¹ A man who is reproved, being stubborn of neck— suddenly he will be broken, and there will not be healing.

² When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan.

³ A man who loves wisdom will make his parents glad, but the friend of prostitutes¹ will squander his wealth.

1. Or “whores”

⁴ By justice a king gives stability to a land, but a man of bribes will ruin it.

⁵ A strong man who flatters his neighbor is spreading a net for his feet.

⁶ In transgression, an evil man is a snare, but the righteous will sing and rejoice.¹

1. Hebrew “he will rejoice”

⁷ The righteous knows the case of the poor, but the wicked does not understand knowledge.

⁸ Men of scoffing set a city aflame, but the wise turn away wrath.

⁹ If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, then there is rankling and ridicule,¹ but there is no relief.

1. Hebrew “there is ridicule”

¹⁰ Men of blood hate the blameless, and they seek the life of the upright.¹

1. Or “soul,” or “inner self”

¹¹ A fool gives all his breath,¹ but the wise holds back in quiet.

1. Or “spirit”

¹² A ruler listening to a word of falsehood, all his officials are wicked.

¹³ The poor and a man of oppression have this in common: Yahweh gives ⌞light to the eyes of them both⌟.¹

1. Literally “light of the eyes of the two of them”

¹⁴ A king who judges with truthfulness to the poor, his throne will be established forever.

¹⁵ As for a rod and reproof, they¹ will give wisdom, but a neglected child is disgraced by his mother.

1. Hebrew “it”

¹⁶ With the increase of the wicked, transgression will increase, but the righteous will look on his downfall.

¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you rest, and they will give delight to your soul.¹

1. Or “life,” or “inner self”

¹⁸ When there is no prophecy, the people cast off restraint, but as for he who guards instruction, happiness is his.

¹⁹ By words, a servant is not disciplined, for he will understand, but there is no giving heed.

²⁰ You see a man who is hasty in his words: there is more hope for a fool than him.

²¹ He who pampers his servant from childhood, ⌞arrogance will be his end⌟.¹

1. Literally “and its/his end will be arrogance”

²² A man of anger will stir strife, and the owner of anger, much transgression.

²³ The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.

²⁴ Being a partner with a thief is hating one’s life;¹ a curse he will hear, but not disclose.

1. Or “soul,” or “inner self”

²⁵ The fear of a person will lay a snare, but he who trusts in Yahweh will be secure.

²⁶ Many are those who seek the ⌞favor⌟¹ of a ruler, but from Yahweh ⌞one obtains justice⌟.²

1. Literally “faces”
2. Literally “comes justice for a man”

²⁷ A man of injustice is an abomination to the righteous, but the ⌞upright⌟¹ is an abomination to the wicked.

1. Literally “upright of way”