The Man of Integrity 1 UST It is better to be poor and behave honestly than to speak deceitfully and be foolish. BSB BSB: Better a poor man who walks with integrity than a fool whose lips are perverse.
2 UST Furthermore, it is very bad for people to be enthusiastic{ about doing something} while not knowing{ anything about it}; people who act hastily do things wrong. BSB BSB: Even zeal is no good without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps misses the mark.
3 UST People who act foolishly destroy themselves, yet they become furious with Yahweh{ and blame him}. BSB BSB: A man’s own folly subverts his way, yet his heart rages against the LORD.
4 UST Wealthy people{ easily} make many friends, but when people become poor, they lose{ even} the friends they have. BSB BSB: Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
5 UST Someone will surely punish lying witnesses. Indeed, someone will surely punish people who lie easily. BSB BSB: A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who utters lies will not escape.
6 UST A lot of people want royal officials to favor them, and many people want to be friends with people who give gifts. BSB BSB: Many seek the favor of the prince, and everyone is a friend of the gift giver.
7 UST All the relatives of poor people despise them, and even their friends avoid them! Although they call out{ to them for help}, they do not{ respond}. BSB BSB: All the brothers of a poor man hate him—how much more do his friends avoid him! He may pursue them with pleading, but they are nowhere to be found.
8 UST People who love to learn benefit themselves; people who are consistently sensible will surely succeed. BSB BSB: He who acquires wisdom loves himself; one who safeguards understanding will find success.
9 UST Someone will surely punish lying witnesses. Indeed, people who lie easily will die. BSB BSB: A false witness will not go unpunished, and one who pours out lies will perish.
10 UST It is wrong for foolish people to live luxuriously, and it is even worse for slaves to reign over princes! BSB BSB: Luxury is unseemly for a fool—how much worse for a slave to rule over princes!
11 UST Insightful people do not get angry quickly, and people show how honorable they are by forgiving{ people who} sin{ against them}. BSB BSB: A man’s insight gives him patience, and his virtue is to overlook an offense.
12 UST When kings are furious, they frighten people like the roaring of young lions{ frightens people}, but when they approve of people, it is as refreshing{ for the people} as dew{ is} on plants. BSB BSB: A king’s rage is like the roar of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
13 UST Foolish children destroy their fathers, and when wives argue{ with their husbands}, it is{ as annoying as} constantly dripping water. BSB BSB: A foolish son is his father’s ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping.
14 UST People inherit houses and riches from their fathers, but Yahweh{ alone} gives{ men} insightful wives. BSB BSB: Houses and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.
15 UST Lazy people sleep well, but{ such} idle people are{ always} hungry. BSB BSB: Laziness brings on deep sleep, and an idle soul will suffer hunger.
16 UST People who obey{ God’ s} commandments stay alive, but people who do not care about{ God’ s} ways will die. BSB BSB: He who keeps a commandment preserves his soul, but he who is careless in his ways will die.
17 UST Giving things to poor people is{ like} loaning them to Yahweh; he will reward anyone who does this. BSB BSB: Kindness to the poor is a loan to the LORD, and He will repay the lender.
18 UST Discipline your children while{ they are young and} you can expect them to learn{ to live in the right way}.{ If you} do not{ discipline them},{ it is as though you} want them to die. BSB BSB: Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be party to his death.
19 UST Very angry people will pay{ for being angry}; so if you rescue them{ once from what they must pay}, you will have to do that again and again. BSB BSB: A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.
20 UST Pay attention to what people advise you{ to do} and let people teach you. If you do so, you will become wise for the rest of your life. BSB BSB: Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.
21 UST People plan to do many things, but{ only} what Yahweh advises will succeed. BSB BSB: Many plans are in a man’s heart, but the purpose of the LORD will prevail.
22 UST People want others to consider them to be faithful. It is better to be poor than to be someone who lies. BSB BSB: The desire of a man is loving devotion; better to be poor than a liar.
23 UST Revering Yahweh causes people to live for a long time; such people rest contentedly at night; nothing will harm them. BSB BSB: The fear of the LORD leads to life, that one may rest content, without visitation from harm.
24 UST Some people are so lazy that even though they have put their hands in a dish{ of food}, they will not even lift the food to their mouths. BSB BSB: The slacker buries his hand in the dish; he will not even bring it back to his mouth.
25 UST { If you} punish people who ridicule{ others},{ then} naive people{ who see you do that} will learn to be sensible.{ If you} correct understanding people,{ then} they will know even more. BSB BSB: Strike a mocker, and the simple will beware; rebuke the discerning man, and he will gain knowledge.
26 UST Children who act violently toward their fathers and chase away their mothers are disgraceful and embarrassing. BSB BSB: He who assaults his father or evicts his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace.
27 UST My child, if you want to become stupid, then stop listening to what people teach you. BSB BSB: If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
28 UST Worthless witnesses scorn what is just, and wicked people enjoy acting sinfully as if they were gulping down delicious food. BSB BSB: A corrupt witness mocks justice, and a wicked mouth swallows iniquity.
29 UST Yahweh is ready to condemn people who ridicule{ others}, and he is ready to beat fools on their backs. BSB BSB: Judgments are prepared for mockers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.