<p class="poetry">An unreliable<n id="1" /> messenger falls<n id="2" /> into trouble,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but a faithful envoy<n id="4" /> brings<n id="5" /> healing.p>

<p class="poetry">A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul,p> <p class="poetry">but fools abhor<n id="1" /> turning away from evil.p>

<p class="poetry">Calamity<n id="1" /> pursues sinners,p> <p class="poetry">but prosperity rewards the righteous.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">A wise person is cautious<n id="1" /> and turns from evil,p> <p class="poetry">but a fool throws off restraint<n id="2" /> and is overconfident.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Those who are evil will bow<n id="1" /> before those who are good,p> <p class="poetry">and the wicked will bow<n id="2" /> at the gates<n id="3" /> of the righteous.p>

<p class="poetry">Do not those who devise<n id="1" /> evil go astray?p> <p class="poetry">But those who plan good exhibit<n id="2" /> faithful covenant love.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">The eyes of the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> are in every place,p> <p class="poetry">keeping watch<n id="2" /> on those who are evil and those who are good.p>

<p class="poetry">Severe discipline<n id="1" /> is for the one who abandons the way;p> <p class="poetry">the one who hates reproof<n id="2" /> will die.p>

<p class="poetry">All the days<n id="1" /> of the afflicted<n id="2" /> are bad,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but one with<n id="4" /> a cheerful heart has a continual feast.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> abhors<n id="1" /> the plans<n id="2" /> of the wicked,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but pleasant words<n id="4" /> are pure.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The heart of the righteous considers<n id="1" /> how<n id="2" /> to answer,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The <sc>Lordsc> works<n id="1" /> everything for its own ends<n id="2" /> &#8211;p> <p class="poetry">even the wicked for the day of disaster.<n id="3" />p>

<p class="poetry">Through loyal love and truth<n id="1" /> iniquity is appeased;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">through fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="3" /> one avoids<n id="4" /> evil.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">The highway<n id="1" /> of the upright is to turn<n id="2" /> away from evil;p> <p class="poetry">the one who guards<n id="3" /> his way safeguards his life.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">A wicked scoundrel<n id="1" /> digs up<n id="2" /> evil,p> <p class="poetry">and his slander<n id="3" /> is like a scorching fire.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">The one who winks his eyes<n id="1" /> devises perverse things,p> <p class="poetry">and<n id="2" /> one who compresses his lips<n id="3" /> brings about<n id="4" /> evil.p>

<p class="poetry">An evil person seeks only rebellion,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and so<n id="2" /> a cruel messenger<n id="3" /> will be sent against him.p>

<p class="poetry">Fearing the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> leads<n id="2" /> to life,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and one who does so will live<n id="4" /> satisfied; he will not be afflicted<n id="5" /> by calamity.p>

<p class="poetry">Do not say,<n id="1" /> &#8220;I will pay back<n id="2" /> evil!&#8221;p> <p class="poetry">Wait<n id="3" /> for the <sc>Lord,sc> so that he may vindicate you.<n id="4" />p>

<p class="poetry">Beatings and wounds cleanse away<n id="1" /> evil,p> <p class="poetry">and floggings cleanse<n id="2" /> the innermost being.<n id="3" />p>