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1 The heart of a king is like water canals in Yahweh’s hand;
he turns it wherever he delights.
2 Every road of a person is upright in his own eyes,
but Yahweh examines the hearts.
3 To do righteousness and justice
is preferred by Yahweh over a sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes and an arrogant heart—
the lamp of the wicked—is sin.
5 The plans of a diligent person surely will lead to abundance,
but everyone who acts hastily surely will come to poverty.
6 Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor of those who seek death.
7 The violence of the wicked will drag them away
because they refused to act with justice.
8 The road of a guilty person is crooked,
but as for the pure person, his works are upright.
9 It is better to live on the corner of a rooftop
than in a house with a contentious wife.
10 The soul of the wicked person desires evil;
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11 When a mocker gets punished, the naïve person becomes wise,
and when a wise person is instructed, he accepts knowledge.
12 A righteous person keeps an eye on the house of the wicked person,
bringing the wicked to their ruin.
13 The one who closes his ear to the cry of the poor,
he will also cry out and not be answered.
14 A gift given in secret subdues anger,
and a secret bribe averts strong wrath.
15 To do justice is joyful for the righteous person,
but it is a terror to those doing wickedness.
16 The person who wanders from the road of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 The one who loves pleasure will become a poor person;
the one who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18 A wicked person is a ransom for a righteous person,
and the one acting unfaithfully is in the place of the upright.
19 It is better to live in a desolate land
than with a contentious and angry woman.
20 Desirable treasure and oil are in the dwelling place of the wise person,
but the foolish person consumes it.
21 The one who pursues righteousness and loyalty
will find life, righteousness, and glory.a
22 A wise person scales the city of the mighty,
and he brings down the strength of the city’s confidence.
23 The one who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue
watches over his lifeb from trouble.
24 “Presumptuous,” “Proud,” “Mocker,” are his names;
they belong to the one who acts with arrogant presumptuousness.
25 The lazy person’s desire will kill him
because his hands refuse to work.
26 All day long he craves what he desires,
but the righteous person gives and does not withhold his generosity.
27 A sacrifice offered by the wicked is an abomination;
how much more when he brings it with deceitful intent.
28 A false witness will perish,
but a person who listens will go on speaking.
29 A wicked person hardens his face,
but an upright person, he prepares his roads.
30 There is no wisdom and no discernment
and no counsel that can stand against Yahweh.
31 A horse is prepared for a day of battle,
but the deliverance belongs to Yahweh.
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