1 The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord;
hey[Ezra 6:22] turns it wherever he will.
2 zch. 16:2; [ch. 12:15] Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the Lordach. 24:12; [Luke 16:15; 1 Cor. 4:4]; See 1 Sam. 16:7 weighs the heart.
3 bSee ch. 15:8; 1 Sam. 15:22 To do righteousness and justice
is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
4 cSee ch. 6:17; Ps. 101:5 Haughty eyes and a proud heart,
d1 Kgs. 11:36 the lamp1Or the plowing of the wicked, are sin.
5 The plans ofech. 10:4 the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who isf[ch. 19:2] hasty comesg[ch. 11:24; 14:23; 22:16] only to poverty.
6 hch. 20:21; See ch. 10:2 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue
is ai[ch. 13:11] fleetingjJob 13:25 vapor and ak[ch. 8:36] snare of death.
7 The violence of the wicked willl[Jer. 30:23] sweep them away,
because they refuse to do what is just.
8 The way of the guiltym[ch. 2:15] is crooked,
but the conduct of the pure is upright.
9 It isnch. 25:24; [ver. 19; ch. 19:13; 27:15] better to live in a corner of the housetop
than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.
10 The soul of the wicked desires evil;
his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.
11 Whenoch. 19:25; See Ps. 1:1 a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise;
when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.
12 The Righteous OnepPs. 37:35, 36 observes the house of the wicked;
he throws the wicked down to ruin.
13 q[James 2:13]; See Matt. 18:30-34 Whoever closes his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself call out and not be answered.
14 r[ch. 17:8; 18:16] A gift in secret averts anger,
and a concealed bribe, strong wrath.
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous
s[ch. 10:29] but terror to evildoers.
16 One who wanders from the way of good sense
t[Ps. 49:14] will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17 Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man;
he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.
18 u[ch. 11:8] The wicked is avIsa. 43:3 ransom for the righteous,
and the traitor for the upright.
19 It isw[ver. 9] better to live in a desert land
than with a quarrelsome and fretful woman.
20 x[Ps. 112:3] Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling,
but a foolish many[Job 20:15, 18] devours it.
21 Whoeverzch. 15:9; Matt. 5:6; [ch. 3:3] pursues righteousness and kindness
will findach. 3:16; 1 Kgs. 3:11; Matt. 6:33; See ch. 4:22 life, righteousness, and honor.
22 b[ch. 24:5; Eccles. 7:19]; See 2 Sam. 5:6-9; Eccles. 9:14-18 A wise man scales the city of the mighty
and brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23 cSee ch. 13:3 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
dch. 22:5 keeps himself out ofech. 12:13 trouble.
24 fch. 1:22; See Ps. 1:1 “Scoffer ” is the name of the arrogant, haughty man
who acts with arrogant pride.
25 The desire ofg[ch. 13:4] the sluggard kills him,
for his hands refuse to labor.
26 All day long he craves and craves,
but the righteoushSee Ps. 37:26 gives and does not hold back.
27 iIsa. 66:3; See ch. 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;
how much morej[ch. 24:9] when he brings it with evil intent.
28 kch. 19:5, 9 A false witness will perish,
but the word of a man who hears will endure.
29 A wicked man puts on a bold face,
but the uprightlPs. 119:5 gives thought to1Or establishes his ways.
30 mIsa. 8:9, 10; 1 Cor. 3:19, 20; [ch. 19:21] No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel
can avail against the Lord.
31 n[Ps. 20:7; 33:17; Isa. 31:1] The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
butoJer. 3:23 the victory belongs to the Lord.