1 The Lord controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream.
2 You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the Lord judges your motives.
3 Do what is right and fair; that pleases the Lord more than bringing him sacrifices.
4 Wicked people are controlled by their conceit and arrogance, and this is sinful.
5 Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough.
6 The riches you get by dishonesty soon disappear, but not before they lead you into the jaws of death.
7 The wicked are doomed by their own violence; they refuse to do what is right.
8 Guilty people walk a crooked path; the innocent do what is right.
9 Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.
10 Wicked people are always hungry for evil; they have no mercy on anyone.
11 When someone who is conceited gets his punishment, even an unthinking person learns a lesson. One who is wise will learn from what he is taught.
12 God, the righteous one, knows what goes on in the homes of the wicked, and he will bring the wicked down to ruin.
13 If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard.
14 If someone is angry with you, a gift given secretly will calm him down.
15 When justice is done, good people are happy, but evil people are brought to despair.
16 Death is waiting for anyone who wanders away from good sense.
17 Indulging in luxuries, wine, and rich food will never make you wealthy.
18 The wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people.
19 Better to live out in the desert than with a nagging, complaining wife.
20 Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.
21 Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly.
22 A shrewd general can take a city defended by strong men, and destroy the walls they relied on.
23 If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say.
24 Show me a conceited person and I will show you someone who is arrogant, proud, and inconsiderate.
25 Lazy people who refuse to work are only killing themselves; 26 all they do is think about what they would like to have. The righteous, however, can give, and give generously.
27 The Lord hates it when wicked people offer him sacrifices, especially if they do it from evil motives.
28 The testimony of a liar is not believed, but the word of someone who thinks matters through is accepted.
29 Righteous people are sure of themselves; the wicked have to pretend as best they can.
30 Human wisdom, brilliance, insight—they are of no help if the Lord is against you.
31 You can get horses ready for battle, but it is the Lord who gives victory.
1 The Kings heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the riuers of waters: he turneth it whithersoeuer it pleaseth him. 2 Euery way of a man is right in his owne eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. 3 To doe iustice and iudgement is more acceptable to the Lord then sacrifice. 4 A hautie looke, and a proude heart, which is the light of the wicked, is sinne. 5 The thoughtes of the diligent doe surely bring abundance: but whosoeuer is hastie, commeth surely to pouertie. 6 The gathering of treasures by a deceitfull tongue is vanitie tossed to and from of them that seeke death. 7 The robberie of the wicked shall destroy them: for they haue refused to execute iudgement. 8 The way of some is peruerted and strange: but of the pure man, his worke is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the house top, then with a contentious woman in a wide house. 10 The soule of the wicked wisheth euill: and his neighbour hath no fauour in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the foolish is wise: and when one instructeth the wise, he wil receiue knowledge. 12 The righteous teacheth the house of the wicked: but God ouerthroweth the wicked for their euill. 13 He that stoppeth his eare at the crying of the poore, he shall also cry and not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a gift in the bosome great wrath. 15 It is ioye to the iust to doe iudgement: but destruction shalbe to the workers of iniquitie. 16 A man that wandreth out of the way of wisdome, shall remaine in the congregation of the dead. 17 Hee that loueth pastime, shalbe a poore man: and he that loueth wine and oyle, shall not be riche. 18 The wicked shalbe a ransome for the iust, and the transgressour for the righteous. 19 It is better to dwell in the wildernesse, then with a contentious and angry woman. 20 In the house of the wise is a pleasant treasure and oyle: but a foolish man deuoureth it. 21 He that followeth after righteousnes and mercy, shall finde life, righteousnes, and glory. 22 A wise man goeth vp into the citie of the mightie, and casteth downe the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soule from afflictions. 24 Proude, hautie and scornefull is his name that worketh in his arrogancie wrath. 25 The desire of the slouthfull slayeth him: for his hands refuse to worke. 26 He coueteth euermore greedily, but the righteous giueth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more when he bringeth it with a wicked minde? 28 A false witnes shall perish: but hee that heareth, speaketh continually. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but the iust, he will direct his way. 30 There is no wisedome, neither vnderstanding, nor counsell against the Lord. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battell: but saluation is of the Lord.