Proverbs 21:10–26

10 The wicked crave evil;

their neighbors get no mercy from them.

11 When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;

by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.m

12 The Righteous Oneb takes note of the house of the wicked

and brings the wicked to ruin.n

13 Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor

will also cry outo and not be answered.p

14 A gift given in secret soothes anger,

and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.q

15 When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous

but terror to evildoers.r

16 Whoever strays from the path of prudence

comes to rest in the company of the dead.s

17 Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;

whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.t

18 The wicked become a ransomu for the righteous,

and the unfaithful for the upright.

19 Better to live in a desert

than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.v

20 The wise store up choice food and olive oil,

but fools gulp theirs down.

21 Whoever pursues righteousness and love

finds life, prosperityc w and honor.x

22 One who is wise can go up against the city of the mightyy

and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

23 Those who guard their mouthsz and their tongues

keep themselves from calamity.a

24 The proud and arrogant personb—“Mocker” is his name—

behaves with insolent fury.

25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,c

because his hands refuse to work.

26 All day long he craves for more,

but the righteousd give without sparing.e