19¹ Better to be poor and honest than to be dishonest and a fool.

² Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.

³ People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord .

⁴ Wealth makes many "friends"; poverty drives them all away.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.

⁶ Many seek favors from a ruler; everyone is the friend of a person who gives gifts! ⁷ The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone.

⁸ To acquire wisdom is to love yourself; people who cherish understanding will prosper.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished, and a liar will be destroyed.

¹⁰ It isn't right for a fool to live in luxury or for a slave to rule over princes!

¹¹ Sensible people control their temper; they earn respect by overlooking wrongs.

¹² The king's anger is like a lion's roar, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³ A foolish child is a calamity to a father; a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping.

¹⁴ Fathers can give their sons an inheritance of houses and wealth, but only the Lord can give an understanding wife.

¹⁵ Lazy people sleep soundly, but idleness leaves them hungry.

¹⁶ Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death.

¹⁷ If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord - and he will repay you!

¹⁸ Discipline your children while there is hope. Otherwise you will ruin their lives.

¹⁹ Hot-tempered people must pay the penalty. If you rescue them once, you will have to do it again.

²⁰ Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.

²¹ You can make many plans, but the Lord 's purpose will prevail.

²² Loyalty makes a person attractive. It is better to be poor than dishonest.

²³ Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.

²⁴ Lazy people take food in their hand but don't even lift it to their mouth.

²⁵ If you punish a mocker, the simpleminded will learn a lesson; if you correct the wise, they will be all the wiser.

²⁶ Children who mistreat their father or chase away their mother are an embarrassment and a public disgrace.

²⁷ If you stop listening to instruction, my child, you will turn your back on knowledge.

²⁸ A corrupt witness makes a mockery of justice; the mouth of the wicked gulps down evil.

²⁹ Punishment is made for mockers, and the backs of fools are made to be beaten.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. ² If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. ³ Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. ⁴ Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. ⁶ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

⁷ Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil. ⁸ Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones. ⁹ Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. ¹⁰ Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine. ¹¹ My child, don't reject the Lord 's discipline, and don't be upset when he corrects you. ¹² For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.

¹³ Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. ¹⁴ For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold. ¹⁵ Wisdom is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. ¹⁶ She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor in her left. ¹⁷ She will guide you down delightful paths; all her ways are satisfying. ¹⁸ Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her; happy are those who hold her tightly. ¹⁹ By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge the deep fountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

²¹ My child, don't lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, ²² for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. ²³ They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. ²⁴ You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. ²⁵ You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, ²⁶ for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it's in your power to help them. ²⁸ If you can help your neighbor now, don't say, "Come back tomorrow, and then I'll help you." ²⁹ Don't plot harm against your neighbor, for those who live nearby trust you. ³⁰ Don't pick a fight without reason, when no one has done you harm. ³¹ Don't envy violent people or copy their ways. ³² Such wicked people are detestable to the Lord, but he offers his friendship to the godly. ³³ The Lord curses the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the upright. ³⁴ The Lord mocks the mockers but is gracious to the humble. ³⁵ The wise inherit honor, but fools are put to shame!