1 A king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Director}, like channels of water; He steers it wherever He desires {yachpotz: chooses with intent}.
2 A person regards every way as right in his own eyes, but the LORD {YHWH, Heart Examiner} weighs the hearts {levot: inner motives}.
3 The LORD {YHWH, Moral Judge} values doing righteousness {tsedaqah: covenant faithfulness} and justice more than sacrifice.
4 Haughty eyes {einayim: seat of perception} and an arrogant heart—the lamp of the wicked is sin {chattat: offense against holiness}.
5 The plans of the diligent{charuts: dedicated worker} lead surely to abundance, but everyone who acts hastily{atz: rash action} comes only to lack.
6 Treasures gained by a deceiving tongue are vapor {hevel: fleeting emptiness}, a snare of death {mevaqshei-mavet: seeking death}.
7 The violence of the wicked {r'sha'im: morally corrupt} will sweep them away, because they refuse to administer justice {mishpat: legal-right-order}.
8 A man’s course is perverse{hafakhpakh: morally twisted} and strange, but the work of the pure is upright{yashar: morally straight}.
9 It is better to dwell on a corner of the rooftop than with a quarrelsome wife {eshet midyanim: woman of contentions} in a shared house {chaver: communal dwelling}.
10 The soul {nefesh: life essence} of the wicked desires evil; in his eyes his neighbor finds no favor {yukhan: shown grace}.
11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple {peti: naive person} becomes wise; when instruction is given to the wise, he receives knowledge {da'at: discernment skill}.
12 The Righteous {tsaddiq: morally upright one} One wisely considers the house {bayit: sphere of influence} of the wicked; He overturns the wicked to ruin.
13 Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor {dal: needy}, he also will call out and not be answered {yeʿaneh: receive a response}.
14 A gift in secret {seter: hidden place} covers anger, and a bribe in the bosom {becheq: intimate concealment} pacifies fierce wrath.
15 It is joy to the righteous {tsaddiq: just/upright one} to do justice, but destruction comes to the workers of iniquity {aven: lawless wrongdoing}.
16 A man who wanders from the way of understanding {haskel: discernment} will rest in the assembly of the dead {refa'im: departed spirits}.
17 Whoever loves pleasure {simchah: exuberant joy} will be a man of poverty; whoever loves wine and oil will not become rich {ya’ashir: attain prosperity}.
18 The wicked will serve as a ransom for the righteous {tsaddiq: fully just one}, and the traitor will stand in the place of the upright {yesharim: moral integrity}.
19 It is better to dwell {shevet: continuous abiding} in a wilderness land than with a woman of complaints {medonim: constant reproaches} and strife.
20 Precious treasure and oil are stored in the home of the wise {chakham: lives skillfully}, but a foolish person {kesil: morally dull} consumes them.
21 The one who pursues righteousness {tsedaqah: covenant faithfulness} and kindness will obtain life, righteousness, and honor {kavod: weighty respect}.
22 A wise person {chakam: skilled in understanding} goes up against the city of mighty men and brings down the strength of its confidence {mivtachah: secure trust}.
23 Whoever guards his mouth {piv: speech opening} and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles {mitzarot: calamities}.
24 “Scoffer” {lēṣ: scornful derider} is the name of the proud, haughty person, who acts in the wrath of arrogance {zāḏōn: reckless pride}.
25 The desire of the sluggard {atsel: idle individual} will kill him, for his hands refuse {meanu: willfully decline} to act.
26 All day long he longs {hitavvah: Strong Craving} for more, but the righteous {tsaddiq: Morally Upright} gives and does not withhold.
27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination {toevah: moral detestation}, especially when he brings it with wicked intent {zimmah: premeditated evil}.
28 A false witness will perish{yoved: destined failure}, but a man who hears will speak with endurance{lanetzach: continually without end}.
29 The wicked man puts on {heez: enacts resolute defiance} a bold face, but the upright establishes {yakin: prepares firmly} and discerns his way.
30 There is no wisdom or understanding, and no counsel {etzah: deliberative advice} can stand before the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Sovereign}.
31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance {teshuah: decisive salvation} belongs to the LORD {YHWH, Ultimate Rescuer}.