Advice on How to Live

1Wine causes mocking, and beer causes fights;

everyone led astray by them lacks wisdom.

2A king’s anger is like a lion’s roar;

anyone who angers him forfeits his life.

3Avoiding strife brings a man honor,

but every fool is quarrelsome.

4A lazy person doesn’t plow in the propera season;

he looks for a harvest, but there is nothing.

5The intentions of a person’s heart are deep waters,

but a discerning person reveals them.

6Many claim “I’m a loyal person!”b

but who can find someone who truly is?

7The righteous person lives a life of integrity;

happy are his children who follow him!

8A king sits on a throne of justice,

sifting out all sorts of evil with his glance.

9Who can say, “My intentions are pure;

I am clean from any sin?”

10FALSEc weights and measures—

the LORD surely detests both of them.

11Even a child is known by his actions,

whether his deeds are pure and right.

12The ear that hears and the eye that sees—

the LORD surely made them both.

13Do not love sleep or you’ll become poor,

keep your eyes open and you’ll have plenty of food.

14“This is bad, bad,” says whoever is buying—

but then he brags as he walks away after the sale.d

15There is an abundance of gold and precious stones,

but lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.

16Take the garment of anyone who puts up collateral for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if he does it for an unfamiliar woman.

17Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man,

but later his mouth will be full of gravel.

18Make plans by seeking advice;

make war by obtaining guidance.

19Whoever spreads gossip betrays confidences;

so don’t get involved with someone who talks too much.

20Whoever curses his father or mother,

his lamp will be extinguished in the deepest darkness.

21An inheritance quickly obtained at the beginning

will not be blessed at the end.

22Don’t say “I’ll avenge that wrong!”

Wait on the LORD and he will deliver you.

23The LORD detests differing weights,

and dishonest scales are not good.

24A man’s steps are directed by the LORD;

how then can anyone understand his own way?

25It is a trap for a person to declare quickly, “This is sacred,”

and only later to have second thoughts about the vows.

26A wise king sifts the wicked,

crushing them with the threshing wheel.

27A person’s spirit is the lamp of the LORD;

it searches throughout one’s innermost being.

28Gracious love and truth preserve a king;

through love his throne is made secure.

29The glory of young men is their strength;

and the splendor of elders is their gray hair.

30Blows that wound clean away evil;

such beatings cleansee the innermost being.