4 By justice a king builds up the land,

but he who exacts gifts tears it down.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

6 An evil man is ensnared in his transgression,

but a righteous man sings and rejoices.

7 A righteous man knows the rights of the poor;

a wicked man does not understand such knowledge.

8 Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man has an argument with a fool,

the fool only rages and laughs, and there is no quiet.

10 Bloodthirsty men hate one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright.

11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,

but a wise man quietly holds it back.

4 The king by judgment establisheth the land:

But he that receiveth gifts overthroweth it.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour

Spreadeth a net for his feet.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare:

But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous considereth the cause of the poor:

But the wicked regardeth not to know it.

8 Scornful men bring a city into a snare:

But wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man,

Whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the upright:

But the just seek his soul.

11 A fool uttereth all his mind:

But a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

4 A just king gives stability to his nation,

but one who demands bribes destroys it.

5 To flatter friends

is to lay a trap for their feet.

6 Evil people are trapped by sin,

but the righteous escape, shouting for joy.

7 The godly care about the rights of the poor;

the wicked don’t care at all.

8 Mockers can get a whole town agitated,

but the wise will calm anger.

9 If a wise person takes a fool to court,

there will be ranting and ridicule but no satisfaction.

10 The bloodthirsty hate blameless people,

but the upright seek to help them.

11 Fools vent their anger,

but the wise quietly hold it back.

4 The king establishes the land by justice,

But he who receives bribes overthrows it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor

Spreads a net for his feet.

6 By transgression an evil man is snared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices.

7 The righteous considers the cause of the poor,

But the wicked does not understand such knowledge.

8 Scoffers set a city aflame,

But wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man contends with a foolish man,

Whether the fool rages or laughs, there is no peace.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,

But the upright seek his well-being.

11 A fool vents all his feelings,

But a wise man holds them back.

4 If a king is fair, he makes his country strong,

but if he takes gifts dishonestly, he tears his country down.

5 Those who give false praise to their neighbors

are setting a trap for them.

6 Evil people are trapped by their own sin,

but good people can sing and be happy.

7 Good people care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked are not concerned.

8 People who make fun of wisdom cause trouble in a city,

but wise people calm anger down.

9 When a wise person takes a foolish person to court,

the fool only shouts or laughs, and there is no peace.

10 Murderers hate an honest person

and try to kill those who do right.

11 Foolish people lose their tempers,

but wise people control theirs.

4 The king by justice establisheth the land;

But he that exacteth gifts overthroweth it.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbor

Spreadeth a net for his steps.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare;

But the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor;

The wicked hath not understanding to know it.

8 Scoffers set a city in a flame;

But wise men turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man hath a controversy with a foolish man,

Whether he be angry or laugh, there will be no rest.

10 The bloodthirsty hate him that is perfect;

And as for the upright, they seek his life.

11 A fool uttereth all his anger;

But a wise man keepeth it back and stilleth it.

4 A king by just judgment establisheth the land; but he that taketh gifts overthroweth it.

5 A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.

6 In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous shall sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; the wicked understandeth not knowledge.

8 Scornful men set the city in a flame; but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise man contendeth with a fool, whether he rage or laugh, he hath no rest.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the perfect, but the upright care for his soul.

11 A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it back.

4 By means of justice, a king builds up a country, 

but a person who confiscates religious contributions tears it down. 

5 A person who flatters his neighbor 

is spreading a net for him to step into. 

6 To an evil person sin is bait in a trap, 

but a righteous person runs away from itand is glad. 

7 A righteous person knows the just cause of the poor. 

A wicked person does not understand this. 

8 Mockers create an uproar in a city, 

but wise people turn away anger. 

9 When a wise person goes to court with a stubborn fool, 

he may rant and rave, 

but there is no peace and quiet. 

10 Bloodthirsty people hate an innocent person, 

but decent people seek ⸤to protect⸥ his life. 

11 A fool expresses all his emotions, 

but a wise person controls them. 

4 By justice a king brings stability to a land,

but a man who demands “contributions”

demolishes it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his feet.

6 An evil man is caught by sin,

but the righteous one sings and rejoices.

7 The righteous person knows the rights of the poor,

but the wicked one does not understand these concerns.

8 Mockers inflame a city,

but the wise turn away anger.

9 If a wise man goes to court with a fool,

there will be ranting and raving but no resolution.

10 Bloodthirsty men hate an honest person,

but the upright care about him.

11 A fool gives full vent to his anger,

but a wise man holds it in check.

4 By justice a king gives stability to the land,

but one who makes heavy exactions ruins it.

5 Whoever flatters a neighbor

is spreading a net for the neighbor’s feet.

6 In the transgression of the evil there is a snare,

but the righteous sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous know the rights of the poor;

the wicked have no such understanding.

8 Scoffers set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

9 If the wise go to law with fools,

there is ranting and ridicule without relief.

10 The bloodthirsty hate the blameless,

and they seek the life of the upright.

11 A fool gives full vent to anger,

but the wise quietly holds it back.

4 By justice a king gives stability to a land,

but a man of bribes will ruin it.

5 A strong man who flatters his neighbor

is spreading a net for his feet.

6 In transgression, an evil man is a snare,

but the righteous will sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous knows the case of the poor,

but the wicked does not understand knowledge.

8 Men of scoffing set a city aflame,

but the wise turn away wrath.

9 If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man,

then there is rankling and ridicule, but there is no relief.

10 Men of blood hate the blameless,

and they seek the life of the upright.

11 A fool gives all his breath,

but the wise holds back in quiet.

4 By doing what is fair, a king makes a country secure.

But the one who wants to be paid off tears it down.

5 A man who only pretends to praise his neighbor

is spreading a net to catch him by the feet.

6 A sinful man is trapped by his own sin.

But a godly person can sing and be glad.

7 Those who do what is right want to treat poor people fairly.

But those who do what is wrong don’t care about the poor.

8 Those who make fun of others stir up a city.

But wise people turn anger away.

9 Suppose a wise man goes to court with a foolish person.

Then the foolish person gets mad and pokes fun. And there is no peace.

10 Murderers hate honest people.

They try to kill those who do what is right.

11 A foolish person lets his anger run wild.

But a wise person keeps himself under control.

4 The king gives stability to the land by justice,

But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

5 A man who flatters his neighbor

Is spreading a net for his steps.

6 By transgression an evil man is ensnared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices.

7 The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such concern.

8 Scorners set a city aflame,

But wise men turn away anger.

9 When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,

The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

10 Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,

But the upright are concerned for his life.

11 A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.