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Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

¹ Whoever loves instruction and discipline loves knowledge,
But he who hates reproof and correction is stupid.

² A ^(C1)good man will obtain favor from the LORD,
But He will condemn a man who devises evil.

³ A man will ^(C1)not be established by wickedness,
But the root of the consistently ^(C2)righteous will not be moved.

⁴ A ^(C1)virtuous and excellent wife worthy of honor is the crown of her husband,
But she who shames him with her foolishness is like ^(C2)rottenness in his bones. ^(VR1)

⁵ The thoughts and purposes of the consistently righteous are just (honest, reliable),
But the counsels and schemes of the wicked are deceitful.

⁶ The malevolent ^(C1)words of the wicked lie in wait for innocent blood to slander,
But the ^(C2)mouth of the upright will rescue and protect them.

⁷ The ^(C1)wicked are overthrown by their evil and are no more,
But the ^(C2)house of the consistently righteous will stand securely.

⁸ A man will be commended according to his insight and sound judgment,
But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.

^9 (F1)Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than he who boastfully honors himself pretending to be what he is not and lacks bread.

¹⁰ A ^(C1)righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal,
But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. ^(VR1)

¹¹ He ^(C1)who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
But he who follows worthless things lacks common sense and good judgment.

¹² The ^(C1)wicked desire the plunder of evil men,
But the root of the righteous ^(C2)yields richer fruit.

¹³ An evil man is dangerously ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
But the ^(C1)righteous will escape from trouble.

¹⁴ A man will be ^(C1)satisfied with good from the fruit of his words,
And the ^(C2)deeds of a man's hands will return to him as a harvest.

¹⁵ The ^(C1)way of the arrogant fool who rejects God's wisdom is right in his own eyes,
But a wise and prudent man is he who listens to counsel. ^(VR1)

¹⁶ The arrogant ^(C1)fool's anger is quickly known because he lacks self-control and common sense,
But a prudent man ignores an insult.

¹⁷ He who speaks truth when he testifies tells what is right,
But a false witness utters deceit in court.

¹⁸ There is one who ^(C1)speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the ^(C2)tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Truthful lips will be established forever,
But a ^(C1)lying tongue is credited only for a moment.

²⁰ Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
But counselors of peace have joy.

^21 (C1)No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble. ^(VR1)

^22 (C1)Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the LORD,
But those who deal faithfully are His delight. ^(VR1)

²³ A ^(C1)shrewd man is reluctant to display his knowledge until the proper time,
But the heart of over-confident fools proclaims foolishness. ^(VR1)

²⁴ The hand of the diligent will rule,
But the negligent and lazy will be ^(C1)put to forced labor.

^25 (C1)Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down,
But a ^(C2)good (encouraging) word makes it glad. ^(VR1)

²⁶ The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor,
But the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey,
But the ^(C1)precious possession of a wise man is diligence because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them.

^28 (C1)In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death but immortality—eternal life. ^(VR1)