may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction,

If they say - Come with us, - Let us lie in wait for blood, Let us watch in secret for him who is needlessly innocent;

Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death;

Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners.

Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.

But the one who listens to me will live in security, and will be at ease from the dread of harm.

He has salvation stored up for the upright, he is a breastplate to those in whom there is no evil;

He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him.

rescuing you from the way of evil—
from the one who says perverse things,

Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the perverseness of the wicked;

Whose ways are crooked, and who are perverse in their paths:

To deliver you from the immoral woman, even from the seductress who flatters with her words;

Who forsakes the companion of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God.

Those who go to her do not come back again; their feet do not keep in the ways of life:

So that you will walk on the road of those who are good, and the paths of those who are righteous you shall keep.

For those who are upright will dwell [in the] land, and those who are blameless will remain in it.

And those who are wicked will be cut off from the land, and those who are treacherous will be uprooted from it.

For whom the LORD loves he corrects; even as a father the son in whom he delights.

Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.

She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

Do not plot harm against your neighbor [who] dwells in confidence beside you.

for he who is perverse [is] an abomination of Yahweh, but those who are upright [are] his confidence.

He mocks those who mock,
but gives grace to the humble.

In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.

For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.

I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers, my ear was not turned to those who were guiding me!

May they be yours alone, and not for strangers [who are] with you.

For the ways of man are directly before the eyes of the Lord,
And He carefully watches all of his paths [all of his comings and goings].

Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a net for her.

Who having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

so shall your poverty come as one who travels, and your need like an armed man.

A worthless person, a wicked man
goes around speaking dishonestly,

winking his eyes, signaling with his feet,
and gesturing with his fingers.

He always plots evil with perversity in his heart—
he stirs up trouble.

A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.

So 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.

Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:

He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.

That they may keep you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words.

and I saw among the naive -- I discerned among the youths -- a young man who lacked wisdom.

He hath taken the bag of money with him: who can tell when he cometh home?"

For 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.

"It is you, O ye men," sayeth she, "whom I call! Unto you, O ye children of men, lift I up my voice.

Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.

They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.

“By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.

Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

giving wealth as an inheritance to those who love me,
and filling their treasuries.

Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.

Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.

For the one who finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord,

But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.

Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:

He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.

To call those who pass by who go right on their ways:

Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:

He becomes poor who has a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

He 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.

The wise person accepts instructions, but the one who speaks foolishness will come to ruin.

The one who lives with integrity lives securely,
but whoever perverts his ways will be found out.

He 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.

In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense.

Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but [to] the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he who gives up training is a cause of error.

Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.

Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.

The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

Carrying out a wicked scheme is enjoyable to a fool, and so is wisdom for the one who has discernment.

Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.

To the upright, the way of the LORD is a place of safety, but it's a place of ruin to those who practice evil.

The speech of the righteous bears the fruit of wisdom, but the one who speaks perversion will be destroyed.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.

He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.

He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.

A 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.

The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.

The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.

So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.

Those who are perverse in heart are an abomination to Yahweh, but those whose ways are blameless are his delight.

As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a beautiful woman who is without discretion.

There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.

He 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.

He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.

He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.

The one who brings ruin on his household
will inherit the wind,
and a fool will be a slave
to someone whose heart is wise.

The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and he who captures souls [is] wise.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but one who hates correction is stupid.

The good person obtains favor from the Lord,
but He condemns a man who schemes.

A capable wife is her husband’s crown,
but a wife who causes shame
is like rottenness in his bones.

For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended, but he who is of perverse {mind} will be despised.

He 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.

He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.

The way of a fool is upright in his [own] eyes, but he who listens to advice [is] wise.

As for a fool, {on that very day} he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult [is] prudent.

He who will speak truth will reveal righteousness, but the witness of falsehood, deceit.