Bible Reading Plan

¹ In the Lord 's hand the king's heart is a stream of water
     that he channels toward all who please him.^(a)

² A person may think their own ways are right,
     but the Lord weighs the heart.^(b)

³ To do what is right and just
     is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.^(c)

⁴ Haughty eyes^(d) and a proud heart—
     the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead to profit^(e)
     as surely as haste leads to poverty.

⁶ A fortune made by a lying tongue
     is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.^[a](f)

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,^(g)
     for they refuse to do what is right.

⁸ The way of the guilty is devious,^(h)
     but the conduct of the innocent is upright.

⁹ Better to live on a corner of the roof
     than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.⁽ⁱ⁾

¹⁰ The wicked crave evil;
     their neighbors get no mercy from them.

¹¹ When a mocker is punished, the simple gain wisdom;
     by paying attention to the wise they get knowledge.^(j)

¹² The Righteous One^[b] takes note of the house of the wicked
     and brings the wicked to ruin.^(k)

¹³ Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor
     will also cry out^(l) and not be answered.^(m)

¹⁴ A gift given in secret soothes anger,
     and a bribe concealed in the cloak pacifies great wrath.⁽ⁿ⁾

¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous
     but terror to evildoers.^(o)

¹⁶ Whoever strays from the path of prudence
     comes to rest in the company of the dead.^(p)

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;
     whoever loves wine and olive oil will never be rich.^(q)

¹⁸ The wicked become a ransom^(r) for the righteous,
     and the unfaithful for the upright.

¹⁹ Better to live in a desert
     than with a quarrelsome and nagging wife.^(s)

²⁰ The wise store up choice food and olive oil,
     but fools gulp theirs down.

²¹ Whoever pursues righteousness and love
     finds life, prosperity^[c](t) and honor.^(u)

²² One who is wise can go up against the city of the mighty^(v)
     and pull down the stronghold in which they trust.

²³ Those who guard their mouths^(w) and their tongues
     keep themselves from calamity.^(x)

²⁴ The proud and arrogant person^(y)—"Mocker" is his name—
     behaves with insolent fury.

²⁵ The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,^(z)
     because his hands refuse to work.
²⁶ All day long he craves for more,
     but the righteous^(aa) give without sparing.^(ab)

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is detestable^(ac)—
     how much more so when brought with evil intent!^(ad)

²⁸ A false witness^(ae) will perish,^(af)
     but a careful listener will testify successfully.

²⁹ The wicked put up a bold front,
     but the upright give thought to their ways.^(ag)

³⁰ There is no wisdom,^(ah) no insight, no plan
     that can succeed against the Lord .^(ai)

³¹ The horse is made ready for the day of battle,
     but victory rests with the Lord .^(aj)