1Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,

and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.*

2The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion;

anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself.*

3It is honorable to refrain from strife,

but every fool is quick to quarrel.*

4The lazy person does not plow in season;

harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found.*

5The purposes in the human mind are like deep water,

but the intelligent will draw them out.*

6Many proclaim themselves loyal,

but who can find one worthy of trust?*

7The righteous walk in integrity—

happy are the children who follow them!*

8A king who sits on the throne of judgment

winnows all evil with his eyes.

9Who can say, “I have made my heart clean;

I am pure from my sin”?*

10Diverse weights and diverse measures

are both alike an abomination to the Lord.*

11Even children make themselves known by their acts,

by whether what they do is pure and right.*

12The hearing ear and the seeing eye—

the Lord has made them both.*

13Do not love sleep, or else you will come to poverty;

open your eyes, and you will have plenty of bread.*

14“Bad, bad,” says the buyer,

then goes away and boasts.

15There is gold and abundance of costly stones,

but the lips informed by knowledge are a precious jewel.

16Take the garment of one who has given surety for a stranger;

seize the pledge given as surety for foreigners.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet,

but afterward the mouth will be full of gravel.*

18Plans are established by taking advice;

wage war by following wise guidance.*

19A gossip reveals secrets;

therefore do not associate with a babbler.*

20If you curse father or mother,

your lamp will go out in utter darkness.*

21An estate quickly acquired in the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.*

22Do not say, “I will repay evil”;

wait for the Lord, and he will help you.*

23Differing weights are an abomination to the Lord,

and false scales are not good.

24All our steps are ordered by the Lord;

how then can we understand our own ways?*

25It is a snare for one to say rashly, “It is holy,”

and begin to reflect only after making a vow.*

26A wise king winnows the wicked

and drives the wheel over them.

27The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord,

searching every inmost part.*

28Loyalty and faithfulness preserve the king,

and his throne is upheld by righteousness.m^,*

29The glory of youths is their strength,

but the beauty of the aged is their gray hair.*

30Blows that wound cleanse away evil;

beatings make clean the innermost parts.