Read the Bible

¹ God hates cheating in the marketplace;
    he loves it when business is aboveboard.

² The stuck-up fall flat on their faces,
    but down-to-earth people stand firm.

³ The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
    the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

⁴ A thick bankroll is no help when life falls apart,
    but a principled life can stand up to the worst.

⁵ Moral character makes for smooth traveling;
    an evil life is a hard life.

⁶ Good character is the best insurance;
    crooks get trapped in their sinful lust.

⁷ When the wicked die, that's it—
    the story's over, end of hope.

⁸ A good person is saved from much trouble;
    a bad person runs straight into it.

⁹ The loose tongue of the godless spreads destruction;
    the common sense of the godly preserves them.

¹⁰ When it goes well for good people, the whole town cheers;
    when it goes badly for bad people, the town celebrates.

¹¹ When right-living people bless the city, it flourishes;
    evil talk turns it into a ghost town in no time.

¹² Mean-spirited slander is heartless;
    quiet discretion accompanies good sense.

¹³ A gadabout gossip can't be trusted with a secret,
    but someone of integrity won't violate a confidence.

¹⁴ Without good direction, people lose their way;
    the more wise counsel you follow, the better your chances.

¹⁵ Whoever makes deals with strangers is sure to get burned;
    if you keep a cool head, you'll avoid rash bargains.

¹⁶ A woman of gentle grace gets respect,
    but men of rough violence grab for loot.

¹⁷ When you're kind to others, you help yourself;
    when you're cruel to others, you hurt yourself.

¹⁸ Bad work gets paid with a bad check;
    good work gets solid pay.

¹⁹ Take your stand with God's loyal community and live,
    or chase after phantoms of evil and die.

²⁰ God can't stand deceivers,
    but oh how he relishes integrity.

²¹ Count on this: The wicked won't get off scot-free,
    and God's loyal people will triumph.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig's snout
    is a beautiful face on an empty head.

²³ The desires of good people lead straight to the best,
    but wicked ambition ends in angry frustration.

²⁴ The world of the generous gets larger and larger;
    the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.

²⁵ The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed;
    those who help others are helped.

²⁶ Curses on those who drive a hard bargain!
    Blessings on all who play fair and square!

²⁷ The one who seeks good finds delight;
    the student of evil becomes evil.

²⁸ A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump;
    a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree.

²⁹ Exploit or abuse your family, and end up with a fistful of air;
    common sense tells you it's a stupid way to live.

³⁰ A good life is a fruit-bearing tree;
    a violent life destroys souls.

³¹ If good people barely make it,
    what's in store for the bad!