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On Life and Conduct

¹ The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He ^(C1)turns it whichever way He wishes. ^(VR1)

^2 (C1)Every man's way is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD ^(C2)weighs and examines the hearts of people and their motives. ^(VR1)

³ To do ^(C1)righteousness and justice
Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice for wrongs repeatedly committed. ^(VR1)

⁴ Haughty and arrogant eyes and a proud heart,
The ^(C1)lamp of the wicked their self-centered pride, is sin in the eyes of God.

⁵ The plans of the ^(C1)diligent lead surely to abundance and advantage,
But everyone ^(C2)who acts in haste comes surely to poverty.

^6 (C1)Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the seeking and pursuit of ^(C2)death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will return to them and drag them away like fish caught in a net,
Because they ^(C1)refuse to act with justice.

⁸ The way of the guilty is exceedingly ^(C1)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner of the housetop on the flat roof, exposed to the weather
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil like an addictive substance;
His ^(C1)neighbor finds no compassion in his eyes. ^(VR1)

¹¹ When the ^(C1)scoffer is punished, the naive observes the lesson and becomes wise;
But when the wise and teachable person is instructed, he receives knowledge. ^(VR1)

¹² The righteous one keeps an eye on the house of the wicked—
How the ^(C1)wicked are cast down to ruin.

¹³ Whoever ^(C1)shuts his ears at the cry of the poor
Will cry out himself and not be ^(C2)answered. ^(VR1)

¹⁴ A ^(C1)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe hidden in the pocket, strong wrath.

¹⁵ When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous (the upright, the one in right standing with God),
But ^(C1)to the evildoers it is disaster.

¹⁶ A man who wanders from the way of understanding (godly wisdom)
Will ^(C1)remain in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷ He who ^(C1)loves only selfish pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves and is devoted to ^(F1)wine and olive oil will not become rich.

¹⁸ The wicked become a ^(C1)ransom for the righteous,
And the ^(C2)treacherous in the place of the upright for they fall into their own traps.

^19 (C1)It is better to dwell in a desert land
Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.

²⁰ There is precious ^(C1)treasure and oil in the house of the wise who prepare for the future,
But a short-sighted and foolish man ^(C2)swallows it up and wastes it.

²¹ He who earnestly ^(C1)seeks righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness, and honor. ^(VR1)

²² A ^(C1)wise man scales the city walls of the mighty
And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ He who ^(C1)guards his mouth and his tongue
Guards himself from troubles. ^(VR1)

²⁴ "Proud," "Haughty," "^(C1)Scoffer," are his names
Who acts with ^(C2)overbearing and insolent pride.

²⁵ The ^(C1)desire of the lazy kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor;

²⁶ He craves all the day long and does no work,
But the righteous willingly ^(C1)gives and does not withhold what he has. ^(VR1)

²⁷ The ^(C1)sacrifice of the wicked is detestable and offensive to the LORD.
How much more unacceptable and insulting can it be when he brings it with evil intention?

²⁸ A ^(C1)false witness will perish,
But a man who listens to the truth will speak forever and go unchallenged.

²⁹ A wicked man ^(C1)puts on a bold face,
But as for the ^(C2)upright, he considers, directs, and establishes his way with the confidence of integrity.

³⁰ There is ^(C1)no human wisdom or understanding
Or counsel that can prevail against the LORD.

³¹ The ^(C1)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance and ^(C2)victory belong to the LORD.