Wise Government

1 A wise judge will instruct his people. The government of a man of understanding will be well ordered.⁠a 2 The officials of a people are like their judge. A city’s inhabitants are like its ruler. 3 An undisciplined king will destroy his people. A city will be established through the understanding of the powerful. 4 The government of the earth is in the Lord’s hand. At the right time, he will raise up the right person to rule over it.⁠b 5 A man’s prosperity is in the Lord’s hand. He will bestow his honor on the scribe.

Pride and Its Consequences

6 Don’t be angry with your neighbor for every wrong. Do nothing through violence. 7 Pride is hateful to the Lord and people. Arrogance is abhorrent in the judgment of both. 8 Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation because of injustice, violence, and greed for money. There is no one more wicked than a greedy man, for he offers his own soul for sale.⁠c 9 Why are dirt and ashes proud? Because in life, my body decays.⁠d 10 A long disease mocks the physician. The king of today will die tomorrow. 11 For when a man is dead, he will inherit maggots, vermin, and worms.

12 Pride begins when a man turns away from the Lord. His heart has departed from him who made him.⁠e 13 For the beginning of pride is sin.⁠f Anyone who clings to it will overflow with detestable acts.⁠g For this reason the Lord brought extraordinary disasters on them and utterly overthrew them. 14 The Lord overturned the thrones of rulers and set the lowly in their place.⁠h 15 The Lord pulled up the roots of nations and planted the lowly in their place. 16 The Lord overthrew the lands of nations and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth. 17 He took some of them away and destroyed them, and erased their memory from the earth. 18 Pride has not been created for humans, or raging anger for the offspring of women.

Honor and Reverence

19 Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honor? Human offspring who break the commandments. 20 Among relatives, their ruler has honor. Those who fear the Lord have honor in his eyes. 22 The rich man, the honorable, and the poor all boast in the fear of the Lord. 23 It is not right to dishonor a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner. 24 The prince, the judge, and the powerful man will be honored. None of them is greater than someone who fears the Lord. 25 Free men will serve a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain.

Humility and Self-Respect

26 Don’t flaunt your wisdom in doing your work. Don’t boast in the time of your distress. 27 Anyone who works and has plenty of everything is better than someone who boasts but lacks bread. 28 My son, glorify your soul in humility, and give yourself honor in keeping with your worth. 29 Who will justify him who sins against his own soul? Who will honor him who dishonors his own life?

30 A poor man is honored for his knowledge. A rich man is honored for his riches. 31 If someone is honored in poverty, how much more will he be honored in wealth? If someone is dishonored in wealth, how much more will he be dishonored in poverty?