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On Life and Conduct

^1 (C1)Better is a poor man who ^(C2)walks in his integrity
Than he who is perverse in ^(F1)speech and is a fool.

² Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge,
And he who hurries ^(F1)(C1)his footsteps ^(F2)errs.

³ The ^(C1)foolishness of man ruins his way,
And his heart ^(C2)rages against the LORD.

^4 (C1)Wealth adds many friends,
But a poor man is separated from his friend.

⁵ A ^(C1)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who ^(F1)(C2)tells lies will not escape.

^6 (C1)Many will seek the favor of a ^(F1)generous man,
And every man is a friend to him who ^(C2)gives gifts.

⁷ All the brothers of a poor man hate him;
How much more do his ^(C1)friends abandon him!
He ^(C2)pursues them with words, but they are ^(F1)gone.

⁸ He who gets ^(F1)wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps understanding will ^(C1)find good.

⁹ A ^(C1)false witness will not go unpunished,
And he who ^(F1)tells lies will perish.

¹⁰ Luxury is ^(C1)not fitting for a fool;
Much less for a ^(C2)slave to rule over princes.

¹¹ A man's ^(C1)discretion makes him slow to anger,
And it is his glory ^(C2)to overlook a transgression.

¹² The ^(C1)king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is like ^(C2)dew on the grass.

¹³ A ^(C1)foolish son is destruction to his father,
And the ^(C2)contentions of a wife are a constant dripping.

¹⁴ House and wealth are an ^(C1)inheritance from fathers,
But a prudent wife is from the LORD.

^15 (C1)Laziness casts into a deep sleep,
And an idle ^(F1)man will suffer hunger.

¹⁶ He who ^(C1)keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
But he who ^(F1)is careless of ^(F2)conduct will die.

¹⁷ One who ^(C1)is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD,
And He will repay him for his ^(F1)(C2)good deed.

^18 (C1)Discipline your son while there is hope,
And do not desire ^(F1)his death.

¹⁹ A man of great anger will bear the penalty,
For if you rescue him, you will only have to do it again.

^20 (C1)Listen to counsel and accept discipline,
That you may be wise ^(F1)the rest of your days.

²¹ Many ^(C1)plans are in a man's heart,
But the ^(C2)counsel of the LORD will stand.

²² What is desirable in a man is his ^(F1)kindness,
And it is better to be a poor man than a liar.

²³ The ^(F1)(C1)fear of the LORD leads to life,
So that one may sleep ^(C2)satisfied, ^(F2)(C3)untouched by evil.

²⁴ The ^(C1)sluggard buries his hand ^(C2)in the dish,
But will not even bring it back to his mouth.

^25 (C1)Strike a scoffer and the ^(F1)naive may become shrewd,
But ^(C2)reprove one who has understanding and he will ^(F2)gain knowledge.

²⁶ He ^(C1)who assaults his father and drives his mother away
Is a shameful and disgraceful son.

²⁷ Cease listening, my son, to discipline,
And you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A rascally witness makes a mockery of justice,
And the mouth of the wicked ^(F1)(C1)spreads iniquity.

^29 (F1)Judgments are prepared for ^(C1)scoffers,
And ^(C2)blows for the back of fools.