Read the Bible

¹ The Lord controls the mind of a king as easily as he directs the course of a stream.

² You may think that everything you do is right, but remember that the Lord judges your motives.

³ Do what is right and fair; that pleases the Lord more than bringing him sacrifices.

⁴ Wicked people are controlled by their conceit and arrogance, and this is sinful.

⁵ Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough.

⁶ The riches you get by dishonesty soon disappear, but not before they lead you into the jaws of death.

⁷ The wicked are doomed by their own violence; they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ Guilty people walk a crooked path; the innocent do what is right.

^9 (a)Better to live on the roof than share the house with a nagging wife.

¹⁰ Wicked people are always hungry for evil; they have no mercy on anyone.

¹¹ When someone who is conceited gets his punishment, even an unthinking person learns a lesson. One who is wise will learn from what he is taught.

¹² God, the righteous one, knows what goes on in the homes of the wicked, and he will bring the wicked down to ruin.

¹³ If you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard.

¹⁴ If someone is angry with you, a gift given secretly will calm him down.

¹⁵ When justice is done, good people are happy, but evil people are brought to despair.

¹⁶ Death is waiting for anyone who wanders away from good sense.

¹⁷ Indulging in luxuries, wine, and rich food will never make you wealthy.

¹⁸ The wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people.

¹⁹ Better to live out in the desert than with a nagging, complaining wife.

²⁰ Wise people live in wealth and luxury, but stupid people spend their money as fast as they get it.

²¹ Be kind and honest and you will live a long life; others will respect you and treat you fairly.

²² A shrewd general can take a city defended by strong men, and destroy the walls they relied on.

²³ If you want to stay out of trouble, be careful what you say.

²⁴ Show me a conceited person and I will show you someone who is arrogant, proud, and inconsiderate.

²⁵ Lazy people who refuse to work are only killing themselves; ²⁶ all they do is think about what they would like to have. The righteous, however, can give, and give generously.

^27 (b)The Lord hates it when wicked people offer him sacrifices, especially if they do it from evil motives.

²⁸ The testimony of a liar is not believed, but the word of someone who thinks matters through is accepted.

²⁹ Righteous people are sure of themselves; the wicked have to pretend as best they can.

³⁰ Human wisdom, brilliance, insight—they are of no help if the Lord is against you.

³¹ You can get horses ready for battle, but it is the Lord who gives victory.