2
Whoever 1walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is 2devious in his ways despises him.
3
By the mouth of a fool comes 3a rod for his back, 4but the lips of the wise will preserve them.
4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox.
5
5A faithful witness does not lie, but 6a false witness breathes out lies.
6
7A scoffer seeks wisdom 8in vain, but 9knowledge is easy for a man of understanding.
7
Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge.
8
The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.
9
10Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance.
10
The heart knows its own 11bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
11
12The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish.
12
13There is a way that seems right to a man, but 14its end is the way to death.
13
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and 15the end of joy may be 16grief.
14
The backslider in heart will be 17filled with the fruit of his ways, and 18a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways.
15
19The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.
16
20One who is wise is cautious and 21turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.
17
A man of 22quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated.
18
The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
19
23The evil bow down before the good, the wicked at the gates of the righteous.
20
24The poor is disliked even by his neighbor, 25but the rich has many friends.
21
Whoever 26despises his neighbor is a sinner, but 27blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
22
Do they not go astray who 28devise evil? Those who devise good meet29steadfast love and faithfulness.