The king’s favor is toward a servant who deals wisely, but his wrath is toward one who causes shame.
In the house of the righteous is much treasure, but the income of the wicked brings trouble.
The sacrifice made by the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
The way of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh, but he loves him who follows after righteousness.
The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway.
Folly is joy to one who is void of wisdom, but a man of understanding keeps his way straight.
The path of life leads upward for the wise, to keep him from going downward to Sheol.
Yahweh detests the thoughts of the wicked, but the thoughts of the pure are pleasing.
The heart of the righteous weighs answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes out evil.
Yahweh is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but Yahweh weighs the motives.
When a man’s ways please Yahweh, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice.
Honest balances and scales are Yahweh’s; all the weights in the bag are his work.
It is an abomination for kings to do wrong, for the throne is established by righteousness.
Righteous lips are the delight of kings. They value one who speaks the truth.
The highway of the upright is to depart from evil. He who keeps his way preserves his soul.
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor, than to divide the plunder with the proud.
Gray hair is a crown of glory. It is attained by a life of righteousness.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Yahweh’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Who can say, “I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?”
Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but Yahweh weighs the hearts.
To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.
The violence of the wicked will drive them away, because they refuse to do what is right.
The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, and brings the wicked to ruin.
Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he will also cry out, but shall not be heard.
It is joy to the righteous to do justice; but it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity.
The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; the treacherous for the upright.
He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.
There are those who covet greedily all day long; but the righteous give and don’t withhold.
A wicked man hardens his face; but as for the upright, he establishes his ways.
A good name is more desirable than great riches, and loving favor is better than silver and gold.
He who has a generous eye will be blessed; for he shares his food with the poor.
Yahweh’s eyes watch over knowledge; but he frustrates the words of the unfaithful.
Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor; and don’t crush the needy in court;
for Yahweh will plead their case, and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
Don’t move the ancient boundary stone. Don’t encroach on the fields of the fatherless:
for their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
yes, my heart will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right.
The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
Wisdom is too high for a fool: he doesn’t open his mouth in the gate.
Rescue those who are being led away to death! Indeed, hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter!
If you say, “Behold, we didn’t know this”; doesn’t he who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, doesn’t he know it? Shall he not render to every man according to his work?
Don’t lay in wait, wicked man, against the habitation of the righteous. Don’t destroy his resting place:
for a righteous man falls seven times, and rises up again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.
These also are sayings of the wise. To show partiality in judgment is not good.
He who says to the wicked, “You are righteous”; peoples will curse him, and nations will abhor him—
but it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and a rich blessing will come on them.
Don’t say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
Take away the dross from the silver, and material comes out for the refiner;
Take away the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established in righteousness.
Like a muddied spring, and a polluted well, so is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.
Like a fluttering sparrow, like a darting swallow, so the undeserved curse doesn’t come to rest.
The wicked flee when no one pursues; but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
In rebellion, a land has many rulers, but order is maintained by a man of understanding and knowledge.
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked; but those who keep the law contend with them.
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is perverse in his ways, and he is rich.
He who increases his wealth by excessive interest gathers it for one who has pity on the poor.
Whoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he will fall into his own trap; but the blameless will inherit good.
When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.
As a roaring lion or a charging bear, so is a wicked ruler over helpless people.
A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment. One who hates ill-gotten gain will have long days.
Whoever walks blamelessly is kept safe; but one with perverse ways will fall suddenly.
One who gives to the poor has no lack; but one who closes his eyes will have many curses.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous thrive.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down.
An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad.
The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge.
If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace.
The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright.
The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever.
When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall.
Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify.
A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.
There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes, yet are not washed from their filthiness.
Open your mouth, judge righteously, and serve justice to the poor and needy.”
Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
Moreover I saw under the sun, in the place of justice, that wickedness was there; and in the place of righteousness, that wickedness was there.
I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked; for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent taking away of justice and righteousness in a district, don’t marvel at the matter: for one official is eyed by a higher one; and there are officials over them.
All this I have seen in my days of vanity: there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who lives long in his evildoing.
Don’t be overly righteous, neither make yourself overly wise. Why should you destroy yourself?












