My son, if sinners entice thee be not willing.

Be not wise in thine own eyes, Fear Jehovah, and turn aside from evil.

Chastisement of Jehovah, my son, despise not, And be not vexed with His reproof,

Jehovah by wisdom did found the earth, He prepared the heavens by understanding.

By His knowledge depths have been rent, And clouds do drop dew.

Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

Be not envious of a man of violence, Nor fix thou on any of his ways.

Into the path of the wicked enter not, And be not happy in a way of evil doers.

Lest strangers be filled with thy power, And thy labours in the house of a stranger,

Let thy fountains be scattered abroad, In broad places rivulets of waters.

Let them be to thee for thyself, And not to strangers with thee.

Let thy fountain be blessed, And rejoice because of the wife of thy youth,

Do this now, my son, and be delivered, For thou hast come into the hand of thy friend. Go, trample on thyself, and strengthen thy friend,

Be delivered as a roe from the hand, And as a bird from the hand of a fowler.

Go unto the ant, O slothful one, See her ways and be wise;

Sacrifices of peace-offerings are by me, To-day I have completed my vows.

At the head of high places by the way, Between the paths she hath stood,

By me kings reign, and princes decree righteousness,

By me do chiefs rule, and nobles, All judges of the earth.

Then I am near Him, a workman, And I am a delight -- day by day. Rejoicing before Him at all times,

Hear instruction, and be wise, and slight not.

O the happiness of the man hearkening to me, To watch at my doors day by day, To watch at the door-posts of my entrance.

Forsake ye, the simple, and live, And be happy in the way of understanding.

For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight on their paths.

As the passing by of a hurricane, So the wicked is not, And the righteous is a foundation age-during.

The righteousness of the perfect maketh right his way, And by his wickedness doth the wicked fall.

With the mouth a hypocrite corrupteth his friend, And by knowledge the righteous are drawn out.

By the blessing of the upright is a city exalted, And by the mouth of the wicked thrown down.

A man is not established by wickedness, And the root of the righteous is not moved.

No iniquity is desired by the righteous, And the wicked have been full of evil.

Wealth from vanity becometh little, And whoso is gathering by the hand becometh great.

Without oxen a stall is clean, And great is the increase by the power of the ox.

A joyful heart maketh glad the face, And by grief of heart is the spirit smitten.

When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.

An abomination to kings is doing wickedness, For by righteousness is a throne established.

To get wisdom -- how much better than gold, And to get understanding to be chosen than silver!

The heart of the wise causeth his mouth to act wisely, And by his lips he increaseth learning,

The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.

Why is this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

The fear of a king is a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.

Even by his actions a youth maketh himself known, Whether his work be pure or upright.

Love not sleep, lest thou become poor, Open thine eyes -- be satisfied with bread.

Purposes by counsel thou dost establish, And with plans make thou war.

Kindness and truth keep a king, And he hath supported by kindness his throne.

The making of treasures by a lying tongue, Is a vanity driven away of those seeking death.

A treasure to be desired, and oil, Is in the habitation of the wise, And a foolish man swalloweth it up.

A wicked man hath hardened by his face, And the upright -- he prepareth his way.

That thy trust may be in Jehovah, I caused thee to know to-day, even thou.

Be not thou among those striking hands, Among sureties for burdens.

If thou hast nothing to pay, Why doth he take thy bed from under thee?

Let not thy heart be envious at sinners, But -- in the fear of Jehovah all the day.

Hear thou, my son, and be wise, And make happy in the way thy heart,

Be not thou among quaffers of wine, Among gluttonous ones of flesh,

Truth buy, and sell not, Wisdom, and instruction, and understanding,

Those tarrying by the wine, Those going in to search out mixed wine.

Be not envious of evil men, And desire not to be with them.

By wisdom is a house builded, And by understanding it establisheth itself.

And by knowledge the inner parts are filled, With all precious and pleasant wealth.

For by plans thou makest for thyself war, And deliverance is in a multitude of counsellors.

In the falling of thine enemy rejoice not, And in his stumbling let not thy heart be joyful,

Lest Jehovah see, and it be evil in His eyes, And He hath turned from off him His anger.

Fret not thyself at evil doers, Be not envious at the wicked,

Be not a witness for nought against thy neighbour, Or thou hast enticed with thy lips.

Near the field of a slothful man I passed by, And near the vineyard of a man lacking heart.

By long-suffering is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh a bone.

Honey thou hast found -- eat thy sufficiency, Lest thou be satiated with it, and hast vomited it.

Withdraw thy foot from thy neighbour's house, Lest he be satiated with thee, and have hated thee.

As a bird by wandering, as a swallow by flying, So reviling without cause doth not come.

Answer not a fool according to his folly, Lest thou be like to him -- even thou.

Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

Laying hold on the ears of a dog, Is a passer-by making himself wrath for strife not his own.

As one pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

By his lips doth a hater dissemble, And in his heart he placeth deceit,

Hatred is covered by deceit, Revealed is its wickedness in an assembly.

Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.

Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

By the transgression of a land many are its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged.

Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.

A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.

A king by judgment establisheth a land, And one receiving gifts throweth it down.

A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he hath been angry, And he hath laughed, and there is no rest.

By words a servant is not instructed though he understand, And there is nothing answering.

Lest I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, 'Who is Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.

Accuse not a servant unto his lord, Lest he disesteem thee, and thou be found guilty.