19:1Better is the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse in his lips, who is a fool.

19:2Also, without knowledge the soul is not good, And the hasty in feet is sinning.

19:3The folly of man perverteth his way, And against Jehovah is his heart wroth.

19:4Wealth addeth many friends, And the poor from his neighbour is separated.

19:5A false witness is not acquitted, Whoso breatheth out lies is not delivered.

19:6Many entreat the face of the noble, And all have made friendship to a man of gifts.

19:7All the brethren of the poor have hated him, Surely also his friends have been far from him, He is pursuing words -- they are not!

19:8Whoso is getting heart is loving his soul, He is keeping understanding to find good.

19:9A false witness is not acquitted, And whoso breatheth out lies perisheth.

19:10Luxury is not comely for a fool, Much less for a servant to rule among princes.

19:11The wisdom of a man hath deferred his anger, And his glory is to pass over transgression.

19:12The wrath of a king is a growl as of a young lion, And as dew on the herb his good-will.

19:13A calamity to his father is a foolish son, And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping.

19:14House and wealth are the inheritance of fathers, And from Jehovah is an understanding wife.

19:15Sloth causeth deep sleep to fall, And an indolent soul doth hunger.

19:16Whoso is keeping the command is keeping his soul, Whoso is despising His ways dieth.

19:17Whoso is lending to Jehovah is favouring the poor, And his deed He repayeth to him.

19:18Chastise thy son, for there is hope, And to put him to death lift not up thy soul.

19:19A man of great wrath is bearing punishment, For, if thou dost deliver, yet again thou dost add.

19:20Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that thou art wise in thy latter end.

19:21Many are the purposes in a man's heart, And the counsel of Jehovah it standeth.

19:22The desirableness of a man is his kindness, And better is the poor than a liar.

19:23The fear of Jehovah is to life, And satisfied he remaineth -- he is not charged with evil.

19:24The slothful hath hidden his hand in a dish, Even unto his mouth he bringeth it not back.

19:25A scorner smite, and the simple acts prudently, And give reproof to the intelligent, He understandeth knowledge.

19:26Whoso is spoiling a father causeth a mother to flee, A son causing shame, and bringing confusion.

19:27Cease, my son, to hear instruction -- To err from sayings of knowledge.

19:28A worthless witness scorneth judgment, And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity.

19:29Judgments have been prepared for scorners, And stripes for the back of fools!

20:1Wine is a scorner -- strong drink is noisy, And any going astray in it is not wise.

20:2The fear of a king is a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.

20:3An honour to a man is cessation from strife, And every fool intermeddleth.

20:4Because of winter the slothful plougheth not, He asketh in harvest, and there is nothing.

20:5Counsel in the heart of a man is deep water, And a man of understanding draweth it up.

20:6A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

20:7The righteous is walking habitually in his integrity, O the happiness of his sons after him!

20:8A king sitting on a throne of judgment, Is scattering with his eyes all evil,

20:9Who saith, `I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'

20:10A stone and a stone, an ephah and an ephah, Even both of them are an abomination to Jehovah.

20:11Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

20:12A hearing ear, and a seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them.

20:13Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes -- be satisfied with bread.

20:14`Bad, bad,' saith the buyer, And going his way then he boasteth himself.

20:15Substance, gold, and a multitude of rubies, Yea, a precious vessel, are lips of knowledge.

20:16Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.

20:17Sweet to a man is the bread of falsehood, And afterwards is his mouth filled with gravel.

20:18Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.

20:19A revealer of secret counsels is the busybody, And for a deceiver with his lips make not thyself surety.

20:20Whoso is vilifying his father and his mother, Extinguished is his lamp in blackness of darkness.

20:21An inheritance gotten wrongly at first, Even its latter end is not blessed.

20:22Do not say, `I recompense evil,' Wait for Jehovah, and He delivereth thee.

20:23An abomination to Jehovah are a stone and a stone, And balances of deceit are not good.

20:24From Jehovah are the steps of a man, And man -- how understandeth he his way?

20:25A snare to a man is he hath swallowed a holy thing, And after vows to make inquiry.

20:26A wise king is scattering the wicked, And turneth back on them the wheel.

20:27The breath of man is a lamp of Jehovah, Searching all the inner parts of the heart.

20:28Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.

20:29The beauty of young men is their strength, And the honour of old men is grey hairs.

20:30The bandages of a wound thou removest with the evil, Also the plagues of the inner parts of the heart!

21:1Rivulets of waters is the heart of a king in the hand of Jehovah, Wherever He pleaseth He inclineth it.

21:2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, And Jehovah is pondering hearts.

21:3To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.

21:4Loftiness of eyes, and breadth of heart, Tillage of the wicked is sin.

21:5The purposes of the diligent are only to advantage, And of every hasty one, only to want.

21:6The making of treasures by a lying tongue, Is a vanity driven away of those seeking death.

21:7The spoil of the wicked catcheth them, Because they have refused to do judgment.

21:8Froward is the way of a man who is vile, And the pure -- upright is his work.

21:9Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than with a woman of contentions and a house of company.

21:10The soul of the wicked hath desired evil, Not gracious in his eyes is his neighbour.

21:11When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

21:12The Righteous One is acting wisely Towards the house of the wicked, He is overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.

21:13Whoso is shutting his ear from the cry of the poor, He also doth cry, and is not answered.

21:14A gift in secret pacifieth anger, And a bribe in the bosom strong fury.

21:15To do justice is joy to the righteous, But ruin to workers of iniquity.

21:16A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.

21:17Whoso is loving mirth is a poor man, Whoso is loving wine and oil maketh no wealth.

21:18The wicked is an atonement for the righteous, And for the upright the treacherous dealer.

21:19Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than with a woman of contentions and anger.

21:20A treasure to be desired, and oil, Is in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.

21:21Whoso is pursuing righteousness and kindness, Findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

21:22A city of the mighty hath the wise gone up, And bringeth down the strength of its confidence.

21:23Whoso is keeping his mouth and his tongue, Is keeping from adversities his soul.

21:24Proud, haughty, scorner is his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.

21:25The desire of the slothful slayeth him, For his hands have refused to work.

21:26All the day desiring he hath desired, And the righteous giveth and withholdeth not.

21:27The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.

21:28A false witness doth perish, And an attentive man for ever speaketh.

21:29A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright -- he prepareth his way.

21:30There is no wisdom, nor understanding, Nor counsel, over-against Jehovah.

21:31A horse is prepared for a day of battle, And the deliverance is of Jehovah!