1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. He directs it like a stream of water anywhere he pleases.
2 Everything a man does might seem right to him. But the Lord knows what he is thinking.
3 Do what is right and fair. The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices.
4 Proud eyes and a proud heart are the lamp of sinful people. But those things are evil.
5 The plans of people who work hard succeed. You can be sure that those in a hurry will become poor.
6 A fortune made by people who tell lies amounts to nothing and leads to death.
7 The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away. They refuse to do what is right.
8 The path of those who are guilty is crooked. But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.
9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a house with a nagging wife.
10 A sinful person longs to do evil. He doesn't show his neighbor any mercy.
11 When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise. If you teach a person who is already wise, he will get even more knowledge.
12 The Blameless One knows where sinners live. And he destroys them.
13 If you refuse to listen to the cries of poor people, you too will cry out and not be answered.
14 A secret gift calms anger down. A hidden favor softens great anger.
15 When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad. But you terrify those who do what is evil.
16 A man who leaves the path of understanding ends up with those who are dead.
17 Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor. Anyone who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
18 Those who do what is evil pay the price for setting godly people free. Those who aren't faithful pay the price for honest people.
19 It is better to live in a desert than to live with a nagging, angry wife.
20 The best food and olive oil are stored up in the houses of wise people. But a foolish man eats up everything he has.
21 Anyone who wants to be godly and loving finds life, success and honor.
22 Those who are wise can attack a strong city. They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.
23 Anyone who is careful about what he says keeps himself out of trouble.
24 A proud person is called a "mocker." He thinks much too highly of himself.
25 Some people will die while they are still hungry. That's because their hands refuse to work.
26 All day long they hunger for more. But godly people give without holding back.
27 God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people. He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.
28 Witnesses who aren't honest will die. And anyone who listens to them will be destroyed forever.
29 A sinful man tries to look as if he were bold. But an honest person thinks about how he lives.
30 No wisdom, wise saying or plan can succeed against the Lord.