191 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah.

4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend.

5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape.

6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone.

8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good.

9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish.

10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass.

13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah.

15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger.

16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is careless of his ways shall die.

17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again.

18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction.

19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver [him], thou must do it yet again.

20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

21 There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand.

22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar.

23 The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil.

24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge.

26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge.

28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee. 3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: 4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: 8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. 9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine. 11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: 12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her. 19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh: 26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee. 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm. 31 Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. 32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright. 33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. 34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.