21¹ The king's heart in the hand of Jehovah is [as] brooks of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

² Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but Jehovah weigheth the hearts.

³ To exercise justice and judgment is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

⁴ Lofty eyes, and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, is sin.

⁵ The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty, only to want.

⁶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting breath of them that seek death.

⁷ The devastation of the wicked sweepeth them away, because they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ Very crooked is the way of a guilty man; but as for the pure, his work is upright.

⁹ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a contentious woman, and a house in common.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

¹¹ When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise; and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

¹² One that is righteous wisely considereth the house of the wicked: he overthroweth the wicked to [their] ruin.

¹³ Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also himself shall cry, and shall not be heard.

¹⁴ A gift in secret pacifieth anger; and a present in the bosom, vehement fury.

¹⁵ It is joy to a righteous [man] to do what is right; but it is ruin for the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ The man that wandereth out of the way of wisdom shall abide in the congregation of the dead.

¹⁷ He that loveth mirth shall be a poor man; he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

¹⁸ The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and a treacherous [man] in the stead of the upright.

¹⁹ It is better to dwell in a desert land. than with a contentious and irritable woman.

²⁰ There is costly store and oil in the dwelling of a wise [man]; but a foolish man swalloweth it up.

²¹ He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

²² A wise [man] scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

²³ Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

²⁴ Proud, arrogant, scorner is his name who dealeth in proud wrath.

²⁵ The desire of the sluggard killeth him; for his hands refuse to work: ²⁶ He coveteth greedily all the day long; but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more when they bring it with a wicked purpose!

²⁸ A lying witness shall perish; and a man that heareth shall speak constantly.

²⁹ A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he establisheth his way.

³⁰ There is no wisdom, nor understanding, nor counsel against Jehovah. ³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle; but safety is of Jehovah.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments; ² for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee. ³ Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart: ⁴ and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence; ⁶ in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: ⁸ it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones. ⁹ Honour 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 instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement; ¹² for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. ¹⁴ For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her. ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour. 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 he that retaineth her. ¹⁹ Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge the deeps 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 unto 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, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet. ²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh; ²⁶ for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he 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 neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee. ²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. ³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. ³¹ Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways. ³² For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret 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 He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly. ³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.