1Wine is a mocker , strong drink a brawler ; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise . 2The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion : He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life . 3It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife ; But every fool will be quarrelling. 4The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter ; Therefore he shall beg in harvest , and have nothing . 5Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water ; But a man of understanding will draw it out . 6Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness ; But a faithful man who can find ? 7A righteous man that walketh in his integrity , Blessed are his children after him . 8A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away 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, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah .
Integrity and Justice
11Even a child maketh himself known by his doings , Whether his work be pure , and whether it be right . 12The hearing ear , and the seeing eye , Jehovah hath made even both of them . 13Love not sleep , lest thou come to poverty ; Open thine eyes , and thou shalt be satisfied with bread . 14It is bad , it is bad , saith the buyer ; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth . 15There is gold , and abundance of rubies ; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel .
The Role of Discipline
16Take his garment that is surety for a stranger ; And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners . 17Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel . 18Every purpose is established by counsel ; And by wise guidance make thou war . 19He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets ; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips . 20Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness .
The Sovereignty of God
21An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning ; But the end thereof shall not be blessed . 22Say not thou, I will recompense evil : Wait for Jehovah , and he will save thee . 23Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah ; And a false balance is not good . 24A man ’s goings are of Jehovah ; How then can man understand his way ? 25It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy , And after vows to make inquiry . 26A wise king winnoweth the wicked , And bringeth the threshing -wheel over them . 27The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah , Searching all his innermost parts . 28Kindness and truth preserve the king ; And his throne is upholden by kindness . 29The glory of young men is their strength ; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head . 30Stripes that wound cleanse away evil ; And strokes reach the innermost parts .