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On Life and Conduct

^1 (C1)Wine is a mocker, ^(C2)strong drink a riotous brawler;
And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. ^(VR1)

² The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion;
Whoever provokes him to anger ^(C1)forfeits his own life.

³ It is an honor for a man to ^(C1)keep away from strife by handling situations with thoughtful foresight,
But any fool will start a quarrel without regard for the consequences.

⁴ The ^(C1)lazy man does not plow when the winter planting season arrives;
So he begs at the next harvest and has nothing to reap.

⁵ A plan (motive, wise counsel) in the heart of a man is like water in a deep well,
But a man of understanding draws it out. ^(VR1)

⁶ Many a man ^(C1)proclaims his own loyalty and goodness,
But who can find a ^(C2)faithful and trustworthy man?

⁷ The righteous man ^(C1)who walks in integrity and lives life in accord with his godly beliefs—
^(C2)How blessed happy and spiritually secure are his children after him who have his example to follow.

^8 (C1)A discerning king who sits on the throne of judgment
Sifts all evil like chaff with his eyes and cannot be easily fooled.

^9 (C1)Who can say, "I have cleansed my heart,
I am pure from my sin?" ^(VR1)

^10 (C1)Differing weights one for buying and another for selling and differing measures,
Both of them are detestable and offensive to the LORD. ^(VR1)

¹¹ Even a boy is ^(C1)known and distinguished by his acts,
Whether his conduct is pure and right.

¹² The hearing ^(C1)ear and the seeing eye,
The omnipotent LORD has made both of them.

^13 (C1)Do not love excessive sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes so that you can do your work and you will be satisfied with bread.

¹⁴ "It is almost worthless, it is almost worthless," says the buyer as he negotiates the price;
But when he goes his way, then he boasts about his bargain.

¹⁵ There is gold, and an abundance of pearls,
But the lips of knowledge are a vessel of preciousness the most precious of all. ^(VR1)

¹⁶ The judge tells the creditor, "Take the clothes of one who is surety for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge when he guarantees a loan for foreigners." ^(VR1)

^17 (C1)Food gained by deceit is sweet to a man,
But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel just as sin may be sweet at first, but later its consequences bring despair.

^18 (C1)Plans are established by counsel;
So ^(C2)make war only with wise guidance.

¹⁹ He who ^(C1)goes about as a gossip reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with ^(C2)a gossip who talks freely or flatters. ^(VR1)

²⁰ Whoever ^(C1)curses his father or his mother,
His ^(C2)lamp of life will be extinguished in time of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance hastily gained by greedy, unjust means at the beginning
Will not be blessed in the end. ^(VR1)

^22 (C1)Do not say, "I will repay evil";
^(C2)Wait expectantly for the LORD, and He will rescue and save you. ^(VR1)

^23 (C1)Differing weights are detestable and offensive to the LORD,
And ^(C2)fraudulent scales are not good.

^24 (C1)Man's steps are ordered and ordained by the LORD.
How then can a man fully understand his way?

²⁵ It is a trap for a man to ^(F1)speak a vow of consecration and say rashly, "It is holy!"
And not until ^(C1)afterward consider whether he can fulfill it.

²⁶ A ^(C1)wise king sifts out the wicked from among the good
And drives the ^(C2)threshing wheel over them to separate the chaff from the grain.

²⁷ The ^(F1)(C1)spirit (conscience) of man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching and examining all the innermost parts of his being. ^(VR1)

²⁸ Loyalty and mercy, ^(C1)truth and faithfulness, protect the king,
And he upholds his throne by lovingkindness.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their physical strength,
And the ^(C1)honor of aged men is their gray head representing wisdom and experience.

^30 (C1)Blows that wound cleanse away evil,
And strokes reach to the innermost parts.