1Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler;
whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.

2The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring;
the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.

3It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict,
but every fool jumps into an argument.

4The lazy person does not plow in autumn;
he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.

5The purpose in a human heart is like deep water,
but someone with understanding will draw it out.

6Many a person proclaims he is loyal,
but who can find one who is faithful?

7The righteous person walks in his integrity,
and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.

8A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge
is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.

9Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean from my sin”?

10Differing weights and unequal measures—
Yahweh hates them both.

11Even a youth is known by his actions,
by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

12Ears that hear and eyes that see—
Yahweh made them both.

13Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty;
open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.

14“Bad! Bad!” says the buyer,
but when he goes away he boasts.

15There is gold and an abundance of costly stones,
but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger,
and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.

17Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet,
but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

18Plans are established by advice
and only with wise guidance should you wage war.

19A gossip reveals secrets
and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.

20If a person curses his father or his mother,
his lamp will be snuffed out in the middle of darkness.

21An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning
will do less good in the end.

22Do not say, “I will pay you back for this wrong!”
Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.

23Yahweh hates unequal weights
and dishonest scales are not good.

24A person's steps are directed by Yahweh;
how then can he understand his way?

25It is a snare for a person to say rashly, “This thing is holy,”
and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.

26A wise king winnows the wicked
and he turns a threshing wheel over them.

27The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh,
searching all his inmost parts.

28Covenant faithfulness and trustworthiness preserve the king;
his throne is made secure by love.

29The glory of young men is their strength
and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.

30Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil
and beatings make the innermost parts clean.