19. Don’t let those who are evil upset you, and don’t be jealous of them.
20. They have no hope. Their light will burn out.
21. Son, respect the Lord and the king, and don’t join with those who are against them,
22. because people like that can quickly be destroyed. You have no idea how much trouble God and the king can make for their enemies.
23. These are also words from the wise: A judge must be fair. He must not support some people simply because he knows them.
24. The people will turn against a judge who lets the guilty go free. Even the people of other nations will curse him.
25. But if a judge punishes the guilty, then people will be happy with him, and he will be a blessing to them.
26. An honest answer is as pleasing as a kiss on the lips.
27. First get your fields ready, next plant your crops, and then build your house.
28. Don’t speak against someone without a good reason, or you will appear foolish.
29. Don’t say, “You hurt me, so I will do the same to you. I will punish you for what you did to me.”
30. I walked past a field that belonged to a lazy man. It was a vineyard that belonged to someone who understood nothing.
31. Weeds were growing everywhere! Wild vines covered the ground, and the wall around the vineyard was broken and falling down.