1A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof
will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.
1A man often reproved hardening the neck, suddenly will be broken, and there is no healing.
2When the righteous flourish, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
2With the increasing of the righteous ones, the people rejoice; and with the ruling of a wicked one, the people groan.
3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,
but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.
3A man loving wisdom gladdens his father, and a companion of prostitutes destroys wealth.
4By justice a king brings stability to the land,
but a man who exacts tributea demolishes it.
4A king by justice establishes the land, and a man of contributions tears it down.
5A man who flatters his neighbor
spreads a net for his feet.
5A man taking a portion over his neighbor spreads out a net over his steps.
6An evil man is caught by his own sin,
but a righteous one sings and rejoices.
6By transgression, a man of evil is snared, and a righteous one sings out and rejoices.
7The righteous consider the cause of the poor,
but the wicked have no regard for such concerns.
7A righteous one knows the cause of the poor; a wicked one does not does understand knowledge.
8Mockers inflame a city,
but the wise turn away anger.
8Men of scorning inflame a city, and wise men turn back anger.
9If a wise man goes to court with a fool,
there will be raving and laughing with no resolution.
9A wise man enters into judgment with a foolish man, and he trembles and laughs, and there is no rest.
10Men of bloodshed hate a blameless man,
but the upright care for his life.a
10Men of blood hate a blameless one, and upright ones seek his soul.
11A fool vents all his anger,
but a wise man holds it back.
11A fool brings out all his spirit, and a wise one soothes it backward.
12If a ruler listens to lies,
all his officials will be wicked.
12One ruling listening to words of deception, all his ministers are wicked.
13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:
The LORD gives light to the eyes of both.
13The poor one and the man of oppression meet together: YHWH gives light to the eyes of both of them.
14A king who judges the poor with fairness—
his throne will be established forever.
14A king judging the poor with truth, his throne will be established forever.
15A rod of correction imparts wisdom,
but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
15A rod and rebuke give wisdom, and a child let away brings shame to his mother.
16When the wicked thrive, rebellion increases;
but the righteous will see their downfall.
16With the increase of the wicked, transgression increases, and righteous ones will look on their fall.
17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;
he will bring delight to your soul.
17Discipline your son, and he will give you rest, and he will give delights to your soul.
18Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint;
but blessed is he who keeps the Law.
18When there is no vision, the people are let loose, and the one keeping the Law is blessed.
19A servant cannot be corrected by words alone;
though he understands, he will not respond.
19With words a servant will not be disciplined; for he understands, yet he will not respond.
20Do you see a man who speaks in haste?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
20Look upon a man being hasty in his words—the hope of a fool is more than his.
21A servant pampered from his youth
will bring grief in the end.
21One is pampering his servant from youth, and his end will be insolence.
22An angry man stirs up dissension,
and a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.
22A man of anger stirs up strife, and a man of rage, much transgression.
23A man’s pride will bring him low,
but a humble spirit will obtain honor.
23The pride of man will bring him low, and the one lowly of spirit will grasp honor.
24A partner to a thief hates his own soul;
he receives the oath but does not testify.
24One having a portion with a thief is hating his own soul; he hears the curse, and does not testify.
25The fear of man is a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is set securely on high.
25The fear of man sets a snare, and one trusting in YHWH will be set on high.
26Many seek the ruler’s favor,
but a man receives justice from the LORD.
26Many are seeking the favor of a ruler, and from YHWH is justice for a man.
27An unjust man is detestable to the righteous,
and one whose way is upright is detestable to the wicked.
27A man of injustice is an abomination to righteous ones, and the one upright in his way is an abomination to a wicked one.