Read the Bible

¹ Some people refuse to bend when someone corrects them. Eventually they will break, and there will be no one to repair the damage.

² When the rulers are good, the people are happy. When the rulers are evil, the people complain.

³ A son who loves wisdom makes his father happy. One who wastes his money on prostitutes will lose his wealth.

⁴ A nation will be strong when it has a fair and just king. A nation will be weak when it has a king who is selfish and demands gifts.

⁵ If you give false praise to others in order to get what you want, you are only setting a trap for yourself.

⁶ Evil people are defeated by their sin, but good people will sing and be happy.

⁷ Good people want to do what is right for the poor, but the wicked don't care.

⁸ Proud people who laugh at what is right cause problems that divide whole cities, but people who are wise are able to calm those who are angry.

⁹ If someone who is wise tries to settle a problem with a fool, the fool will argue and say stupid things, and they will never agree.

¹⁰ If you always try to be honest, murderers will hate you, but those who do what is right will want you to be their friend.

¹¹ Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves.

¹² If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be evil.

¹³ In one way the poor and those who steal from them are the same—the Lord made them both.

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor fairly, he will rule for a long time.

¹⁵ Punishment and discipline can make children wise, but children who are never corrected will bring shame to their mother.

¹⁶ If the wicked are ruling the nation, sin will be everywhere, but those who live right will win in the end.

¹⁷ Correct your children whenever they are wrong. Then you will always be proud of them. They will never make you ashamed.

¹⁸ If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God's law will be happy.

¹⁹ Servants will not learn a lesson if you only talk to them. They might understand you, but they will not obey.

²⁰ There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.

²¹ Give your servants everything they want, and they will learn to be wasteful.

²² An angry person causes arguments, and someone who is quick-tempered is guilty of many sins.

²³ Your pride can bring you down. Humility will bring you honor.

²⁴ You are your own worst enemy if you take part in a crime. You will not be able to tell the truth even when people threaten you.

²⁵ Fear can be a trap, but if you trust in the Lord, you will be safe.

²⁶ Many people want the friendship of a ruler, but the Lord is the only one who judges people fairly.

²⁷ Good people think the wicked are disgusting, and the wicked feel disgust for those who are honest.