Proverbs

¹ even when no one's after them; Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.

² everybody has a plan to fix it— But it takes a leader of real understanding to straighten things out.

³ are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.

⁴ if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail.

⁵ those who seek God know it inside and out.

⁶ than rich and crooked.

⁷ hang out with a loose crowd—embarrass your family.

⁸ through cheating and extortion, But eventually some friend of the poor is going to give it all back to them.

⁹ of the people who won't listen to him.

¹⁰ and you'll come to a bad end; do good and you'll be rewarded for it.

¹¹ but the poor can see right through them.

¹² but when the bad are in charge, watch out!

¹³ you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.

¹⁴ a hardhearted person lives a hard life.

¹⁵ and the wicked lord it over the poor.

¹⁶ but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.

¹⁷ is doomed—there's no helping him.

¹⁸ a devious life is a doomed life.

¹⁹ play and party—you'll end up with an empty plate.

²⁰ get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.

²¹ you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.

²² doesn't know that he'll end up broke.

²³ far more than bootlicking flattery.

²⁴ and says, "So, what's wrong with that?" is worse than a pirate.

²⁵ but trust in God brings a sense of well-being.

²⁶ real survivors learn wisdom from others.

²⁷ shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.

²⁸ but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out.