1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord. 1 He directs it like a stream of water anywhere he pleases.
2 Everything you do might seem right to you. 2 But the Lord knows what you are thinking.
3 Do what is right and fair. 3 The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices.
4 Proud eyes and a proud heart are the lamp of sinful people. 4 But those things are evil.
5 The plans of people who work hard succeed. 5 You can be sure that those in a hurry will become poor.
6 A fortune made by people who tell lies 6 amounts to nothing and leads to death.
7 The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away. 7 They refuse to do what is right.
8 The path of those who are guilty is crooked. 8 But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.
9 It is better to live on a corner of a roof 9 than to share a house with a nagging wife.
10 Sinful people long to do evil. 10 They don't show their neighbors any mercy.
11 When you punish those who make fun of others, childish people get wise. 11 If you teach those who are already wise, they will get even more knowledge.
12 The Blameless One knows where sinners live. 12 And he destroys them.
13 If you refuse to listen to the cries of poor people, 13 you too will cry out and not be answered.
14 A secret gift calms anger down. 14 A hidden favor softens great anger.
15 When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad. 15 But you terrify those who do what is evil.
16 Those who leave the path of understanding 16 end up with those who are dead.
17 Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor. 17 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. 18 Those who aren't faithful pay the price for honest people.
19 It is better to live in a desert 19 than to live with a nagging, angry wife.
20 The best food and olive oil are stored up in the houses of wise people. 20 But those who are foolish eat up everything they have.
21 Those who want to be godly and loving 21 find life, success and honor.
22 Those who are wise can attack a strong city. 22 They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.
23 Those who are careful about what they say 23 keep themselves out of trouble.
24 Proud people are called "mockers." 24 They think much too highly of themselves.
25 Some people will die while they are still hungry. 25 That's because their hands refuse to work.
26 All day long they hunger for more. 26 But godly people give without holding back.
27 God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people. 27 He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.
28 Witnesses who aren't honest will die. 28 And those who listen to them will be destroyed forever.
29 Sinful people try to look as if they were bold. 29 But honest people think about how they live.
30 No wisdom, wise saying or plan 30 can succeed against the Lord.
31 You can prepare a horse for the day of battle. 31 But the power to win comes from the Lord.
