1 The wicked person fled, though no one was pursuing,
but the righteous person can be as confident as a lion.
2 When a country is rebellious it has many princes,
but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.
3 A poor person who oppresses the weak
is like a driving rain without food.
4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law contend with them.
5 Evil people do not understand justice,
but those who seek the Lord understand it all.
6 A poor person who walks in his integrity is better
than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.
7 The one who keeps the law is a discerning child,
but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.
8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest
gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.
9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.
10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way
will himself fall into his own pit,
but the blameless will inherit what is good.
11 A rich person is wise in his own opinion,
but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.
12 When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory,
but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.
13 The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper,
but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.
14 Blessed is the one who is always cautious,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.
15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear,
so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.
16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom,
but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.
17 The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit;
let no one support him.
18 The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered,
but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.
19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,
but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.
20 A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings,
but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.
21 To show partiality is terrible,
for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.
22 The stingy person hastens after riches
and does not know that poverty will overtake him.
23 The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor
than the one who flatters with the tongue.
24 The one who robs his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,”
is a companion to the one who destroys.
25 The greedy person stirs up dissension,
but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
26 The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.
27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,
but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.
28 When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves,
but when they perish, the righteous increase.
1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except by God’s appointment, and the authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 2 So the person who resists such authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will incur judgment 3 (for rulers cause no fear for good conduct but for bad). Do you desire not to fear authority? Do good and you will receive its commendation 4 because it is God’s servant for your well-being. But be afraid if you do wrong because government does not bear the sword for nothing. It is God’s servant to administer punishment on the person who does wrong. 5 Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath of the authorities but also because of your conscience. 6 For this reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants devoted to governing. 7 Pay everyone what is owed: taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.
8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet,” (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
11 And do this because we know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers. 12 The night has advanced toward dawn; the day is near. So then we must lay aside the works of darkness, and put on the weapons of light. 13 Let us live decently as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in discord and jealousy. 14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.