1Some people refuse to bend when someone corrects them. Eventually they will break, and there will be no one to repair the damage.
2When the rulers are good, the people are happy. When the rulers are evil, the people complain.
3A son who loves wisdom makes his father happy. One who wastes his money on prostitutes will lose his wealth.
4A nation will be strong when it has a fair and just king. A nation will be weak when it has a king who is selfish and demands gifts.
5If you give false praise to others in order to get what you want, you are only setting a trap for yourself.
6Evil people are defeated by their sin, but good people will sing and be happy.
7Good people want to do what is right for the poor, but the wicked don’t care.
8Proud people who laugh at what is right cause problems that divide whole cities, but people who are wise are able to calm those who are angry.
9If someone who is wise tries to settle a problem with a fool, the fool will argue and say stupid things, and they will never agree.
10If you always try to be honest, murderers will hate you, but those who do what is right will want you to be their friend.
11Fools are quick to express their anger, but wise people are patient and control themselves.
12If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials will be evil.
13In one way the poor and those who steal from them are the same—the Lord made them both.
14If a king judges the poor fairly, he will rule for a long time.
15Punishment and discipline can make children wise, but children who are never corrected will bring shame to their mother.
16If the wicked are ruling the nation, sin will be everywhere, but those who live right will win in the end.
17Correct your children whenever they are wrong. Then you will always be proud of them. They will never make you ashamed.
18If a nation is not guided by God, the people will lose self-control, but the nation that obeys God’s law will be happy.
19Servants will not learn a lesson if you only talk to them. They might understand you, but they will not obey.
20There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.
21Give your servants everything they want, and they will learn to be wasteful.
22An angry person causes arguments, and someone who is quick-tempered is guilty of many sins.
23Your pride can bring you down. Humility will bring you honor.
24You are your own worst enemy if you take part in a crime. You will not be able to tell the truth even when people threaten you.
25Fear can be a trap, but if you trust in the Lord, you will be safe.
26Many people want the friendship of a ruler, but the Lord is the only one who judges people fairly.
27Good people think the wicked are disgusting, and the wicked feel disgust for those who are honest.