1In the Lord’s hand the king’s heart is like a stream of water.
The Lord directs it toward all those who please him.
2A person might think their own ways are right.
But the Lord knows what they are thinking.
3Do what is right and fair.
The Lord accepts that more than sacrifices.
4The proud eyes and hearts of sinful people are like a field not plowed.
Those things produce nothing good.
5The plans of people who work hard succeed.
You can be just as sure that those in a hurry will become poor.
6A fortune made by people who tell lies
amounts to nothing and leads to death.
7The harmful things that evil people do will drag them away.
They refuse to do what is right.
8The path of those who are guilty is crooked.
But the conduct of those who are not guilty is honest.
9It is better to live on a corner of a roof
than to share a house with a nagging wife.
10Sinful people long to do evil.
They don’t show their neighbors any mercy.
11When you punish someone who makes fun of others, childish people get wise.
By paying attention to wise people, the childish get knowledge.
12The Blameless One knows where sinners live.
And he destroys them.
13Whoever refuses to listen to the cries of poor people
will also cry out and not be answered.
14A secret gift calms down anger.
A hidden favor softens great anger.
15When you do what is fair, you make godly people glad.
But you terrify those who do what is evil.
16Whoever leaves the path of understanding
ends up with those who are dead.
17Anyone who loves pleasure will become poor.
Anyone who loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18Evil people become the payment for setting godly people free.
Those who aren’t faithful are the payment for honest people.
19It is better to live in a desert
than to live with a nagging wife who loves to argue.
20Wise people store up the best food and olive oil.
But foolish people eat up everything they have.
21Anyone who wants to be godly and loving
finds life, success and honor.
22A wise person can attack a strong city.
They can pull down the place of safety its people trust in.
23Those who are careful about what they say
keep themselves out of trouble.
24A proud person is called a mocker.
He thinks much too highly of himself.
25Some people will die while they are still hungry.
That’s because their hands refuse to work.
26All day long they hunger for more.
But godly people give without holding back.
27God hates sacrifices that are brought by evil people.
He hates it even more when they bring them for the wrong reason.
28Witnesses who aren’t honest will die.
But anyone who listens carefully will be a successful witness.
29Sinful people try to look as if they were bold.
But honest people think about how they live.
30No wisdom, wise saying or plan
can succeed against the Lord.
31You can prepare a horse for the day of battle.
But the power to win comes from the Lord.
1耶和华掌管君王的心，
易如支配垄沟的流水。
2人自以为行事正确，
但耶和华衡量人心。
3秉公行义比献祭更蒙耶和华喜悦。
4高傲的眼，狂妄的心，恶人的灯，
都是罪恶。
5勤劳者的计划必致富足，
行事急躁的人必致贫困。
6骗来的财如过眼云雾，
使人掉进死亡的陷阱。
7恶人的暴力必毁灭自己，
因为他们行事不公不义。
8犯罪的人行径扭曲，
纯洁的人行为正直。
9宁愿住在房顶的一角，
也不跟争闹之妻同屋。
10恶人贪恋邪恶，
对邻舍残忍无情。
11惩罚嘲讽者，愚人得智慧；
训诫智者，他便长见识。
12公义的上帝鉴察恶人的家，
祂必使他们灭亡。
13掩耳不听穷人呼求的，
他将来求救也无人管。
14暗中送的礼物能平息愤怒，
塞进怀里的贿赂止息盛怒。
15正义得到伸张，
义人喜、恶人怕。
16人偏离明智之道，
终必与阴魂为伍。
17贪图享受必穷困，
奢华宴乐难富足。
18恶人作义人的赎价，
奸徒替正直人受苦。
19宁愿独居旷野，
不跟吵闹易怒的女子同住。
20智者家中积存宝物和油，
愚人将所有的挥霍一空。
21追求公义与慈爱的，
必寻得生命、公义和尊荣。
22智者攀上勇士的城池，
摧毁他们倚仗的坚垒。
23管住口舌，免遭祸患。
24嘲讽者狂妄自大，
行事骄横无比。
25懒人的欲望害死自己，
因为他的手不肯做工。
26懒人整天贪得无厌，
义人施舍毫不吝啬。
27恶人的祭物已经可憎，
何况他怀着恶意来献！
28作伪证的终灭亡，
道实情的常发言。
29恶人虚张声势，
正直人谨慎行事。
30任何智慧、悟性和谋略，
都不能对抗耶和华。
31马为争战之日预备，
胜败由耶和华决定。
