1 T he king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.

¶ The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he will.

2 E very man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.

¶ Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD weighs the hearts.

3 T o do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.

¶ To do righteousness and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

4 H aughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.

¶ A high look and a proud heart, which is the fire of the wicked, is sin.

5 T he plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

¶ The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness, but of every one that is too hasty, only to want.

6 T he acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.

¶ The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of those that seek death.

7 T he violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.

¶ The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them because they refuse to do judgment.

8 T he way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.

¶ The way of the perverse man is crooked and strange, but as for the pure, his work is right.

9 I t is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.

¶ It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10 T he soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¶ The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes.

11 W hen the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

¶ When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise, and by instructing the wise, he receives wisdom.

12 T he righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin.

¶ The righteous man wisely considers the house of the wicked, how God overthrows the wicked for their evil.

13 H e who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.

¶ Whosoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself but shall not be heard.

14 A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.

¶ A gift in secret pacifies anger, and a bribe in the bosom strong wrath.

15 T he exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.

¶ It is joy to the just to do judgment, but it shall be destruction to the workers of iniquity.

16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.

¶ The man that wanders out of the way of wisdom shall end up in the congregation of the dead.

17 H e who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.

¶ He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man; he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 T he wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.

¶ The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

19 I t is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.

¶ It is better to dwell in the wilderness than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20 T here is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.

¶ There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.

21 H e who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.

¶ He that follows after righteousness and mercy shall find life, righteousness, and honour.

22 A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.

¶ The wise man took the city of the mighty and cast down its strength in which it trusted.

23 H e who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.

¶ Whosoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

24 “ Proud,” “Haughty,” “ Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with insolent pride.

¶ Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who deals in proud wrath.

25 T he desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;

¶ The desire of the slothful kills him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26 A ll day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.

There is one who covets greedily all day long, but the righteous gives and keeps on giving.

27 T he sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!

¶ The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination; how much more, when he brings it with lewdness?

28 A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.

¶ The false witness shall perish, but the man that hears shall stand fast in his word.

29 A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.

¶ The wicked man hardens his face, but as for the upright, he orders his ways.

30 T here is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.

¶ There is no wisdom nor intelligence nor counsel against the LORD.

31 T he horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but salvation is of the LORD.