4:1Give ear, my sons, to the teaching of a father; give attention so that you may have knowledge: 4:2For I give you good teaching; do not give up the knowledge you are getting from me. 4:3For I was a son to my father, a gentle and an only one to my mother. 4:4And he gave me teaching, saying to me, Keep my words in your heart; keep my rules so that you may have life: 4:5Get wisdom, get true knowledge; keep it in memory, do not be turned away from the words of my mouth. 4:6Do not give her up, and she will keep you; give her your love, and she will make you safe. 4:7The first sign of wisdom is to get wisdom; go, give all you have to get true knowledge. 4:8Put her in a high place, and you will be lifted up by her; she will give you honour, when you give her your love. 4:9She will put a crown of grace on your head, giving you a head-dress of glory. 4:10Give ear, O my son, and let your heart be open to my sayings; and long life will be yours. 4:11I have given you teaching in the way of wisdom, guiding your steps in the straight way. 4:12When you go, your way will not be narrow, and in running you will not have a fall. 4:13Take learning in your hands, do not let her go: keep her, for she is your life. 4:14Do not go in the road of sinners, or be walking in the way of evil men. 4:15Keep far from it, do not go near; be turned from it, and go on your way. 4:16For they take no rest till they have done evil; their sleep is taken away if they have not been the cause of someone's fall. 4:17The bread of evil-doing is their food, the wine of violent acts their drink. 4:18But the way of the upright is like the light of early morning, getting brighter and brighter till the full day. 4:19The way of sinners is dark; they see not the cause of their fall. 4:20My son, give attention to my words; let your ear be turned to my sayings. 4:21Let them not go from your eyes; keep them deep in your heart. 4:22For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh. 4:23And keep watch over your heart with all care; so you will have life. 4:24Put away from you an evil tongue, and let false lips be far from you. 4:25Keep your eyes on what is in front of you, looking straight before you. 4:26Keep a watch on your behaviour; let all your ways be rightly ordered. 4:27Let there be no turning to the right or to the left, keep your feet from evil.
5:1My son, give attention to my wisdom; let your ear be turned to my teaching: 5:2So that you may be ruled by a wise purpose, and your lips may keep knowledge. 5:3For honey is dropping from the lips of the strange woman, and her mouth is smoother than oil; 5:4But her end is bitter as wormwood, and sharp as a two-edged sword; 5:5Her feet go down to death, and her steps to the underworld; 5:6She never keeps her mind on the road of life; her ways are uncertain, she has no knowledge. 5:7Give ear to me then, my sons, and do not put away my words from you. 5:8Go far away from her, do not come near the door of her house; 5:9For fear that you may give your honour to others, and your wealth to strange men: 5:10And strange men may be full of your wealth, and the fruit of your work go to the house of others; 5:11And you will be full of grief at the end of your life, when your flesh and your body are wasted; 5:12And you will say, How was teaching hated by me, and my heart put no value on training; 5:13I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers, my ear was not turned to those who were guiding me! 5:14I was in almost all evil in the company of the people. 5:15Let water from your store and not that of others be your drink, and running water from your fountain. 5:16Let not your springs be flowing in the streets, or your streams of water in the open places. 5:17Let them be for yourself only, not for other men with you. 5:18Let blessing be on your fountain; have joy in the wife of your early years. 5:19As a loving hind and a gentle doe, let her breasts ever give you rapture; let your passion at all times be moved by her love. 5:20Why let yourself, my son, go out of the way with a strange woman, and take another woman in your arms? 5:21For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he puts all his goings in the scales. 5:22The evil-doer will be taken in the net of his crimes, and prisoned in the cords of his sin. 5:23He will come to his end for need of teaching; he is so foolish that he will go wandering from the right way.
6:1My son, if you have made yourself responsible for your neighbour, or given your word for another, 6:2You are taken as in a net by the words of your mouth, the sayings of your lips have overcome you. 6:3Do this, my son, and make yourself free, because you have come into the power of your neighbour; go without waiting, and make a strong request to your neighbour. 6:4Give no sleep to your eyes, or rest to them; 6:5Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a net for her. 6:6Go to the ant, you hater of work; give thought to her ways and be wise: 6:7Having no chief, overseer, or ruler, 6:8She gets her meat in the summer, storing up food at the time of the grain-cutting. 6:9How long will you be sleeping, O hater of work? when will you get up from your sleep? 6:10A little sleep, a little rest, a little folding of the hands in sleep: 6:11Then loss will come on you like an outlaw, and your need like an armed man 6:12A good-for-nothing man is an evil-doer; he goes on his way causing trouble with false words; 6:13Making signs with his eyes, rubbing with his feet, and giving news with his fingers; 6:14His mind is ever designing evil: he lets loose violent acts. 6:15For this cause his downfall will be sudden; quickly he will be broken, and there will be no help for him. 6:16Six things are hated by the Lord; seven things are disgusting to him: 6:17Eyes of pride, a false tongue, hands which take life without cause; 6:18A heart full of evil designs, feet which are quick in running after sin; 6:19A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers. 6:20My son, keep the rule of your father, and have in memory the teaching of your mother: 6:21Keep them ever folded in your heart, and have them hanging round your neck. 6:22In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you. 6:23For the rule is a light, and the teaching a shining light; and the guiding words of training are the way of life. 6:24They will keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the strange woman. 6:25Let not your heart's desire go after her fair body; let not her eyes take you prisoner. 6:26For a loose woman is looking for a cake of bread, but another man's wife goes after one's very life. 6:27May a man take fire to his breast without burning his clothing? 6:28Or may one go on lighted coals, and his feet not be burned? 6:29So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment. 6:30Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it: 6:31But if he is taken in the act he will have to give back seven times as much, giving up all his property which is in his house. 6:32He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul. 6:33Wounds will be his and loss of honour, and his shame may not be washed away. 6:34For bitter is the wrath of an angry husband; in the day of punishment he will have no mercy. 6:35He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.
7:1My son, keep my sayings, and let my rules be stored up with you. 7:2Keep my rules and you will have life; let my teaching be to you as the light of your eyes; 7:3Let them be fixed to your fingers, and recorded in your heart. 7:4Say to wisdom, You are my sister; let knowledge be named your special friend: 7:5So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth. 7:6Looking out from my house, and watching through the window, 7:7I saw among the young men one without sense, 7:8Walking in the street near the turn of her road, going on the way to her house, 7:9At nightfall, in the evening of the day, in the black dark of the night. 7:10And the woman came out to him, in the dress of a loose woman, with a designing heart; 7:11She is full of noise and uncontrolled; her feet keep not in her house. 7:12Now she is in the street, now in the open spaces, waiting at every turning of the road. 7:13So she took him by his hand, kissing him, and without a sign of shame she said to him: 7:14I have a feast of peace-offerings, for today my oaths have been effected. 7:15So I came out in the hope of meeting you, looking for you with care, and now I have you. 7:16My bed is covered with cushions of needlework, with coloured cloths of the cotton thread of Egypt; 7:17I have made my bed sweet with perfumes and spices. 7:18Come, let us take our pleasure in love till the morning, having joy in love's delights. 7:19For the master of the house is away on a long journey: 7:20He has taken a bag of money with him; he is coming back at the full moon. 7:21With her fair words she overcame him, forcing him with her smooth lips. 7:22The simple man goes after her, like an ox going to its death, like a roe pulled by a cord; 7:23Like a bird falling into a net; with no thought that his life is in danger, till an arrow goes into his side. 7:24So now, my sons, give ear to me; give attention to the sayings of my mouth; 7:25Let not your heart be turned to her ways, do not go wandering in her footsteps. 7:26For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army. 7:27Her house is the way to the underworld, going down to the rooms of death.
8:1Is not wisdom crying out, and the voice of knowledge sounding? 8:2At the top of the highways, at the meeting of the roads, she takes her place; 8:3Where the roads go into the town her cry goes out, at the doorways her voice is loud: 8:4I am crying out to you, O men; my voice comes to the sons of men. 8:5Become expert in reason, O you simple ones; you foolish ones, take training to heart. 8:6Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright. 8:7For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me. 8:8All the words of my mouth are righteousness; there is nothing false or twisted in them. 8:9They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge. 8:10Take my teaching, and not silver; get knowledge in place of the best gold. 8:11For wisdom is better than jewels, and all things which may be desired are nothing in comparison with her. 8:12I, wisdom, have made wise behaviour my near relation; I am seen to be the special friend of wise purposes. 8:13The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me. 8:14Wise design and good sense are mine; reason and strength are mine. 8:15Through me kings have their power, and rulers give right decisions. 8:16Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness. 8:17Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me. 8:18Wealth and honour are in my hands, even wealth without equal and righteousness. 8:19My fruit is better than gold, even than the best gold; and my increase is more to be desired than silver. 8:20I go in the road of righteousness, in the way of right judging: 8:21So that I may give my lovers wealth for their heritage, making their store-houses full. 8:22The Lord made me as the start of his way, the first of his works in the past. 8:23From eternal days I was given my place, from the birth of time, before the earth was. 8:24When there was no deep I was given birth, when there were no fountains flowing with water. 8:25Before the mountains were put in their places, before the hills was my birth: 8:26When he had not made the earth or the fields or the dust of the world. 8:27When he made ready the heavens I was there: when he put an arch over the face of the deep: 8:28When he made strong the skies overhead: when the fountains of the deep were fixed: 8:29When he put a limit to the sea, so that the waters might not go against his word: when he put in position the bases of the earth: 8:30Then I was by his side, as a master workman: and I was his delight from day to day, playing before him at all times; 8:31Playing in his earth; and my delight was with the sons of men. 8:32Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways. 8:33Take my teaching and be wise; do not let it go. 8:34Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house. 8:35For whoever gets me gets life, and grace from the Lord will come to him. 8:36But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.
9:1Wisdom has made her house, putting up her seven pillars. 9:2She has put her fat beasts to death; her wine is mixed, her table is ready. 9:3She has sent out her women-servants; her voice goes out to the highest places of the town, saying, 9:4Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says: 9:5Come, take of my bread, and of my wine which is mixed. 9:6Give up the simple ones and have life, and go in the way of knowledge. 9:7He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name. 9:8Do not say sharp words to a man of pride, or he will have hate for you; make them clear to a wise man, and you will be dear to him. 9:9Give teaching to a wise man, and he will become wiser; give training to an upright man, and his learning will be increased. 9:10The fear of the Lord is the start of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One gives a wise mind 9:11For by me your days will be increased, and the years of your life will be long. 9:12If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if your heart is full of pride, you only will have the pain of it. 9:13The foolish woman is full of noise; she has no sense at all. 9:14Seated at the door of her house, in the high places of the town, 9:15Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says: 9:16Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says: 9:17Drink taken without right is sweet, and food in secret is pleasing. 9:18But he does not see that the dead are there, that her guests are in the deep places of the underworld.
10:1A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother. 10:2Wealth which comes from sin is of no profit, but righteousness gives salvation from death. 10:3The Lord will not let the upright be in need of food, but he puts far from him the desire of the evil-doers. 10:4He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth. 10:5He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame. 10:6Blessings are on the head of the upright, but the face of sinners will be covered with sorrow. 10:7The memory of the upright is a blessing, but the name of the evil-doer will be turned to dust. 10:8The wise-hearted man will let himself be ruled, but the man whose talk is foolish will have a fall. 10:9He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low. 10:10He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace. 10:11The mouth of the upright man is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the evil-doer is a bitter cup. 10:12Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love. 10:13In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense. 10:14Knowledge is stored up by the wise, but the mouth of the foolish man is a destruction which is near. 10:15The property of the man of wealth is his strong town: the poor man's need is his destruction. 10:16The work of the upright gives life: the increase of the evil-doer is a cause of sin. 10:17He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he who gives up training is a cause of error. 10:18Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish. 10:19Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely. 10:20The tongue of the upright man is like tested silver: the heart of the evil-doer is of little value. 10:21The lips of the upright man give food to men, but the foolish come to death for need of sense. 10:22The blessing of the Lord gives wealth: hard work makes it no greater. 10:23It is sport to the foolish man to do evil, but the man of good sense takes delight in wisdom. 10:24The thing feared by the evil-doer will come to him, but the upright man will get his desire. 10:25When the storm-wind is past, the sinner is seen no longer, but the upright man is safe for ever. 10:26Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him. 10:27The fear of the Lord gives long life, but the years of the evil-doer will be cut short. 10:28The hope of the upright man will give joy, but the waiting of the evil-doer will have its end in sorrow. 10:29The way of the Lord is a strong tower for the upright man, but destruction to the workers of evil. 10:30The upright man will never be moved, but evil-doers will not have a safe resting-place in the land. 10:31The mouth of the upright man is budding with wisdom, but the twisted tongue will be cut off. 10:32The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.
11:1Scales of deceit are hated by the Lord, but a true weight is his delight. 11:2When pride comes, there comes shame, but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit. 11:3The righteousness of the upright will be their guide, but the twisted ways of the false will be their destruction. 11:4Wealth is of no profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness keeps a man safe from death. 11:5The righteousness of the good man will make his way straight, but the sin of the evil-doer will be the cause of his fall. 11:6The righteousness of the upright will be their salvation, but the false will themselves be taken in their evil designs. 11:7At the death of an upright man his hope does not come to an end, but the hope of the evil-doer comes to destruction. 11:8The upright man is taken out of trouble, and in his place comes the sinner. 11:9With his mouth the evil man sends destruction on his neighbour; but through knowledge the upright are taken out of trouble. 11:10When things go well for the upright man, all the town is glad; at the death of sinners, there are cries of joy. 11:11By the blessing of the upright man the town is made great, but it is overturned by the mouth of the evil-doer. 11:12He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet. 11:13He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered. 11:14When there is no helping suggestion the people will have a fall, but with a number of wise guides they will be safe. 11:15He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe. 11:16A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth. 11:17The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself. 11:18The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness. 11:19So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself. 11:20The uncontrolled are hated by the Lord, but those whose ways are without error are his delight 11:21Certainly the evil-doer will not go free from punishment, but the seed of the upright man will be safe. 11:22Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense. 11:23The desire of the upright man is only for good, but wrath is waiting for the evil-doer. 11:24A man may give freely, and still his wealth will be increased; and another may keep back more than is right, but only comes to be in need. 11:25He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed. 11:26He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price. 11:27He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it. 11:28He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf. 11:29The troubler of his house will have the wind for his heritage, and the foolish will be servant to the wise-hearted. 11:30The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, but violent behaviour takes away souls. 11:31If the upright man is rewarded on earth, how much more the evil-doer and the sinner!
12:1A lover of training is a lover of knowledge; but a hater of teaching is like a beast. 12:2A good man has grace in the eyes of the Lord; but the man of evil designs gets punishment from him. 12:3No man will make himself safe through evil-doing; but the root of upright men will never be moved. 12:4A woman of virtue is a crown to her husband; but she whose behaviour is a cause of shame is like a wasting disease in his bones. 12:5The purposes of upright men are right, but the designs of evil-doers are deceit. 12:6The words of sinners are destruction for the upright; but the mouth of upright men is their salvation. 12:7Evil-doers are overturned and never seen again, but the house of upright men will keep its place. 12:8A man will be praised in the measure of his wisdom, but a wrong-minded man will be looked down on. 12:9He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread. 12:10An upright man has thought for the life of his beast, but the hearts of evil-doers are cruel. 12:11He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense. 12:12The resting-place of the sinner will come to destruction, but the root of upright men is for ever. 12:13In the sin of the lips is a net which takes the sinner, but the upright man will come out of trouble. 12:14From the fruit of his mouth will a man have good food in full measure, and the work of a man's hands will be rewarded. 12:15The way of the foolish man seems right to him? but the wise man gives ear to suggestions. 12:16A foolish man lets his trouble be openly seen, but a sharp man keeps shame secret. 12:17The breathing out of true words gives knowledge of righteousness; but a false witness gives out deceit. 12:18There are some whose uncontrolled talk is like the wounds of a sword, but the tongue of the wise makes one well again. 12:19True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is only for a minute. 12:20Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy. 12:21No trouble will come to upright men, but sinners will be full of evil. 12:22False lips are hated by the Lord, but those whose acts are true are his delight. 12:23A sharp man keeps back his knowledge; but the heart of foolish men makes clear their foolish thoughts. 12:24The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work. 12:25Care in the heart of a man makes it weighted down, but a good word makes it glad. 12:26The upright man is a guide to his neighbour, but the way of evil-doers is a cause of error to them. 12:27He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth. 12:28In the road of righteousness is life, but the way of the evil-doer goes to death.
13:1A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words. 13:2A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts. 13:3He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction. 13:4The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat. 13:5The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame. 13:6Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin. 13:7A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth. 13:8A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words. 13:9There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out. 13:10The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit. 13:11Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased. 13:12Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life. 13:13He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded. 13:14The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death. 13:15Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction. 13:16A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts. 13:17A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well. 13:18Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured. 13:19To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish. 13:20Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken. 13:21Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good. 13:22The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man. 13:23There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing. 13:24He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care. 13:25The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.
14:1Wisdom is building her house, but the foolish woman is pulling it down with her hands. 14:2He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour. 14:3In the mouth of the foolish man is a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will keep them safe. 14:4Where there are no oxen, their food-place is clean; but much increase comes through the strength of the ox. 14:5A true witness does not say what is false, but a false witness is breathing out deceit. 14:6The hater of authority, searching for wisdom, does not get it; but knowledge comes readily to the open-minded man. 14:7Go away from the foolish man, for you will not see the lips of knowledge. 14:8The wisdom of the man of good sense makes his way clear; but the unwise behaviour of the foolish is deceit. 14:9In the tents of those hating authority there is error, but in the house of the upright man there is grace. 14:10No one has knowledge of a man's grief but himself; and a strange person has no part in his joy. 14:11The house of the sinner will be overturned, but the tent of the upright man will do well. 14:12There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death. 14:13Even while laughing the heart may be sad; and after joy comes sorrow. 14:14He whose heart is turned away will have the reward of his ways in full measure; but a good man will have the reward of his doings. 14:15The simple man has faith in every word, but the man of good sense gives thought to his footsteps. 14:16The wise man, fearing, keeps himself from evil; but the foolish man goes on in his pride, with no thought of danger. 14:17He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet. 14:18Foolish behaviour is the heritage of the simple, but men of good sense are crowned with knowledge. 14:19The knees of the evil are bent before the good; and sinners go down in the dust at the doors of the upright. 14:20The poor man is hated even by his neighbour, but the man of wealth has numbers of friends. 14:21He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy. 14:22Will not the designers of evil come into error? But mercy and good faith are for the designers of good. 14:23In all hard work there is profit, but talk only makes a man poor. 14:24Their wisdom is a crown to the wise, but their foolish behaviour is round the head of the unwise. 14:25A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit. 14:26For him in whose heart is the fear of the Lord there is strong hope: and his children will have a safe place. 14:27The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, by which one may be turned from the nets of death. 14:28A king's glory is in the number of his people: and for need of people a ruler may come to destruction. 14:29He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish. 14:30A quiet mind is the life of the body, but envy is a disease in the bones. 14:31He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour. 14:32The sinner is overturned in his evil-doing, but the upright man has hope in his righteousness. 14:33Wisdom has her resting-place in the mind of the wise, but she is not seen among the foolish. 14:34By righteousness a nation is lifted up, but sin is a cause of shame to the peoples. 14:35The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.
15:1By a soft answer wrath is turned away, but a bitter word is a cause of angry feelings. 15:2Knowledge is dropping from the tongue of the wise; but from the mouth of the foolish comes a stream of foolish words. 15:3The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. 15:4A comforting tongue is a tree of life, but a twisted tongue is a crushing of the spirit. 15:5A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense. 15:6In the house of the upright man there is a great store of wealth; but in the profits of the sinner there is trouble. 15:7The lips of the wise keep knowledge, but the heart of the foolish man is not right. 15:8The offering of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright man is his delight. 15:9The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him. 15:10There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching. 15:11Before the Lord are the underworld and destruction: how much more, then, the hearts of the children of men! 15:12The hater of authority has no love for teaching: he will not go to the wise. 15:13A glad heart makes a shining face, but by the sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. 15:14The heart of the man of good sense goes in search of knowledge, but foolish things are the food of the unwise. 15:15All the days of the troubled are evil; but he whose heart is glad has an unending feast. 15:16Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great wealth together with trouble. 15:17Better is a simple meal where love is, than a fat ox and hate with it. 15:18An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting. 15:19Thorns are round the way of the hater of work; but the road of the hard worker becomes a highway. 15:20A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish man has no respect for his mother. 15:21Foolish behaviour is joy to the unwise; but a man of good sense makes his way straight. 15:22Where there are no wise suggestions, purposes come to nothing; but by a number of wise guides they are made certain. 15:23A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is! 15:24Acting wisely is the way of life, guiding a man away from the underworld. 15:25The house of the man of pride will be uprooted by the Lord, but he will make safe the heritage of the widow. 15:26Evil designs are disgusting to the Lord, but the words of the clean-hearted are pleasing. 15:27He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life. 15:28The heart of the upright gives thought to his answer; but from the mouth of the evil-doer comes a stream of evil things. 15:29The Lord is far from sinners, but his ear is open to the prayer of the upright. 15:30The light of the eyes is a joy to the heart, and good news makes the bones fat. 15:31The man whose ear is open to the teaching of life will have his place among the wise. 15:32He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom. 15:33The fear of the Lord is the teaching of wisdom; and a low opinion of oneself goes before honour.
16:1The designs of the heart are man's, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord. 16:2All a man's ways are clean to himself; but the Lord puts men's spirits into his scales. 16:3Put your works into the hands of the Lord, and your purposes will be made certain. 16:4The Lord has made everything for his purpose, even the sinner for the day of evil. 16:5Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment. 16:6By mercy and good faith evil-doing is taken away: and by the fear of the Lord men are turned away from evil. 16:7When a man's ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his haters be at peace with him. 16:8Better is a little with righteousness, than great wealth with wrongdoing. 16:9A man may make designs for his way, but the Lord is the guide of his steps. 16:10Decision is in the lips of the king: his mouth will not go wrong in judging. 16:11True measures and scales are the Lord's: all the weights of the bag are his work. 16:12Evil-doing is disgusting to kings: for the seat of the ruler is based on righteousness. 16:13Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him. 16:14The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it. 16:15In the light of the king's face there is life; and his approval is like a cloud of spring rain. 16:16How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get knowledge is more to be desired than silver. 16:17The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul. 16:18Pride goes before destruction, and a stiff spirit before a fall. 16:19Better it is to have a gentle spirit with the poor, than to take part in the rewards of war with men of pride. 16:20He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy. 16:21The wise-hearted will be named men of good sense: and by pleasing words learning is increased. 16:22Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour. 16:23The heart of the wise man is the teacher of his mouth, and gives increased learning to his lips. 16:24Pleasing words are like honey, sweet to the soul and new life to the bones. 16:25There is a way which seems straight before a man, but its end is the ways of death. 16:26The desire of the working man is working for him, for his need of food is driving him on. 16:27A good-for-nothing man is a designer of evil, and in his lips there is a burning fire. 16:28A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends. 16:29A violent man puts desire of evil into his neighbour's mind, and makes him go in a way which is not good. 16:30He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about. 16:31The grey head is a crown of glory, if it is seen in the way of righteousness. 16:32He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town. 16:33A thing may be put to the decision of chance, but it comes about through the Lord.
17:1Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour. 17:2A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers. 17:3The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. 17:4A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue. 17:5Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment. 17:6Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers. 17:7Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler. 17:8An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well. 17:9He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends. 17:10A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man. 17:11An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him. 17:12It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly. 17:13If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house. 17:14The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows. 17:15He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord. 17:16How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense? 17:17A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble. 17:18A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour. 17:19The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction. 17:20Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble. 17:21He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy. 17:22A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry. 17:23A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause. 17:24Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth. 17:25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth. 17:26To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness. 17:27He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. 17:28Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
18:1He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense. 18:2A foolish man has no pleasure in good sense, but only to let what is in his heart come to light. 18:3When the evil-doer comes, a low opinion comes with him, and with the loss of honour comes shame. 18:4The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters: the fountain of wisdom is like a flowing stream. 18:5To have respect for the person of the evil-doer is not good, or to give a wrong decision against the upright. 18:6A foolish man's lips are a cause of fighting, and his mouth makes him open to blows. 18:7The mouth of a foolish man is his destruction, and his lips are a net for his soul. 18:8The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach. 18:9He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction. 18:10The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the upright man running into it is safe. 18:11The property of a man of wealth is his strong town, and it is as a high wall in the thoughts of his heart. 18:12Before destruction the heart of man is full of pride, and before honour goes a gentle spirit. 18:13To give an answer before hearing is a foolish thing and a cause of shame. 18:14The spirit of a man will be his support when he is ill; but how may a broken spirit be lifted up? 18:15The heart of the man of good sense gets knowledge; the ear of the wise is searching for knowledge. 18:16A man's offering makes room for him, letting him come before great men. 18:17The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light. 18:18The decision of chance puts an end to argument, parting the strong. 18:19A brother wounded is like a strong town, and violent acts are like a locked tower. 18:20With the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach will be full; the produce of his lips will be his in full measure. 18:21Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food. 18:22Whoever gets a wife gets a good thing, and has the approval of the Lord. 18:23The poor man makes requests for grace, but the man of wealth gives a rough answer. 18:24There are friends who may be a man's destruction, but there is a lover who keeps nearer than a brother.
19:1Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are twisted. 19:2Further, without knowledge desire is not good; and he who is over-quick in acting goes out of the right way. 19:3By his foolish behaviour a man's ways are turned upside down, and his heart is bitter against the Lord. 19:4Wealth makes a great number of friends; but the poor man is parted from his friend. 19:5A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will not go free. 19:6Great numbers will make attempts to get the approval of a ruler: and every man is the special friend of him who has something to give. 19:7All the brothers of the poor man are against him: how much more do his friends go far from him! ... 19:8He who gets wisdom has love for his soul: he who keeps good sense will get what is truly good. 19:9A false witness will not go without punishment, and the breather out of deceit will be cut off. 19:10Material comfort is not good for the foolish; much less for a servant to be put over rulers. 19:11A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory. 19:12The king's wrath is like the loud cry of a lion, but his approval is like dew on the grass. 19:13A foolish son is the destruction of his father; and the bitter arguments of a wife are like drops of rain falling without end. 19:14House and wealth are a heritage from fathers, but a wife with good sense is from the Lord. 19:15Hate of work sends deep sleep on a man: and he who has no industry will go without food. 19:16He who keeps the law keeps his soul; but death will be the fate of him who takes no note of the word. 19:17He who has pity on the poor gives to the Lord, and the Lord will give him his reward. 19:18Give your son training while there is hope; let not your heart be purposing his death. 19:19A man of great wrath will have to take his punishment: for if you get him out of trouble you will have to do it again. 19:20Let your ear be open to suggestion and take teaching, so that at the end you may be wise. 19:21A man's heart may be full of designs, but the purpose of the Lord is unchanging. 19:22The ornament of a man is his mercy, and a poor man is better than one who is false. 19:23The fear of the Lord gives life: and he who has it will have need of nothing; no evil will come his way. 19:24The hater of work puts his hand deep into the basin, and will not even take it to his mouth again. 19:25When blows overtake the man of pride, the simple will get sense; say sharp words to the wise, and knowledge will be made clear to him. 19:26He who is violent to his father, driving away his mother, is a son causing shame and a bad name. 19:27A son who no longer gives attention to teaching is turned away from the words of knowledge. 19:28A good-for-nothing witness makes sport of the judge's decision: and the mouth of evil-doers sends out evil like a stream. 19:29Rods are being made ready for the man of pride, and blows for the back of the foolish.
20:1Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise. 20:2The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself. 20:3It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war. 20:4The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing. 20:5The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out. 20:6Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen? 20:7An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him! 20:8A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes. 20:9Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin? 20:10Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord. 20:11Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right. 20:12The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work. 20:13Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough. 20:14A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got. 20:15There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price. 20:16Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men. 20:17Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand. 20:18Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war. 20:19He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide. 20:20If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night. 20:21A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing. 20:22Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour. 20:23Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good. 20:24A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way? 20:25It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them. 20:26A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them. 20:27The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body. 20:28Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts. 20:29The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs. 20:30By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.
21:1The king's heart in the hands of the Lord is like the water streams, and by him it is turned in any direction at his pleasure. 21:2Every way of a man seems right to himself, but the Lord is the tester of hearts. 21:3To do what is right and true is more pleasing to the Lord than an offering. 21:4A high look and a heart of pride, *** of the evil-doer is sin. 21:5The purposes of the man of industry have their outcome only in wealth; but one who is over-quick in acting will only come to be in need. 21:6He who gets stores of wealth by a false tongue, is going after what is only breath, and searching for death. 21:7By their violent acts the evil-doers will be pulled away, because they have no desire to do what is right. 21:8Twisted is the way of him who is full of crime; but as for him whose heart is clean, his work is upright. 21:9It is better to be living in an angle of the house-top, than with a bitter-tongued woman in a wide house. 21:10The desire of the evil-doer is fixed on evil: he has no kind feeling for his neighbour. 21:11When the man of pride undergoes punishment, the simple man gets wisdom; and by watching the wise he gets knowledge. 21:12The Upright One, looking on the house of the evil-doer, lets sinners be overturned to their destruction. 21:13He whose ears are stopped at the cry of the poor, will himself get no answer to his cry for help. 21:14By a secret offering wrath is turned away, and the heat of angry feelings by money in the folds of the robe. 21:15It is a joy to the good man to do right, but it is destruction to the workers of evil. 21:16The wanderer from the way of knowledge will have his resting-place among the shades. 21:17The lover of pleasure will be a poor man: the lover of wine and oil will not get wealth. 21:18The evil-doer will be given as a price for the life of the good man, and the worker of deceit in the place of the upright. 21:19It is better to be living in a waste land, than with a bitter-tongued and angry woman. 21:20There is a store of great value in the house of the wise, but it is wasted by the foolish man. 21:21He who goes after righteousness and mercy will get life, righteousness, and honour. 21:22A wise man goes up into the town of the strong ones, and overcomes its strength in which they put their faith. 21:23He who keeps watch over his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles. 21:24The man of pride, lifted up in soul, is named high-hearted; he is acting in an outburst of pride. 21:25The desire of the hater of work is death to him, for his hands will do no work. 21:26All the day the sinner goes after his desire: but the upright man gives freely, keeping nothing back. 21:27The offering of evil-doers is disgusting: how much more when they give it with an evil purpose! 21:28A false witness will be cut off, ... 21:29The evil-doer makes his face hard, but as for the upright, he gives thought to his way. 21:30Wisdom and knowledge and wise suggestions are of no use against the Lord. 21:31The horse is made ready for the day of war, but power to overcome is from the Lord.
22:1A good name is more to be desired than great wealth, and to be respected is better than silver and gold. 22:2The man of wealth and the poor man come face to face: the Lord is the maker of them all. 22:3The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble. 22:4The reward of a gentle spirit and the fear of the Lord is wealth and honour and life. 22:5Thorns and nets are in the way of the twisted: he who keeps watch over his soul will be far from them. 22:6If a child is trained up in the right way, even when he is old he will not be turned away from it. 22:7The man of wealth has rule over the poor, and he who gets into debt is a servant to his creditor. 22:8By planting the seed of evil a man will get in the grain of sorrow, and the rod of his wrath will be broken. 22:9He who is kind will have a blessing, for he gives of his bread to the poor. 22:10Send away the man of pride, and argument will go out; truly fighting and shame will come to an end. 22:11He whose heart is clean is dear to the Lord; for the grace of his lips the king will be his friend. 22:12The eyes of the Lord keep knowledge, but by him the acts of the false man will be overturned. 22:13The hater of work says, There is a lion outside: I will be put to death in the streets. 22:14The mouth of strange women is a deep hole: he with whom the Lord is angry will go down into it. 22:15Foolish ways are deep-seated in the heart of a child, but the rod of punishment will send them far from him. 22:16He who is cruel to the poor for the purpose of increasing his profit, and he who gives to the man of wealth, will only come to be in need. 22:17Let your ear be bent down for hearing my words, and let your heart give thought to knowledge. 22:18For it is a delight to keep them in your heart, to have them ready on your lips. 22:19So that your faith may be in the Lord, I have made them clear to you this day, even to you. 22:20Have I not put in writing for you thirty sayings, with wise suggestions and knowledge, 22:21To make you see how certain are true words, so that you may give a true answer to those who put questions to you? 22:22Do not take away the property of the poor man because he is poor, or be cruel to the crushed ones when they come before the judge: 22:23For the Lord will give support to their cause, and take the life of those who take their goods. 22:24Do not be friends with a man who is given to wrath; do not go in the company of an angry man: 22:25For fear of learning his ways and making a net ready for your soul. 22:26Be not one of those who give their hands in an agreement, or of those who make themselves responsible for debts: 22:27If you have nothing with which to make payment, he will take away your bed from under you. 22:28Let not the old landmark be moved which your fathers have put in place. 22:29Have you seen a man who is expert in his business? he will take his place before kings; his place will not be among low persons.
23:1When you take your seat at the feast with a ruler, give thought with care to what is before you; 23:2And put a knife to your throat, if you have a strong desire for food. 23:3Have no desire for his delicate food, for it is the bread of deceit. 23:4Take no care to get wealth; let there be an end to your desire for money. 23:5Are your eyes lifted up to it? it is gone: for wealth takes to itself wings, like an eagle in flight up to heaven. 23:6Do not take the food of him who has an evil eye, or have any desire for his delicate meat: 23:7For as the thoughts of his heart are, so is he: Take food and drink, he says to you; but his heart is not with you. 23:8The food which you have taken will come up again, and your pleasing words will be wasted. 23:9Say nothing in the hearing of a foolish man, for he will put no value on the wisdom of your words. 23:10Do not let the landmark of the widow be moved, and do not go into the fields of those who have no father; 23:11For their saviour is strong, and he will take up their cause against you. 23:12Give your heart to teaching, and your ears to the words of knowledge. 23:13Do not keep back training from the child: for even if you give him blows with the rod, it will not be death to him. 23:14Give him blows with the rod, and keep his soul safe from the underworld. 23:15My son, if your heart becomes wise, I, even I, will be glad in heart; 23:16And my thoughts in me will be full of joy when your lips say right things. 23:17Have no envy of sinners in your heart, but keep in the fear of the Lord all through the day; 23:18For without doubt there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off. 23:19Give ear, my son, and be wise, guiding your heart in the right way. 23:20Do not be among those who give themselves to wine-drinking, or among those who make themselves full with meat: 23:21For those who take delight in drink and feasting will come to be in need; and through love of sleep a man will be poorly clothed. 23:22Give ear to your father whose child you are, and do not keep honour from your mother when she is old. 23:23Get for yourself that which is true, and do not let it go for money; get wisdom and teaching and good sense. 23:24The father of the upright man will be glad, and he who has a wise child will have joy because of him. 23:25Let your father and your mother be glad, let her who gave you birth have joy. 23:26My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes take delight in my ways. 23:27For a loose woman is a deep hollow, and a strange woman is a narrow water-hole. 23:28Yes, she is waiting secretly like a beast for its food, and deceit by her is increased among men. 23:29Who says, Oh! who says, Ah! who has violent arguments, who has grief, who has wounds without cause, whose eyes are dark? 23:30Those who are seated late over the wine: those who go looking for mixed wine. 23:31Keep your eyes from looking on the wine when it is red, when its colour is bright in the cup, when it goes smoothly down: 23:32In the end, its bite is like that of a snake, its wound like the wound of a poison-snake. 23:33Your eyes will see strange things, and you will say twisted things. 23:34Yes, you will be like him who takes his rest on the sea, or on the top of a sail-support. 23:35They have overcome me, you will say, and I have no pain; they gave me blows without my feeling them: when will I be awake from my wine? I will go after it again.