1A wise judge will instruct his people. The government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.

2As is the judge of his people, so are his officials. As the city’s ruler is, so are all those who dwell in it.

3An undisciplined king will destroy his people. A city will be established through the understanding of the powerful.

4The government of the earth is in the Lord’s hand. In due time, he will raise up over it the right person at the right time.

5A man’s prosperity is in the Lord’s hand. He will lay his honour upon the person of the scribe.

6Don’t be angry with your neighbour for every wrong. Do nothing by works of violence.

7Pride is hateful before the Lord and men. Arrogance is abhorrent in the judgement of both.

8Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation because of injustice, violence, and greed for money.

9Why are dirt and ashes proud? ¹⁶Because in life, my body decays.

10A long disease mocks the physician. The king of today will die tomorrow.

11For when a man is dead, he will inherit maggots, vermin, and worms.

12It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord. His heart has departed from him who made him.

13For the beginning of pride is sin. He who keeps it will pour out abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities and utterly overthrew them.

14The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers and set the lowly in their place.

15The Lord plucked up the roots of nations and planted the lowly in their place.

16The Lord overthrew the lands of nations and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.

17He took some of them away and destroyed them, and made their memory to cease from the earth.

18Pride has not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women.

19Whose offspring has honour? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honour? Human offspring who break the commandments.

20In the midst of kindred he who rules them has honour. Those who fear the Lord have honour in his eyes.

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22The rich man, the honourable, and the poor all glory in the fear of the Lord.

23It is not right to dishonour a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner.

24The prince, the judge, and the mighty man will be honoured. There is not one of them greater than he who fears the Lord.

25Free men will minister to a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain.

26Don’t flaunt your wisdom in doing your work. Don’t boast in the time of your distress.

27Better is he who labours and abounds in all things, than he who boasts and lacks bread.

28My son, glorify your soul in humility, and ascribe to yourself honour according to your worthiness.

29Who will justify him who sins against his own soul? Who will honour him who dishonours his own life?

30A poor man is honoured for his knowledge. A rich man is honoured for his riches.

31But he who is honoured in poverty, how much more in riches? He who is dishonoured in riches, how much more in poverty?