1. To the Lord, a king’s mind is like a ditch used to water the fields. He can lead the king wherever he wants him to go.
2. People think that whatever they do is right, but the Lord judges the reasons for everything they do.
3. Do what is right and fair. The Lord loves that more than sacrifices.
4. Proud looks and proud thoughts are sins. They show a person is evil.
5. Careful planning leads to profit. Acting too quickly leads to poverty.
6. Wealth that comes from telling lies disappears quickly and leads to death.
7. The bad things that evil people do will destroy them, because they refuse to do what is right.
8. Criminals cause trouble wherever they go, but good people are honest and fair.
9. It is better to live in a small corner on the roof than to share the house with a woman who is always arguing.
10. Evil people always want to do more evil, and they show no mercy to people around them.
11. When you punish a proud person who laughs at what is right, even fools will learn something. But a little instruction is enough for the wise to learn what they should.
12. God is good. He knows what the wicked are doing, and he will punish them.
13. Those who refuse to help the poor will not receive help when they need it themselves.