By the transgression of a land many are its princes,
But by a man who understands, who knows, so it endures.
•••
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
But those who keep the law strive with them.
•••
Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked—double dealing—though he be rich.
•••
He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,
Even his prayer is an abomination.
•••
He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,
But he who confesses and forsakes them will receive compassion.

Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
•••
Let a stranger praise you, and not your own mouth;
A foreigner, and not your own lips.
•••
Iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens another.
•••
Know well the condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;
For wealth is not forever

Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
•••
The sluggard is wiser in his own eyes
Than seven men who can respond with a discreet answer.
•••
Like one who seizes a dog by the ears
Is he who passes by and becomes passionate about strife not belonging to him.
•••
With no wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, strife quiets down.

Do not go out hastily to plead your case;
Lest, what will you do in the end,
When your neighbor humiliates you?
Plead your case with your neighbor,
And do not reveal the secret of another,
Lest he who hears it bring disgrace upon you,
And the bad report about you will not turn away.
•••
Like a city that is broken into and without a wall
Is a man without restraint over his spirit.

If you are slack in the day of trouble,
Your strength is in trouble.
Deliver those who are being taken away to death,
And those who are stumbling to the slaughter, Oh hold them back.
If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
Does not He who weighs the hearts understand?
And does not He who guards your soul know?
And will not He render to man according to his work?

Listen to your father who begot you,
And do not despise your mother when she is old.
Buy truth, and do not sell it,
Get wisdom and discipline and understanding.
The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice,
And he who begets a wise son will be glad in him.
Let your father and your mother be glad,
And let her rejoice who gave birth to you.

and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways, then I will listen from heaven, I will forgive their sin, and I will heal their land.

The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of Yahweh;
He turns it wherever He pleases.
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes,
But Yahweh weighs the hearts.
To do righteousness and justice
Is chosen by Yahweh over sacrifice.
•••
He who pursues righteousness and lovingkindness
Finds life, righteousness, and glory.
•••
There is no wisdom, there is no discernment
And there is no counsel against Yahweh.

know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a delighted soul; for Yahweh searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever

He who acquires a heart of wisdom loves his own soul;
He who keeps discernment will find good.
•••
A man’s insight makes him slow to anger,
And it is his honor to overlook a transgression.
•••
Listen to counsel and receive discipline,
That you may be wise in the end of your days.
Many thoughts are in a man’s heart,
But it is the counsel of Yahweh that will stand.
•••
The fear of Yahweh leads to life,
So that one may sleep satisfied, not visited by evil.