God's people always know what to do
1Sinful people always run away
and flee, even if no one chases them,
but people who live in the right way don't run.
They are as brave as a lion.
2If the people in a land rebel,
there are many people who want to be leaders.
But when a wise man rules a land,
he will stay the leader for a long time.
3A poor man who oppresses poor people
is like a hail-storm
that destroys the harvest
so that there is no food to eat.
4People who don't listen
to the laws of God praise sinful people,
but people who do what God wants
are against bad people.
5Sinful people do not know
how to do what is right,
but people who serve the Lord
always know what to do.
6It is better to be poor and honest
than to be rich and dishonest.
7Wise children always want
to obey the laws of God,
but children make their father sad
when they are friends
with bad and immoral people.
8Some people become rich
because they make other people
pay too much interest,
but the Lord will take their money
and give it to someone
who helps poor people.
9Some people don't want to
obey the laws of God,
so when they pray,
the Lord does not want to listen to them.
10If someone deceives honest people
and makes them do wrong,
he will be destroyed and
he will fall into his own trap.
But the Lord will be good
to innocent people who live in the right way.
11Some rich people think they are very wise,
but poor people who understand life
will prove that they are wrong.
12When people who live in the right way
are happy and rejoice,
a lot of people celebrate with them,
but when sinful people start to rule,
people become afraid and hide themselves.
13If someone hides his sins,
he will never succeed in life.
But if you confess your sins
and stop doing what is wrong,
the Lord will be good to you.
He will give you mercy
and forgive your sins.
14The Lord will bless everyone
who fears and serves Him,
but everyone who is stubborn and
does not want to turn to God will suffer.
15If a sinful and cruel leader
rules over poor people,
he is like a lion that roars
or a bear that attacks people.
16A foolish king oppresses his people,
but a king who hates to be dishonest
will rule for a long time.
17If a person has murdered someone,
he will have to flee
and keep on running away until he dies
and no one should help him.
18If someone is honest and lives in the right way,
he will be safe,
but if he is dishonest,
he will be destroyed.
19If someone works in his field,
he will have enough food to eat,
but if he does not want to work
and does only things that are worthless,
he will stay poor.
20The Lord will bless someone
who always does what he has promised,
but He will punish a person
who wants to become rich very quickly.
21It is wrong if you are
not fair to all people.
Some people will sin easily,
even for a piece of bread.
22Someone who is selfish
always wants more and more,
but he does not know
that he will become poor.
23If someone warns you
that you are doing wrong,
you will be pleased with him later,
more than with someone
who says you are good and praises you.
24A person who steals from his parents
and says he did nothing wrong
is worse than a robber or a murderer.
25Someone who always
wants more and more
makes trouble for other people,
but someone who believes in God
will succeed and he will have enough.
26Someone who trusts in himself
and in his own knowledge
is foolish, but a person
who listens to wisdom will be saved.
27Someone who helps poor people
and gives them what they need
will always have enough,
but someone who looks away
when poor people ask him for help
will not be happy,
and people will curse him.
28When sinful people
become important and start to rule,
other people hide themselves,
but when those bad people fall down,
the people who live in the right way succeed.
