1 Contrast the Upright and the Wicked Whoever loves instructionanddiscipline loves knowledge,But he who hates reproofandcorrection is stupid.
2 A good man will obtain favor from the L,But He will condemn a man who devises evil.
3 A man will not be established by wickedness,But the root of the [consistently] righteous will not be moved.
4 A virtuousandexcellent wife [worthy of honor] is the crown of her husband,But she who shames him [with her foolishness] is like rottenness in his bones.
5 The thoughtsandpurposes of the [consistently] righteous are just (honest, reliable),But the counselsandschemes of the wicked are deceitful.
6 The [malevolent] words of the wicked lie in wait for [innocent] blood [to slander],But the mouth of the upright will rescueandprotect them.
7 The wicked are overthrown [by their evil] and are no more,But the house of the [consistently] righteous will stand [securely].
8 A man will be commended according to his insightandsound judgment,But the one who is of a perverse mind will be despised.
9 This is the first of many verses in Proverbs that use the “better...than” construction to emphasize contrasting positions.Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,Than he who [boastfully] honors himself [pretending to be what he is not] and lacks bread.
10 A righteous man has kind regard for the life of his animal,But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.
11 He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,But he who follows worthlessthingslacks common senseandgood judgment.
12 The wicked desire the plunder of evil men,But the root of the righteous yieldsricherfruit.
13 An evil man is [dangerously] ensnared by the transgression of his lips,But the righteous will escape from trouble.
14 A man will be satisfied with good from the fruit of his words,And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him [as a harvest].
15 The way of the [arrogant] fool [who rejects God’s wisdom] is right in his own eyes,But a wiseandprudent man is he who listens to counsel.
16 The [arrogant] fool’s anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense],But a prudent man ignores an insult.
17 He who speaks truth [when he testifies] tells what is right,But a false witness utters deceit [in court].
18 There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,But the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips will be established forever,But a lying tongue is [credited] only for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,But counselors of peace have joy.
21 No harm befalls the righteous,But the wicked are filled with trouble.
22 Lying lips are extremely disgusting to the L,But those who deal faithfully are His delight.
23 A shrewd man is reluctant to display his knowledge [until the proper time],But the heart of [over-confident] fools proclaims foolishness.
24 The hand of the diligent will rule,But the negligentandlazy will be put to forced labor.
25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,But a good (encouraging) word makes it glad.
26 The righteous man is a guide to his neighbor,But the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27 The lazy man does not catchandroast his prey,But the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].
28 In the way of righteousness is life,And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality—eternal life].