1. Don't be jealous of crooksor want to be their friends.
2. All they think aboutand talk aboutis violence and cruelty.
3. Use wisdom and understandingto establish your home;
4. let good sense fill the roomswith priceless treasures.
5. Wisdom brings strength,and knowledge gives power.
6. Battles are wonby listening to adviceand making a lot of plans.
7. Wisdom is too much for fools!Their advice is no good.
8. No one but troublemakersthink up trouble.
9. Everyone hates senseless foolswho think up ways to sin.
10. Don't give up and be helplessin times of trouble.
11. Don't fail to rescue thosewho are doomed to die.
12. Don't say, “I didn't know it!”God can read your mind.He watches each of usand knows our thoughts.And God will pay us backfor what we do.
13. Honey is good for you,my children,and it tastes sweet.
14. Wisdom is like honeyfor your life—if you find it,your future is bright.
15. Don't be a cruel personwho attacks good peopleand hurts their families.
16. Even if good peoplefall seven times,they will get back up.But when trouble strikesthe wicked,that's the end of them.
17. Don't be happyto see your enemies tripand fall down.
18. The Lord will find outand be unhappy.Then he will stopbeing angry with them.
19. Don't let evil peopleworry youor make you jealous.
20. They will soon be gonelike the flame of a lampthat burns out.
21. My children, you must respectthe Lord and the king,and you must not make friendswith anyone who rebelsagainst either of them.
22. Who knows what sudden disasterthe Lord or a rulermight bring?
23. Here are some more sayingsthat make good sense:When you judge,you must be fair.
24. If you let the guiltygo free,people of all nationswill hate and curse you.
25. But if you punish the guilty,things will go well for you,and you will prosper.
26. Giving an honest answeris a signof true friendship.
27. Get your fields readyand plant your cropsbefore setting up home.
28. Don't accuse anyonewho isn't guilty.Don't ever tell a lie
29. or say to someone,“I'll get even with you!”
30. I once walked by the fieldand the vineyardof a lazy fool.
31. Thorns and weedswere everywhere,and the stone wallhad fallen down.
32. When I saw this,it taught me a lesson:
33. Sleep a little. Doze a little.Fold your handsand twiddle your thumbs.
34. Suddenly poverty hits youand everything is gone!