A collection of wise sayings
  and your plans will be fulfilled.
   4   The Lord has made each thing for its own end;
  he made even the wicked for a day of disaster.
   5   Proud men, one and all, are abominable to the Lord;
  depend upon it: ^note they will not escape punishment.
   6   Guilt is wiped out by faith and loyalty,
  and the fear of the Lord makes men turn from evil.
   7   When the Lord is pleased with a man and his ways,
  he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
   8   Better a pittance honestly earned
  than great gains ill gotten.
   9   Man plans his journey by his own wit,
  but it is the Lord who guides his steps.
   10   The king's mouth is an oracle,
  he cannot err when he passes sentence.
   11   Scales ^note and balances ^note are the Lord's concern;
  all the weights in the bag are his business.
   12   Wickedness is abhorrent to kings,
  for a throne rests firm on righteousness.
   13   Honest speech is the desire of kings,
  they love a man who speaks the truth.
   14   A king's anger is a messenger of death,
  and a wise man will appease it.
   15   In the light of the king's countenance is life,
  his favour is like a rain-cloud in the spring.
   16   How much better than gold it is to gain wisdom,
  and to gain discernment is better than pure silver. ^note
   17   To turn from evil is the highway of the upright;
  watch your step and save your life.
   18   Pride comes before disaster,
  and arrogance before a fall.
   19   Better sit humbly with those in need
  than divide the spoil with the proud.
   20   The shrewd man of business will succeed well,
  but the happy man is he who trusts in the Lord.
   21   The sensible man seeks advice from the wise,
  he drinks it in and increases his knowledge. ^note
   22   Intelligence is a fountain of life to its possessors,
  but a fool is punished by his own folly.
   23   The wise man's mind guides his speech,

A collection of wise sayings
  and what his lips impart increases learning. ^note
   24   Kind words are like dripping honey,
  sweetness on the tongue and health for the body.
   25   A road may seem straightforward to a man,
  yet may end as the way to death.
   26   The labourer's appetite is always plaguing him,
  his hunger spurs him on.
   27   A scoundrel repeats evil gossip;
  it is like a scorching fire on his lips.
   28   Disaffection stirs up quarrels,
  and tale-bearing breaks up friendship.
   29   A man of violence draws others on
  and leads them into lawless ways.
   30   The man who narrows his eyes is disaffected at heart,
  and a close-lipped man is bent on mischief.
   31   Grey hair is a crown of glory,
  and it is won by a virtuous life.
   32   Better be slow to anger than a fighter,
  better govern one's temper than capture a city.
   33   The lots may be cast into the lap,
  but the issue depends wholly on the Lord.

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