2All a man’s ways seem right to him,

but the Lord weighs the heart.

3To do what is right and just

is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4Haughty eyes and a proud heart,

the lamp of the wicked, are sin!

5The plans of the diligent lead to profit

as surely as haste leads to poverty.

6A fortune made by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.^a

7The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

for they refuse to do what is right.

8The way of the guilty is devious,

but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

9Better to live on a corner of the roof

than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.

10The wicked man craves evil;

his neighbor gets no mercy from him.

11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

when a wise man is instructed, he gets knowledge.

12The Righteous One^b takes note of the house of the wicked

and brings the wicked to ruin.

13If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,

he too will cry out and not be answered.

14A gift given in secret soothes anger,

and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.

15When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous

but terror to evildoers.

16A man who strays from the path of understanding

comes to rest in the company of the dead.

17He who loves pleasure will become poor;

whoever loves wine and oil will never be rich.

18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,

and the unfaithful for the upright.

19Better to live in a desert

than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.

20In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil,

but a foolish man devours all he has.

21He who pursues righteousness and love

finds life, prosperity^c and honor.

22A wise man attacks the city of the mighty

and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.

23He who guards his mouth and his tongue

keeps himself from calamity.

24The proud and arrogant man—“Mocker” is his name;

he behaves with overweening pride.

25The sluggard’s craving will be the death of him,

because his hands refuse to work.

26All day long he craves for more,

but the righteous give without sparing.

27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—

how much more so when brought with evil intent!

28A false witness will perish,

and whoever listens to him will be destroyed forever.^d

29A wicked man puts up a bold front,

but an upright man gives thought to his ways.

30There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan

that can succeed against the Lord.

31The horse is made ready for the day of battle,

but victory rests with the Lord.