¹Man has resolutions,

But from the Lord comes the spoken answer.

²All man's ways are pure in his own eyes,

But the Lord assesses the nature of spirits.

³Commit your deeds to the Lord,

And your thoughts will be well-grounded.

⁴The Lord has made everything for his own purpose,

Including even the wicked one for the day of evil.

⁵Everyone of a haughty heart is an abomination to the Lord,

And he who colludes with them will not be held innocent.

⁶Iniquity is atoned for by kindness and truth,

And by fear of the Lord,

So as to depart from evil.

⁷When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord,

He will cause even that man's enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸A little obtained righteously is better

Than abundance of produce obtained unjustly.

⁹A man's heart plans his course,

But it is the Lord who directs his steps.

¹⁰When there is an oracle on the lips of a king,

His pronouncement will not be perverse in jurisdiction.

¹¹The Lord has a just balance and scales;

All the weights of the bag are his work.

¹²It is an abomination to kings to act wickedly,

For his throne is established on the basis of righteousness.

¹³Just pronouncements are the delight of kings,

And he loves him who speaks uprightly.

¹⁴The wrath of a king is like angels of death,

But a wise man will appease it.

¹⁵In the light of the appearance of the king is life,

And acceptance by him is like a cloud of latter rain.

¹⁶How much better it is to acquire wisdom than pure gold,

And how preferable to acquire understanding than silver!

¹⁷The course of the upright is to depart from evil;

He who guards his way keeps his life safe.

¹⁸Pride comes before a disaster,

And a haughty spirit before ruin.

¹⁹It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the meek

Than to share spoil with the proud.

²⁰He who acts sensibly in a matter will find good,

And happy is he who trusts in the Lord.

²¹The wise in heart will be called astute,

And sweet lips add to learning.

²²Insight is a source of life to those who possess it,

But correction by fools

Is simply foolishness.

²³A wise heart instructs one's mouth,

And adds learning to one's lips.

²⁴Pleasant words are a honeycomb

– Sweet to one's sentiments,

And healing to the body.

²⁵There is a way which seems right from man's perspective,

But its end is the ways of death.

²⁶A person who toils

Toils for himself,

For his aspirations urge him on.

²⁷A useless man plots evil,

And what is on his lips is like a scorching fire.

²⁸A subversive man launches into contention,

And a gossipmonger separates friends.

²⁹A malevolent man deceives his neighbour

And leads him on a way which is not good.

³⁰He who shuts his eyes

So as to contemplate subversion

Seals his lips

And concludes evil intent.

³¹Grey hairs constitute a crown of splendour

If it is acquired on the righteous way.

³²A man of forbearance is better than a warrior,

And one who can control his spirit

Is better than one who can capture a city.

³³One's lot is cast into the lap,

But from the Lord comes all his judgment.