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Warnings and Instructions

¹ The wicked ^(C1)flee when no one is pursuing,
But the righteous are ^(F1)bold as a lion.

² By the transgression of a land ^(C1)many are its princes,
But ^(C2)by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

³ A ^(C1)poor man who oppresses the lowly
Is like a driving rain ^(F1)which leaves no food.

⁴ Those who forsake the law ^(C1)praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law ^(C2)strive with them.

⁵ Evil men ^(C1)do not understand justice,
But those who seek the LORD ^(C2)understand all things.

^6 (C1)Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is ^(F1)crooked though he be rich.

⁷ He who keeps the law is a discerning son,
But he who is a companion of ^(C1)gluttons humiliates his father.

⁸ He who increases his wealth by ^(C1)interest and usury
Gathers it ^(C2)for him who is gracious to the poor.

⁹ He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his ^(C1)prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰ He who leads the upright astray in an evil way
Will ^(C1)himself fall into his own pit,
But the ^(C2)blameless will inherit good.

¹¹ The rich man is ^(C1)wise in his own eyes,
But the poor who has understanding ^(F1)sees through him.

¹² When the ^(C1)righteous triumph, there is great glory,
But ^(C2)when the wicked rise, men ^(F1)hide themselves.

¹³ He who ^(C1)conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who ^(C2)confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

¹⁴ How blessed is the man who ^(C1)fears always,
But he who ^(C2)hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

¹⁵ Like a ^(C1)roaring lion and a rushing bear
Is a ^(C2)wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶ A ^(C1)leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,
But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

¹⁷ A man who is ^(C1)laden with the guilt of human blood
Will ^(F1)be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

¹⁸ He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
But he who is ^(F1)(C1)crooked will fall all at once.

^19 (C1)He who tills his land will ^(C2)have plenty of food,
But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

²⁰ A ^(C1)faithful man will abound with blessings,
But he who ^(C2)makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

²¹ To ^(F1)(C1)show partiality is not good,
^(C2)Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

²² A man with an ^(C1)evil eye ^(C2)hastens after wealth
And does not know that want will come upon him.

²³ He who ^(C1)rebukes a man will afterward find more favor
Than he who ^(C2)flatters with the tongue.

²⁴ He who ^(C1)robs his father or his mother
And says, "It is not a transgression,"
Is the ^(C2)companion of a man who destroys.

²⁵ An ^(F1)arrogant man ^(C1)stirs up strife,
But he who ^(C2)trusts in the LORD ^(C3)will ^(F2)prosper.

²⁶ He who ^(C1)trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

²⁷ He who ^(C1)gives to the poor will never want,
But he who ^(F1)shuts his eyes will have many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.