Read the Bible

¹ The Lord can control a king's mind as he controls a river;
    he can direct it as he pleases.

² You may believe you are doing right,
    but the Lord judges your reasons.

³ Doing what is right and fair
    is more important to the Lord than sacrifices.

⁴ Proud looks, proud thoughts,
    and evil actions are sin.

⁵ The plans of hard-working people earn a profit,
    but those who act too quickly become poor.

⁶ Wealth that comes from telling lies
    vanishes like a mist and leads to death.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will destroy them,
    because they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ Guilty people live dishonest lives,
    but honest people do right.

⁹ It is better to live in a corner on the roof^[a]
    than inside the house with a quarreling wife.

¹⁰ Evil people only want to harm others.
    Their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹ If you punish those who make fun of wisdom, a foolish person may gain some wisdom.
    But if you teach the wise, they will get knowledge.

¹² God, who is always right, watches the house of the wicked
    and brings ruin on every evil person.

¹³ Whoever ignores the poor when they cry for help
    will also cry for help and not be answered.

¹⁴ A secret gift will calm an angry person;
    a present given in secrecy will quiet great anger.

¹⁵ When justice is done, good people are happy,
    but evil people are ruined.

¹⁶ Whoever does not use good sense
    will end up among the dead.

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
    whoever loves wine and perfume will never be rich.

¹⁸ Wicked people will suffer instead of good people,
    and those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who do right.

¹⁹ It is better to live alone in the desert
    than with a quarreling and complaining wife.

²⁰ Wise people's houses are full of the best foods and olive oil,
    but fools waste everything they have.

²¹ Whoever tries to live right and be loyal
    finds life, success, and honor.

²² A wise person can defeat a city full of warriors
    and tear down the defenses they trust in.

²³ Those who are careful about what they say
    keep themselves out of trouble.

²⁴ People who act with stubborn pride
    are called "proud," "bragger," and "mocker."

²⁵ Lazy people's desire for sleep will kill them,
    because they refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long they wish for more,
    but good people give without holding back.

²⁷ The Lord hates sacrifices brought by evil people,
    particularly when they offer them for the wrong reasons.

²⁸ A lying witness will be forgotten,
    but a truthful witness will speak on.

²⁹ Wicked people are stubborn,
    but good people think carefully about what they do.

³⁰ There is no wisdom, understanding, or advice
    that can succeed against the Lord.

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