Read the Bible

¹ The Lord controls rulers,
    just as he determines
    the course of rivers.
² We may think we are doing
    the right thing,
    but the Lord always knows
    what is in our hearts.
³ Doing what is right and fair
    pleases the Lord
    more than an offering.
⁴ Evil people are proud
    and arrogant,
    but sin is the only crop
    they produce.^[a]
5 If you plan and work hard,
    you will have plenty;
    if you get in a hurry,
    you will end up poor.

⁶ Cheating to get rich
is a foolish dream
    and no less than suicide.^[b]
7 You destroy yourself
by being cruel and violent
    and refusing to live right.
⁸ All crooks are liars,
    but anyone who is innocent
    will do right.
⁹ It's better to stay outside
    on the roof of your house
    than to live inside
    with a nagging wife.
¹⁰ Evil people want to do wrong,
    even to their friends.
¹¹ An ignorant fool learns
    by seeing others punished;
    a sensible person learns
    by being instructed.

¹² God is always fair!
He knows what the wicked do
    and will punish them.
¹³ If you won't help the poor,
don't expect to be heard
    when you cry out for help.
¹⁴ A secret bribe will save you
    from someone's fierce anger.
¹⁵ When justice is done,
good citizens are glad
    and crooks are terrified.
¹⁶ If you stop using good sense,
    you will find yourself
    in the grave.
¹⁷ Heavy drinkers and others
who live only for pleasure
    will lose all they have.

¹⁸ God's people will escape,
    but all who are wicked
    will pay the price.
¹⁹ It's better out in the desert
    than at home with a nagging,
    complaining wife.
²⁰ Be sensible and store up
    precious treasures—
    don't waste them
    like a fool.
²¹ If you try to be kind and good,
    you will be blessed with life
    and goodness and honor.
²² One wise person can defeat
a city full of soldiers
    and capture their fortress.
²³ Watching what you say
can save you
    a lot of trouble.
²⁴ If you are proud and conceited,
    everyone will say,
    "You're a snob!"

²⁵ If you want too much
and are too lazy to work,
    it could be fatal.
²⁶ But people who obey God
    are always generous.

²⁷ The Lord despises the offerings
of wicked people
    with evil motives.
²⁸ If you tell lies in court,
    you are done for;
    only a reliable witness
    can do the job.
²⁹ Wicked people bluff their way,
    but God's people think
    before they take a step.

³⁰ No matter how much you know
or what plans you make,
    you can't defeat the Lord.
³¹ Even if your army has horses
ready for battle,
    the Lord will always win.