✧Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool. ✧2Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. ✧3The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah. ✧4Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend. ✧5A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape. ✧6Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. ✧7All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth [them with] words, [but] they are gone. ✧8He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good. ✧9A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish. ✧10Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. ✧11The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. ✧12The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass. ✧13A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. ✧14House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah. ✧15Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger. ✧16He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; [But] he that is careless of his ways shall die. ✧17He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again. ✧18Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; And set not thy heart on his destruction. ✧19A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver [him], thou must do it yet again. ✧20Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. ✧21There are many devices in a man’s heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. ✧22That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar. ✧23The fear of Jehovah [tendeth] to life; And he [that hath it] shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. ✧24The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. ✧25Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, [and] he will understand knowledge. ✧26He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach. ✧27Cease, my son, to hear instruction [Only] to err from the words of knowledge. ✧28A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity. ✧29Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools.
American Standard Version (ASV). American Standard Version (1901). Public domain.