19 It is better to be poor and honest
than to be foolish and tell lies.
2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is not good.
If you act too quickly, you might make a mistake.
3 A person’s own foolishness ruins his life.
But in his mind he blames the Lord for it.
4 Wealthy people are always finding more friends.
But the poor lose their friends.
5 A witness who lies will be punished.
An untruthful person will not be left unpunished.
6 Many people want to please a leader.
And everyone is friends with those who give gifts.
7 A poor person’s relatives avoid him.
Even his friends stay far away!
He runs after them, begging.
But they are gone.
8 The person who gets wisdom is good to himself.
And the one who has understanding will succeed.
9 A witness who lies will be punished.
An untruthful person will die.
10 No foolish person should live in luxury.
No slave should rule over princes!
11 A wise person is patient.
He will be honored if he ignores a wrong done against him.
12 A king’s anger scares people like the roar of a lion.
But his kindness is as pleasant as the dew on the grass.
13 A foolish son will ruin his father.
And a quarreling wife is as bothersome as dripping water.
14 Houses and wealth are inherited from parents.
But a wise wife is a gift from the Lord.
15 Lazy people sleep a lot.
Idle people will go hungry.
16 Whoever obeys the commands protects his life.
Whoever is careless in what he does will die.
17 Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord.
The Lord will reward you for what you have done.
18 Correct your son while there is still hope.
Do not help him destroy himself.
19 A person who is always getting angry will pay for it.
If you help him, you will have to do it again and again.
20 Listen to advice and accept correction.
Then in the end you will be wise.
21 People can make many different plans.
But only the Lord’s plan will happen.
22 People want others to be loyal.
So it is better to be poor than to be a liar.
23 Those who respect the Lord will live
and be content, unbothered by trouble.
24 The lazy person may put his hand in the dish,
but he won’t lift the food to his mouth!
25 Whip a person who makes fun of wisdom, and then foolish people will learn how to think.
Just correct a smart man, and he will gain knowledge.
26 A son who robs his father and sends away his mother
brings shame and disgrace on himself.
27 Don’t stop listening to correction, my child.
If you do, you will not obey what you have already learned.
28 An evil witness makes fun of fairness.
And wicked people love what is evil.
29 People who make fun of wisdom will be punished.
And the backs of foolish people will be beaten.