¹ Whoever remains stiff-necked after many rebukes
will suddenly be destroyed-without remedy.
² When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;
when the wicked rule, the people groan.
³ A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
⁴ By justice a king gives a country stability,
but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
⁵ Those who flatter their neighbors
are spreading nets for their feet.
⁶ Evildoers are snared by their own sin,
but the righteous shout for joy and are glad.
⁷ The righteous care about justice for the poor,
but the wicked have no such concern.
⁸ Mockers stir up a city,
but the wise turn away anger.
⁹ If a wise person goes to court with a fool,
the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.
¹⁰ The bloodthirsty hate a person of integrity
and seek to kill the upright.
¹¹ Fools give full vent to their rage,
but the wise bring calm in the end.
¹² If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials become wicked.
¹³ The poor and the oppressor have this in common:
The Lord gives sight to the eyes of both.
¹⁴ If a king judges the poor with fairness,
his throne will be established forever.
¹⁵ A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom,
but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother.
¹⁶ When the wicked thrive, so does sin,
but the righteous will see their downfall.
¹⁷ Discipline your children, and they will give you peace;
they will bring you the delights you desire.
¹⁸ Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint;
but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.
¹⁹ Servants cannot be corrected by mere words;
though they understand, they will not respond.
²⁰ Do you see someone who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for them.
²¹ A servant pampered from youth
will turn out to be insolent.
²² An angry person stirs up conflict,
and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.
²³ Pride brings a person low,
but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
²⁴ The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies;
they are put under oath and dare not testify.
²⁵ Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
²⁶ Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the Lord that one gets justice.
²⁷ The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.