1  ^dBetter is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than ^eone who is ^fcrooked in speech and is a fool.

2  Desire¹ without knowledge is not good,

and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

3  When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,

his heart rages against the Lord.

4  ^gWealth brings many new friends,

^hbut a poor man is deserted by his friend.

5  ⁱA ^jfalse witness will not go unpunished,

and he who ^kbreathes out lies will not escape.

6  Many seek the favor of a generous man,²

and ^leveryone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.

7  All a poor man’s brothers hate him;

how much more do his friends go far from him!

He pursues them with words, but does not have them.³

8  Whoever ^mgets sense loves his own soul;

he who keeps understanding will discover good.

9  A false witness will not go unpunished,

and he who breathes out lies will perish.

10  It is ⁿnot fitting for a fool to live in luxury,

much less for a slave to rule over princes.

11  Good sense makes one ^oslow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

12  ^pA king’s wrath is ^qlike the growling of a lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

13  ^rA foolish son is ruin to his father,

and ^sa wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.

14  House and wealth are inherited from fathers,

but a prudent wife is from the Lord.