1For the sake of a trifle many have sinned; he who seeks to get more will turn a blind eye.
2A peg is driven between the joints of stones, and sin is squeezed in between selling and buying.
3Unless a man holds firmly to the fear of the Lord, his house will be quickly overthrown.
4When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains; so a man’s filth is in his reasoning.
5A furnace tests the potter’s vessels, and so is a man tested by his reasoning.
6A tree’s cultivation is known by its fruit; so is a man’s inclination by his speech.
7Do not praise a man before he speaks, for this is the test of men.
8If you pursue justice, you will attain it and wear it like a robe of glory.
9Birds lodge with their own kind, and truth returns to those who practice it.
10As a lion lies in wait for prey, so sin lies in wait for workers of iniquity.
11The conversation of the godly is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon.
12Among the unintelligent, watch for your moment; but among the thoughtful, linger.
13The talk of fools is offensive, and their laughter is in sinful indulgence.
14The speech of a man who swears much makes hair stand on end, and his brawling makes one stop one’s ears.
15A fight between the arrogant leads to bloodshed, and their abusive quarrels are painful to hear.
16Whoever reveals secrets destroys faithfulness, and will not find an intimate friend.
17Cherish a friend and be faithful to him. But if you reveal his secrets, do not pursue him.
18For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19Like a bird you have released from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.
20Do not pursue him, for he has gone far away; he has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21A wound can be bandaged, and an insult can be forgiven, but whoever reveals secrets has no hope.
22Whoever winks his eye is plotting evil, and no one can turn him from it.
23To your face his speech is sweet, and he marvels at your words; but later he twists his speech and lays a trap with your own words.
24I have hated many things, but none as much as him; and the Lord also will hate him.
25Whoever throws a stone into the air throws it on his own head, and a deceitful blow inflicts wounds.
26He who digs a pit will fall into it, and he who sets a trap will be caught in it.
27Whoever does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not know where it came from.
28Mockery and reproach are for the proud, and vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29Those who rejoice at the downfall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before they die.
30Wrath and anger—these are abominations, and a sinful man clings to them.
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