12. The Righteous One takes note of the house of the wickedand brings the wicked to ruin.
13. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poorwill also cry out and not be answered.
14. A gift given in secret soothes anger,and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.
15. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteousbut terror to evildoers.
16. Whoever strays from the path of prudencecomes to rest in the company of the dead.
17. Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.
18. The wicked become a ransom for the righteous,and the unfaithful for the upright.
19. Better to live in a desertthan with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.
20. The wise store up choice food and olive oil,but fools gulp theirs down.
21. Whoever pursues righteousness and lovefinds life, prosperity and honour.
22. One who is wise can go up against the city of the mightyand pull down the stronghold in which they trust.
23. Those who guard their mouths and their tongueskeep themselves from calamity.
24. The proud and arrogant person – ‘Mocker’ is his name –behaves with insolent fury.
25. The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,because his hands refuse to work.