1The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD;
He directs it where He pleases.
1Channels of water is the heart of a king in the hand of YHWH; upon all that He wishes, He stretches it out.
2All a man’s ways seem right to him,
but the LORD weighs the heart.
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, and YHWH is measuring hearts.
3To do righteousness and justice
is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
3To do righteousness and justice is chosen of YHWH above sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart—
the guides of the wicked—are sin.
4Loftiness of eyes and broadness of heart—the guides of the wicked—are sin.
5The plans of the diligent bring plenty,
as surely as haste leads to poverty.
5The plans of the diligent are surely to abundance, and everyone hurrying about, surely to poverty.
6Making a fortune by a lying tongue
is a vanishing mist, a deadly pursuit.
6Working for treasures by a tongue of deception is a vapor driven away of those seeking death.
7The violence of the wicked will sweep them away
because they refuse to do what is just.
7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, for they refuse to do justice.
8The way of a guilty man is crooked,
but the conduct of the innocent is upright.
8The way of a guilty man is crooked, and for a pure one, his work is straight.
9Better to live on a corner of the roof
than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
9Better to sit on the corner of a roof, than with a woman of quarrels and a house of company.
10The soul of the wicked man craves evil;
his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
10The soul of a wicked one desires evil; his neighbor shall not find favor in his eyes.
11When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
and when a wise man is instructed, he acquires knowledge.
11By fining a mocker, a simple one is made wise; and in giving understanding to a wise one, he receives knowledge.
12The Righteous Onea considers the house of the wicked
and brings the wicked to ruin.
12The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked for wickedness.
13Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,
he too shall cry out and receive no answer.
13One shutting his ears to the cry of the poor, he also will cry out, and will not be answered.
14A gift in secret soothes anger,
and a covert bribea pacifies great wrath.
14A gift in secret subdues anger, and a bribe in the bosom, strong rage.
15Justice executed is a joy to the righteous,
but a terror to the workers of iniquity.
15A joy for the righteous is doing justice, and a terror for the workers of iniquity.
16The man who strays from the path of understanding
will rest in the assembly of the dead.
16A man wandering from the way of understanding will come to rest in the assembly of Rephaim.
17He who loves pleasure will become poor;
the one who loves wine and oil will never be rich.
17The one loving pleasure is a man of need, the one loving wine and oil will not become rich.
18The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,
and the faithless for the upright.
18A wicked one is a ransom for a righteous one, and the one acting treacherously for upright ones.
19Better to live in the desert
than with a contentious and ill-tempered wife.
19Better to dwell in a land of wilderness than with a woman of quarrels and provocation.
20Precious treasures and oil are in the dwelling of the wise,
but a foolish man consumes them.
20Treasure to be desired and oil are in the dwelling of a wise one, and a foolish man swallows it up.
21He who pursues righteousness and loving devotion
finds life, righteousness, and honor.
21One pursuing righteousness and loving devotion will find life, righteousness, and honor.
22A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
22A wise one ascends a city of mighty ones, and he brings down the stronghold of its confidence.
23He who guards his mouth and tongue
keeps his soul from distress.
23The one guarding his mouth and his tongue is guarding his soul from distress.
24Mocker is the name of the proud and arrogant man—
of him who acts with excessive pride.
24The arrogant and haughty one—Mocker is his name—he is acting in the outpouring of pride.
25The craving of the slacker kills him
because his hands refuse to work.
25The desire of the lazy one brings him death, for his hands refuse to work.
26All day long he covets more,
but the righteous give without restraint.
26All the day he has desired his desire and the righteous one gives and does not withhold.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable—
how much more so when brought with ill intent!
27The sacrifice of wicked ones is an abomination—how much more when he brings it in wickedness!
28A lying witness will perish,
but the man who listens to truth will speak forever.
28A witness of falsehood will perish, and the man being attentive will speak forever.
29A wicked man hardens his face,a
but the upright man makes his way sure.
29A wicked man strengthens his face, and an upright one—he establishes his way.
30There is no wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
that can prevail against the LORD.
30There is no wisdom and no understanding and no counsel against YHWH.
31A horse is prepared for the day of battle,
but victory is of the LORD.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, and the victory is of YHWH.