sensible
    than to be rich.
¹⁷ God’s people avoid evil ways,
    and they protect themselves
    by watching where they go.
¹⁸ Too much pride
    will destroy you.
¹⁹ You are better off
    to be humble and poor
    than to get rich
    from what you take by force.
²⁰ If you know what you’re doing,^[a]
    you will prosper.
    God blesses everyone
    who trusts him.
²¹ Good judgment proves
    that you are wise,
    and if you speak kindly,
    you can teach others.
²² Good sense is a fountain
    that gives life,
    but fools are punished
    by their foolishness.
²³ You can persuade others
    if you are wise
    and speak sensibly.

²⁴ Kind words are like honey—
    they cheer you up
    and make you feel strong.
²⁵ Sometimes what seems right
    is really a road to death.
²⁶     The hungrier you are,
    the harder you work.
²⁷ Worthless people plan trouble.
    Even their words burn
    like a flaming fire.
²⁸ Gossip is no good!
    It causes hard feelings
    and comes between friends.

²⁹ Don’t trust violent people.
    They will mislead you
    to do the wrong thing.
³⁰ When someone winks
or grins behind your back,
    trouble is on the way.
³¹ Gray hair is a glorious crown
    worn by those
    who have lived right.
³² Controlling your temper
is better than being a hero
    who captures a city.
³³ We make our own decisions,
    but the Lord alone
    determines what happens.

⁶ Foolish talk will get you
    into a lot of trouble.
⁷ Saying foolish things
is like setting a trap
    to destroy yourself.
⁸ There’s nothing so delicious
as the taste of gossip!
    It melts in your mouth.
⁹ Being lazy is no different
    from being a troublemaker.

¹⁰ The Lord is a mighty tower
where his people can run
    for safety—
¹¹     the rich think their money
    is a wall of protection.

¹² Pride leads to destruction;
    humility leads to honor.
¹³ It’s stupid and embarrassing
    to give an answer
    before you listen.
¹⁴ Being cheerful helps
    when we are sick,
    but nothing helps
    when we give up.
¹⁵ Everyone with good sense
    wants to learn.
¹⁶     A gift will get you in
    to see anyone.
¹⁷ You may think you have won
your case in court,
    until your opponent speaks.
¹⁸ Drawing straws is one way
    to settle a difficult case.
¹⁹ Making up with a friend
    you have offended^[b]
    is harder than breaking
    through a city wall.

²⁰ Make your words good—
    you will be glad you did.
²¹ Words can bring death or life!
    Talk too much, and you will eat
    everything you say.
²² A man’s greatest treasure
is his wife—
    she is a gift from the Lord.
²³ The poor must beg for help,
    but the rich can give
    a harsh reply.
²⁴ Some friends don’t help,^[c]
    but a true friend is closer
    than your own family.

⁴ The rich have many friends;
    the poor have none.
⁵     Dishonest witnesses and liars
    won’t escape punishment.
⁶ Everyone tries to be friends
    of those who can help them.
⁷ If you are poor,
your own relatives reject you,
    and your friends are worse.
When you really need them,
    they are not there.^[a]

⁸ Do yourself a favor
by having good sense—
    you will be glad you did.
⁹ Dishonest witnesses and liars
    will be destroyed.
¹⁰ It isn’t right for a fool
    to live in luxury
    or for a slave to rule
    in place of a king.
¹¹ It’s wise to be patient
    and show what you are like
    by forgiving others.
¹² An angry king roars
    like a lion,
    but when a king is pleased,
    it’s like dew on the crops.

¹³ A foolish son brings disgrace
    to his father.
A nagging wife goes on and on
    like the drip, drip, drip
    of the rain.
¹⁴ You may inherit all you own
    from your parents,
    but a sensible wife
    is a gift from the Lord.
¹⁵ If you are lazy
and sleep your time away,
    you will starve.

¹⁶ Obey the Lord’s teachings
and you will live—
    disobey and you will die.
¹⁷ Caring for the poor
is lending to the Lord,
    and you will be well repaid.
¹⁸ Correct your children
    before it’s too late;
    if you don’t punish them,
    you are destroying them.
¹⁹ People with bad tempers
    are always in trouble,
    and they need help
    over and over again.^[b]
20 Pay attention to advice
and accept correction,
    so you can live sensibly.

²¹ We may make a lot of plans,
    but the Lord will do
    what he has decided.
²² What matters most is loyalty.
    It’s better to be poor
    than to be a liar.
²³ Showing respect to the Lord
    brings true life—
    if you do it, you can relax
    without fear of danger.

²⁴ Some people are too lazy
    to lift a hand
    to feed themselves.
²⁵ Stupid fools learn good sense
    by seeing others punished;
    a sensible person learns
    by being corrected.
²⁶ Children who bring disgrace
rob their father
    and chase their mother away.
²⁷ If you stop learning,
    you will forget
    what you already know.
²⁸ A lying witness makes fun
    of the court system,
    and criminals think crime
    is really delicious.
²⁹ Every stupid fool
is just waiting
    to be punished.

⁶ There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
    But can they be trusted?
⁷ Good people live right,
    and God blesses the children
    who follow their example.
⁸ When rulers decide cases,
    they weigh the evidence.
⁹ Can any of us really say,
    “My thoughts are pure,
    and my sins are gone”?

¹⁰ Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
    and dishonest measures.
¹¹ The good or bad
that children do
    shows what they are like.
¹² Hearing and seeing
    are gifts from the Lord.
¹³ If you sleep all the time,
    you will starve;
    if you get up and work,
    you will have enough food.
¹⁴ Everyone likes to brag
    about getting a bargain.
¹⁵     Sensible words are better
    than gold or jewels.

¹⁶ You deserve to lose your coat
    if you loan it to someone
to guarantee payment
    for the debt of a stranger.
¹⁷ The food you get by cheating
may taste delicious,
    but it turns to gravel.
¹⁸ Be sure you have sound advice
before making plans
    or starting a war.
¹⁹ Stay away from gossips—
    they tell everything.
²⁰ Children who curse their parents
    will go to the land of darkness
    long before their time.
²¹ Getting rich quick^[a]
    may turn out to be a curse.
²² Don’t try to get even.
    Trust the Lord,
    and he will help you.

²³ The Lord hates dishonest scales
and dishonest weights.
    So don’t cheat!
²⁴ How can we know
what will happen to us
    when the Lord alone decides?
²⁵ Don’t fall into the trap
    of making promises to God
    before you think!
²⁶ A wise ruler severely punishes
    every criminal.
²⁷ Our inner thoughts are a lamp
from the Lord,
    and they search our hearts.
²⁸ Rulers are protected
    by God’s mercy and loyalty,
    but^[b] they must be merciful
    for their kingdoms to last.
²⁹ Young people take pride
    in their strength,
    but the gray hairs of wisdom
    are even more beautiful.
³⁰ A severe beating can knock all
    of the evil out of you!

⁶ Cheating to get rich
is a foolish dream
    and no less than suicide.^[b]
7 You destroy yourself
by being cruel and violent
    and refusing to live right.
⁸ All crooks are liars,
    but anyone who is innocent
    will do right.
⁹ It’s better to stay outside
    on the roof of your house
    than to live inside
    with a nagging wife.
¹⁰ Evil people want to do wrong,
    even to their friends.
¹¹ An ignorant fool learns
    by seeing others punished;
    a sensible person learns
    by being instructed.

¹² God is always fair!
He knows what the wicked do
    and will punish them.
¹³ If you won’t help the poor,
don’t expect to be heard
    when you cry out for help.
¹⁴ A secret bribe will save you
    from someone’s fierce anger.
¹⁵ When justice is done,
good citizens are glad
    and crooks are terrified.
¹⁶ If you stop using good sense,
    you will find yourself
    in the grave.
¹⁷ Heavy drinkers and others
who live only for pleasure
    will lose all they have.

¹⁸ God’s people will escape,
    but all who are wicked
    will pay the price.
¹⁹ It’s better out in the desert
    than at home with a nagging,
    complaining wife.
²⁰ Be sensible and store up
    precious treasures—
    don’t waste them
    like a fool.
²¹ If you try to be kind and good,
    you will be blessed with life
    and goodness and honor.
²² One wise person can defeat
a city full of soldiers
    and capture their fortress.
²³ Watching what you say
can save you
    a lot of trouble.
²⁴ If you are proud and conceited,
    everyone will say,
    “You’re a snob!”

²⁵ If you want too much
and are too lazy to work,
    it could be fatal.
²⁶ But people who obey God
    are always generous.

²⁷ The Lord despises the offerings
of wicked people
    with evil motives.
²⁸ If you tell lies in court,
    you are done for;
    only a reliable witness
    can do the job.
²⁹ Wicked people bluff their way,
    but God’s people think
    before they take a step.

³⁰ No matter how much you know
or what plans you make,
    you can’t defeat the Lord.
³¹ Even if your army has horses
ready for battle,
    the Lord will always win.

⁴ Respect and serve the Lord!
    Your reward will be wealth,
    a long life, and honor.
⁵ Crooks walk down a road
full of thorny traps.
    Stay away from there!
⁶ Teach your children
    right from wrong,
    and when they are grown
    they will still do right.
⁷ The poor are ruled by the rich,
    and those who borrow
    are slaves of moneylenders.
⁸ Troublemakers get in trouble,
    and their terrible anger
    will get them nowhere.

⁹ The Lord blesses everyone
    who freely gives food
    to the poor.
¹⁰ Arguments and fights
    will come to an end,
    if you chase away those
    who insult others.
¹¹ The king is the friend of all
who are sincere
    and speak with kindness.