but righteous people are as bold as lions.
2 When a country is in revolt, it has many rulers,
but only with a person who has understanding and knowledge
will it last a long time.
3 A poor person who oppresses poorer people
is like a driving rain that leaves no food.
4 Those who abandon ⌞God’s⌟ teachings praise wicked people,
but those who follow ⌞God’s⌟ teachings oppose wicked people.
5 Evil people do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand everything.
6 Better to be a poor person who has integrity
than to be rich and double-dealing.
Whoever associates with gluttons disgraces his father.
8 Whoever becomes wealthy through ⌞unfair⌟ loans and interest
collects them for the one who is kind to the poor.
9 Surely the prayer of someone who refuses
to listen to ⌞God’s⌟ teachings is disgusting.
10 Whoever leads decent people into evil will fall into his own pit,
but innocent people will inherit good things.
but a poor person with understanding sees right through him.
12 When righteous people triumph, there is great glory,
but when wicked people rise, people hide themselves.
13 Whoever covers over his sins does not prosper.
Whoever confesses and abandons them receives compassion.
14 Blessed is the one who is always fearful ⌞of sin⌟,
but whoever is hard-hearted falls into disaster.
⌞so⌟ a wicked ruler is a threat to poor people.
16 A leader without understanding taxes ⌞his people⌟ heavily,
but those who hate unjust gain will live longer.
17 A person burdened with the guilt of murder
will be a fugitive down to his grave.
No one will help him.
Whoever lives dishonestly will fall all at once.
19 Whoever works his land will have plenty to eat.
Whoever chases unrealistic dreams will have plenty of nothing.
but anyone in a hurry to get rich will not escape punishment.
21 Showing partiality is not good,
because some people will turn on you even for a piece of bread.
22 A stingy person is in a hurry to get rich,
not realizing that poverty is about to overtake him.
than the one who flatters with his tongue.
24 The one who robs his father or his mother
and says, “It isn’t wrong!” is a companion to a vandal.
25 A greedy person stirs up a fight,
but whoever trusts the Lord prospers.
Whoever walks in wisdom will survive.
27 Whoever gives to the poor lacks nothing.
Whoever ignores the poor receives many curses.
When they die, righteous people increase.