8 A king who sits on his throne to judge sifts out every evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, "I've made my heart pure.

I'm cleansed from my sin"?

10 A double standard of weights and measures- both are disgusting to Yahweh.

11 Even a child makes himself known by his actions, whether his deeds are pure or right.

12 The ear that hears, the eye that sees- Yahweh made them both.

13 Do not love sleep or you will end up poor.

Keep your eyes open, and you will have plenty to eat.

14 "Bad! Bad!" says the buyer.

Then, as he goes away, he brags about his bargain.

15 There are gold and plenty of jewels, but the lips of knowledge are precious gems.

16 Hold on to the garment of one who guarantees a stranger's loan, and hold responsible the person who makes a loan on behalf of a foreigner.

17 Food gained dishonestly tastes sweet to a person, but afterwards his mouth will be filled with gravel.

18 Plans are confirmed by getting advice, and with guidance one wages war.

19 Whoever goes around as a gossip tells secrets.

Do not associate with a person whose mouth is always open.

20 The lamp of the person who curses his father and mother will be snuffed out in total darkness.a 21 An inheritance quickly obtained in the beginning will never be blessed in the end.

22 Do not say, "I'll get even with you!"

Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.

23 A double standard of weights is disgusting to Yahweh, and dishonest scales are no good.

24 Yahweh is the one who directs a person's steps.

How then can anyone understand his own way?

25 It is a trap for a person to say impulsively, "This is a holy offering!"

and later to have second thoughts about those vows.

26 A wise king scatters the wicked and then runs them over.

27 A person's soul is Yahweh's lamp.

It searches his entire innermost being.

28 Mercy and truth protect a king, and with mercy he maintains his throne.

29 While the glory of young men is their strength, the splendor of older people is their silver hair.

30 Brutal beatings cleanse away wickedness.

Such beatings cleanse the innermost being.

The LORD Controls Wise and Foolish People 21 1 The king's heart is like streams of water.

Both are under Yahweh's control.

He turns them in any direction he chooses.

2 A person thinks everything he does is right, but Yahweh weighs hearts.

3 Doing what is right and fair is more acceptable to Yahweh than offering a sacrifice.

4 A conceited look and an arrogant attitude, which are the lamps of wicked people, are sins.

5 The plans of a hardworking person lead to prosperity, but everyone who is always in a hurry ends up in poverty.

6 Those who gather wealth by lying are wasting time.

They are looking for death.

7 The violence of wicked people will drag them away since they refuse to do what is just.

8 The way of a guilty person is crooked, but the behavior of those who are pure is moral.b 9 Better to live on a corner of a roof than to share a home with a quarreling woman.

10 The mind of a wicked person desires evil and has no consideration for his neighbor.

11 When a mocker is punished, a gullible person becomes wise, and when a wise person is instructed, he gains knowledge.

12 A righteous person wisely considers the house of a wicked person.

He throws wicked people into disasters.

13 Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.

14 A gift given in secret calms anger, and a secret bribe calms great fury.

15 When justice is done, a righteous person is delighted, but troublemakers are terrified.

16 A person who wanders from the way of wise behavior will rest in the assembly of the dead.

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor.

Whoever loves wine and expensive food will not become rich.

18 Wicked people become a ransom for righteous people, and treacherous people will take the place of decent people.

19 Better to live in a desert than with a quarreling and angry woman.

20 Costly treasure and wealth are in the home of a wise person, but a fool devours them.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and mercy will find life, righteousness, and honor.

22 A wise man attacks a city of warriors and pulls down the strong defenses in which they trust.

23 Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

24 An arrogant, conceited person is called a mocker.

His arrogance knows no limits.

25 The desire of a lazy person will kill him because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he feels greedy, but a righteous person gives and does not hold back.

27 The sacrifice of wicked people is disgusting, especially if they bring it with evil intent.

28 A lying witness will die, but a person who listens to advice will continue to speak.

29 A wicked person puts up a bold front, but a decent person's way of life is his own security.

30 No wisdom, no understanding, and no advice can stand up against Yahweh.

31 The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to Yahweh .

22 1 A good name is more desirable than great wealth.

Respect is better than silver or gold.

2 The rich and the poor have this in common: Yahweh is the maker of them all.

3 Sensible people foresee trouble and hide from it, but gullible people go ahead and suffer the consequence.

4 On the heels of humility (the fear of Yahweh) are riches and honor and life.

5 A devious person has thorns and traps ahead of him.

Whoever guards himself will stay far away from them.

6 Train a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not turn away from it.

7 A rich person rules poor people, and a borrower is a slave to a lender.

8 Whoever plants injustice will harvest trouble, and this weapon of his own fury will be destroyed.

9 Whoever is generous will be blessed because he has shared his food with the poor.

10 Drive out a mocker, and conflict will leave.

Quarreling and abuse will stop.

11 Whoever loves a pure heart and whoever speaks graciously has a king as his friend.

12 Yahweh's eyes watch over knowledge, but he overturns the words of a treacherous person.

13 A lazy person says, "There's a lion outside!

I'll be murdered in the streets!"

14 The mouth of an adulterous woman is a deep pit.

The one who is cursed by Yahweh will fall into it.

15 Foolishness is firmly attached to a child's heart.

Spanking will remove it far from him.

16 Oppressing the poor for profit or giving to the rich certainly leads to poverty.

Listen to My Advice 17 Open your ears, and hear the words of wise people, and set your mind on the knowledge I give you.

18 It is pleasant if you keep them in mind so that they will be on the tip of your tongue, 19 so that your trust may be in Yahweh.

Today I have made them known to you, especially to you.

20 Didn't I write to you previously with advice and knowledge 21 in order to teach you the words of truth so that you can give an accurate report to those who send you?

Living with Your Neighbor 22 Do not rob the poor because they are poor or trample on the rights of an oppressed person at the city gate, 23 because Yahweh will plead their case and will take the lives of those who rob them.

24 Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, and never keep company with a hothead, 25 or you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself.

26 Do not be found among those who make deals with a handshake, among those who guarantee other people's loans.

27 If you have no money to pay back a loan, why should your bed be repossessed?

28 Do not move an ancient boundary marker that your ancestors set in place.

29 Do you see a person who is efficient in his work?

He will serve kings.