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On Life and Conduct

¹ The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD;
He ^(C1)turns it wherever He wishes.

^2 (C1)Every man's way is right in his own eyes,
But the LORD ^(C2)weighs the hearts.

³ To do ^(C1)righteousness and justice
Is desired by the LORD more than sacrifice.

⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
The ^(C1)lamp of the wicked, is sin.

⁵ The plans of the ^(C1)diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone ^(C2)who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

⁶ The ^(C1)acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue
Is a fleeting vapor, the ^(F1)pursuit of ^(C2)death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,
Because they ^(C1)refuse to act with justice.

⁸ The way of a guilty man is ^(C1)crooked,
But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner of a roof
Than ^(F1)in a house shared with a contentious woman.

¹⁰ The soul of the wicked desires evil;
His ^(C1)neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When the ^(C1)scoffer is punished, the ^(F1)naive becomes wise;
But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¹² The righteous one considers the house of the wicked,
Turning the ^(C1)wicked to ruin.

¹³ He who ^(C1)shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
Will also cry himself and not be ^(C2)answered.

¹⁴ A ^(C1)gift in secret subdues anger,
And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

¹⁵ The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous,
But is ^(C1)terror to the workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ A man who wanders from the way of understanding
Will ^(C1)rest in the assembly of the ^(F1)dead.

¹⁷ He who ^(C1)loves pleasure will become a poor man;
He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

¹⁸ The wicked is a ^(C1)ransom for the righteous,
And the ^(C2)treacherous is in the place of the upright.

^19 (C1)It is better to live in a desert land
Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

²⁰ There is precious ^(C1)treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise,
But a foolish man ^(C2)swallows it up.

²¹ He who ^(C1)pursues righteousness and loyalty
Finds life, righteousness and honor.

²² A ^(C1)wise man scales the city of the mighty
And brings down the ^(F1)stronghold in which they trust.

²³ He who ^(C1)guards his mouth and his tongue,
Guards his soul from troubles.

²⁴ "Proud," "Haughty," "^(C1)Scoffer," are his names,
Who acts with ^(C2)insolent pride.

²⁵ The ^(C1)desire of the sluggard puts him to death,
For his hands refuse to work;

²⁶ All day long he ^(F1)is craving,
While the righteous ^(C1)gives and does not hold back.

²⁷ The ^(C1)sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination,
How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

²⁸ A ^(C1)false witness will perish,
But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

²⁹ A wicked man ^(F1)(C1)displays a bold face,
But as for the ^(C2)upright, he makes his way sure.

³⁰ There is ^(C1)no wisdom and no understanding
And no counsel against the LORD.

³¹ The ^(C1)horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But ^(C2)victory belongs to the LORD.