1Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted.

2Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way.

3By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord.

4Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend.

5A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free.

6Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give.

7All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ...

8He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good.

9A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off.

10Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers.

11A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.

12The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass.

13A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end.

14House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord.

15Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food.

16He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word.

17He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward.

18Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death.

19A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again.

20Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise.

21A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging.

22The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false.

23The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way.

24The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again.

25When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him.

26He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name.

27A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge.

28A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream.

29Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.