¹The wicked flee though no-one pursues,

but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

²When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers,

but a ruler with discernment and knowledge maintains order.

³A ruler who oppresses the poor

is like driving rain that leaves no crops.

⁴Those who forsake instruction praise the wicked,

but those who heed it resist them.

⁵Evildoers do not understand what is right,

but those who seek the Lord understand it fully.

⁶Better the poor whose way of life is blameless

than the rich whose ways are perverse.

⁷A discerning son heeds instruction,

but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

⁸Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor

amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.

⁹If anyone turns a deaf ear to my instruction,

even their prayers are detestable.

¹⁰Whoever leads the upright along an evil path

will fall into their own trap,

but the blameless will receive a good inheritance.

¹¹The rich are wise in their own eyes;

one who is poor and discerning sees how deluded they are.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great elation;

but when the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding.

¹³Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,

but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

¹⁴Blessed is the one who always trembles before God,

but whoever hardens their heart falls into trouble.

¹⁵Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over a helpless people.

¹⁶A tyrannical ruler practises extortion,

but one who hates ill-gotten gain will enjoy a long reign.

¹⁷Anyone tormented by the guilt of murder

will seek refuge in the grave;

let no-one hold them back.

¹⁸The one whose way of life is blameless is kept safe,

but the one whose ways are perverse will fall into the pit.

¹⁹Those who work their land will have abundant food,

but those who chase fantasies will have their fill of poverty.

²⁰A faithful person will be richly blessed,

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

²¹To show partiality is not good –

yet a person will do wrong for a piece of bread.

²²The stingy are eager to get rich

and are unaware that poverty awaits them.

²³Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favour

rather than one who has a flattering tongue.

²⁴Whoever robs their father or mother

and says, ‘It’s not wrong,’

is partner to one who destroys.

²⁵The greedy stir up conflict,

but those who trust in the Lord will prosper.

²⁶Those who trust in themselves are fools,

but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

²⁷Those who give to the poor will lack nothing,

but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.

²⁸When the wicked rise to power, people go into hiding;

but when the wicked perish, the righteous thrive.

Saying 7

¹When you sit to dine with a ruler,

note well what is before you,

²and put a knife to your throat

if you are given to gluttony.

³Do not crave his delicacies,

for that food is deceptive.

Saying 8

⁴Do not wear yourself out to get rich;

do not trust your own cleverness.

⁵Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone,

for they will surely sprout wings

and fly off to the sky like an eagle.

Saying 9

⁶Do not eat the food of a stingy host,

do not crave his delicacies;

⁷for he is the kind of person

who is always thinking about the cost.

‘Eat and drink,’ he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

⁸You will vomit up the little you have eaten

and will have wasted your compliments.

Saying 10

⁹Do not speak to fools,

for they will scorn your prudent words.

Saying 11

¹⁰Do not move an ancient boundary stone

or encroach on the fields of the fatherless,

¹¹for their Defender is strong;

he will take up their case against you.

Saying 12

¹²Apply your heart to instruction

and your ears to words of knowledge.

Saying 13

¹³Do not withhold discipline from a child;

if you punish them with the rod, they will not die.

¹⁴Punish them with the rod

and save them from death.

Saying 14

¹⁵My son, if your heart is wise,

then my heart will be glad indeed;

¹⁶my inmost being will rejoice

when your lips speak what is right.

Saying 15

¹⁷Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord.

¹⁸There is surely a future hope for you,

and your hope will not be cut off.

Saying 16

¹⁹Listen, my son, and be wise,

and set your heart on the right path:

²⁰do not join those who drink too much wine

or gorge themselves on meat,

²¹for drunkards and gluttons become poor,

and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Saying 17

²²Listen to your father, who gave you life,

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

²³Buy the truth and do not sell it –

wisdom, instruction and insight as well.

²⁴The father of a righteous child has great joy;

a man who fathers a wise son rejoices in him.

²⁵May your father and mother rejoice;

may she who gave you birth be joyful!

Saying 18

²⁶My son, give me your heart

and let your eyes delight in my ways,

²⁷for an adulterous woman is a deep pit,

and a wayward wife is a narrow well.

²⁸Like a bandit she lies in wait

and multiplies the unfaithful among men.

Saying 19

²⁹Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaints?

Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?

³⁰Those who linger over wine,

who go to sample bowls of mixed wine.

³¹Do not gaze at wine when it is red,

when it sparkles in the cup,

when it goes down smoothly!

³²In the end it bites like a snake

and poisons like a viper.

³³Your eyes will see strange sights,

and your mind will imagine confusing things.

³⁴You will be like one sleeping on the high seas,

lying on top of the rigging.

³⁵‘They hit me,’ you will say, ‘but I’m not hurt!

They beat me, but I don’t feel it!

When will I wake up

so I can find another drink?’