1 He who remains stiffnecked after much rebuke
will be suddenly and incurably broken.
2 When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice;
but when the wicked are in power, the people groan.
3 Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a patron of prostitutes wastes his wealth.
4 A king gives stability to a country by justice,
but one who overtaxes it brings it to ruin.
5 A person who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his own steps.
6 In an evil person’s crime is a trap,
but the righteous sing and rejoice.
7 The righteous understands the cause of the poor,
but the wicked is unconcerned.
8 Scoffers can inflame a city,
but the wise can calm the fury.
9 When a wise man argues with a foolish one,
he meets anger and ridicule without relief.
10 Men of blood hate those who are pure
and seek the life of the upright.
11 A fool gives vent to all his feelings,
but the wise, thinking of afterwards, stills them.
12 If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.
13 The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
Adonaigives light to the eyes of both.
14 If a king steadfastly gives justice to the poor,
his throne will be secure forever.
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom,
but a child left to himself brings shame on his mother.
16 When the wicked flourish, wrongdoing flourishes;
but the righteous will witness their downfall.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
yes, he will be your delight.
18 Without a prophetic vision, the people throw off all restraint;
but he who keepsTorahis happy.
19 A slave can’t be disciplined with words;
he may understand, but he won’t respond.
20 Do you see someone too anxious to speak?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
21 A slave who is pampered from youth
will in the end be ungrateful.
22 Angry people stir up strife;
hot-tempered people commit many crimes.
23 The proud will be humbled,
but the humble will be honored.
24 The accomplice of a thief hates himself;
he hears himself put under oath but discloses nothing.
25 Fearing human beings is a snare;
but he who trusts inAdonaiwill be raised high [above danger].
26 Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but it is fromAdonaithat each gets justice.
27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,
but he who lives uprightly is an abomination to the wicked.