Proverbs

¹ don't even want to be around them.

² all they talk about is making trouble.

³ and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;

⁴ with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

⁵ intelligence outranks muscle any day.

⁶ to win, you need a lot of good counsel.

⁷ in a serious discussion they haven't a clue.

⁸ soon gets a reputation as prince of rogues.

⁹ cynics desecrate beauty.

¹⁰ there wasn't much to you in the first place.

¹¹ don't hesitate to step in and help.

¹² will that get you off the hook? Someone is watching you closely, you know— Someone not impressed with weak excuses.

¹³ and delicacies that melt in your mouth.

¹⁴ and wisdom for your soul— Get that and your future's secured, your hope is on solid rock.

¹⁵ don't try to get the best of them.

¹⁶ God-loyal people don't stay down long; Soon they're up on their feet, while the wicked end up flat on their faces.

¹⁷ don't crow over his collapse.

¹⁸ and then take pity on his plight.

¹⁹ or wish you could succeed like the wicked.

²⁰ they're headed down a dead-end street.

²¹ don't be defiant or mutinous.

²² and who knows how or when it might happen?

²³ to go along with injustice.

²⁴ gets a black mark in the history books,

²⁵ will be thanked and rewarded.

²⁶ is like a warm hug.

²⁷ then build your barn.

²⁸ no slander or gossip, please.

²⁹ I'll make you pay for what you did!"

³⁰ and then passed the vineyard of a lout;

³¹ thick with thistles, all the fences broken down.

³² the fields preached me a sermon and I listened:

³³ sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?

³⁴ with poverty as your permanent houseguest!"