15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
both are detestable to the Lord.
16It is senseless to pay tuition to educate a fool,
since he has no heart for learning.
17A friend is always loyal,
and a brother is born to help in time of need.
18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt
or put up security for a friend.
19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin;
anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.
20The crooked heart will not prosper;
the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.
21It is painful to be the parent of a fool;
there is no joy for the father of a rebel.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.
23The wicked take secret bribes
to pervert the course of justice.
24Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25Foolish children bring grief to their father
and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.
26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good
or to flog leaders for being honest.
27A truly wise person uses few words;
a person with understanding is even-tempered.
28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent;
with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.
