Like water courses is the king’s heart in the hand of the Lord: he directs it wherever he wishes.

As water courses [in the hands of a man], so is the heart of a king in the hand of the L-rd. Whithersoever He wishes, He inclines it.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord weighs the heart.

A man's every way is just in his eyes, but the L-rd counts the hearts.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

The doing of righteousness and justice is choicer to the L-rd than a sacrifice.

A haughty look, and a proud heart are the sinful growth of the wicked.

Haughtiness of eye and swelling of heart [i.e., desire to satisfy lust] is the plotting of the wicked, [and it is their] sin.

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but everyone that is hasty comes to want.

The thoughts of the upright are for gain alone, and all who are precipitate reap only loss.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapour: they lead to death.

The amassing of treasures with a false tongue is a smitten vapor; [they (the treasures) are] snares of death.

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do justice.

The theft of the wicked affrights them, for they refuse to deal justly [(by returning what they have stolen)].

The way of some men is crooked and strange; but as for the pure, his work is right.

Crooked is the way of a man who is strange [to mitzvoth]; but the pure one, his work is just.

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a roomy house.

Better to dwell on a rooftop corner than [to have] a contentious wife and [one who enters his] friend's house [to converse with his wife].

The soul of the wicked desires evil: his neighbour finds no favour in his eyes.

The soul of the evildoer desires evil [knowing that it is evil, and therefore,] his companion [in evil] will not find favor in his eyes.

When the scorner is punished, the simple man is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.

When the scoffer is punished, the simple one gains wisdom [and repents]; and when the wise one receives instruction, he gains wisdom.

The righteous man who considers the house of the wicked, leads the wicked astray to greater evil.

The Righteous One eyes the house of the wicked [(e.g., Amalek) to destroy it)]; He relegates the wicked to ruin.

Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

If one closes his ear to the pauper's cry, he, too, will call out and not be answered.

A gift in secret pacifies anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

The hidden gift [(charity)] will cover up wrath, and a bribe in the bosom [(likewise, charity)] [will cover up] strong fury.

It is joy to the just to do judgment: but it is the downfall of the workers of iniquity.

The doing of justice [(i.e., G-d's afflicting them)] is joy to the righteous [(in that it purges them for the world to come)], but it is breaking to the workers of iniquity [(in that they do not take heart to repent, so that the afflictions are "wasted" upon them)].

The man that wanders out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the shades.

The man who wanders from the path of wisdom [(Torah)] will rest in the congregation of the shades [(Gehinnom)].

He that loves pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loves wine and oil shall not be rich.

The lover of joy will be a man of want; the lover of wine and oil will not grow rich.

The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

The wicked one will be ransom for the righteous one [e.g., Haman for Mordecai], and the faithless one for the just.

It is better to live in the wilderness, than with a contentious and shrewish woman.

Better to dwell in a wasteland than with a contentious woman in the midst of anger.

Costly things and oil are treasured up in the wise man’s dwelling: but a fool devours them.

A goodly treasure and oil [endure] in the abode of the wise, and the folly of man swallows it up [at once].

He that follows righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness, and honour.

He who pursues righteousness and lovingkindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.

A wise man scales the city of the mighty, and casts down the stronghold in which it trusts.

The wise one [(Moses)] went up to the city of the strong [(the angels)] and brought down the "strength of its trust" [i.e., the Torah].

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.

One who guards his mouth and tongue [(from improper speech)] guards his soul from evil.

The proud and haughty one, scorner is his name, acts in arrogant wrath.

The wanton boaster, his name is "scoffer" [i.e., he is destined to become a scoffer.] He acts in the wrath of wantonness.

The desire of the lazy man kills him; for his hands refuse to labour;

The lust of the sluggard [(to vegetate)] will kill him, for his hands will refuse to do.

he covets greedily all the day long: but the righteous gives and spares not.

The whole day he will court lust, though the Righteous One give him [all of his necessities] and not spare.

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he brings it with evil intent?

The offering of the wicked is an abomination; how much more so when they bring it with evil intent [e.g., the offerings of Balak and Bilam].

A false witness shall perish: but the word of a man who truly attends shall endure.

The deceitful witness will go lost, but the man who heeds ["You shall not testify falsely against your neighbor" (Exodus 20:13)] will speak forever.

A wicked man hardens his face: but as for the upright, he considers his way.

The wicked man shows his brazenness in his wrath, but the upright one sets his paths aright.

There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the Lord.

There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the L-rd [(No honor is accorded the sage at the expense of desecration of the Name.)]

The horse is prepared for the day of battle: but safety comes from the Lord.

[Though] the horse be set for the day of war, the salvation is the L-rd's.