For they are a garland of grace on your head,
And chains and ornaments [of gold] around your neck.

“How long, O naive ones [you who are easily misled], will you love being simple-minded and undiscerning?
How long will scoffers [who ridicule and deride] delight in scoffing,
How long will fools [who obstinately mock truth] hate knowledge?

“If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke,
Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.

When your dread and panic come like a storm,
And your disaster comes like a whirlwind,
When anxiety and distress come upon you [as retribution].

“Then they will call upon me (Wisdom), but I will not answer;
They will seek me eagerly but they will not find me,

Do not let mercy and kindness and truth leave you [instead let these qualities define you];
Bind them [securely] around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded [for your path will be clear and open];
And when you run, you will not stumble.

Therefore [the crushing weight of] his disaster will come suddenly upon him;
Instantly he will be broken, and there will be no healing or remedy [because he has no heart for God].

Bind them continually upon your heart (in your thoughts),
And tie them around your neck.

Or can a man walk on hot coals
And his feet not be scorched?

For jealousy enrages the [wronged] husband;
He will not spare [the guilty one] on the day of vengeance.

“When He established the heavens, I [Wisdom] was there;
When He drew a circle upon the face of the deep,

He who corrects and instructs a scoffer gets dishonor for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man gets insults for himself.

The foolish woman is restless and noisy;
She is naive and easily misled and thoughtless, and knows nothing at all [of eternal value].

Blessings are on the head of the righteous [the upright, those in right standing with God],
But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

What the wicked fears will come upon him,
But the desire of the righteous [for the blessings of God] will be granted.

The people curse him who holds back grain [when the public needs it],
But a blessing [from God and man] is upon the head of him who sells it.

He who diligently seeks good seeks favor and grace,
But he who seeks evil, evil will come to him.

No harm befalls the righteous,
But the wicked are filled with trouble.

Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself,
But he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] will be rewarded.

Desire realized is sweet to the soul;
But it is detestable to fools to turn away from evil [which they have planned].

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
Watching the evil and the good [in all their endeavors].

Commit your works to the Lord [submit and trust them to Him],
And your plans will succeed [if you respond to His will and guidance].

The king’s wrath terrifies like the roaring of a lion,
But his favor is as [refreshing and nourishing as] dew on the grass.

Do not love [excessive] sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes [so that you can do your work] and you will be satisfied with bread.

When you set your eyes on wealth, it is [suddenly] gone.
For wealth certainly makes itself wings
Like an eagle that flies to the heavens.

And you will be [as unsteady] as one who lies down in the middle of the sea,
And [as vulnerable to disaster] as one who lies down on the top of a ship’s mast, saying,

Or the Lord will see your gloating and be displeased,
And turn His anger away from your enemy.

For their tragedy will rise suddenly,
And who knows the punishment that both [the Lord and the king] will bring on the rebellious?

But to those [honorable judges] who rebuke the wicked, it will go well with them and they will find delight,
And a good blessing will come upon them.

Or he who hears it will shame you
And the rumor about you [and your action in court] will have no end.

Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda,
Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.

For in doing so, you will heap coals of fire upon his head,
And the Lord will reward you.

As the door turns on its hinges,
So does the lazy person on his bed [never getting out of it].

Whoever digs a pit [for another man’s feet] will fall into it,
And he who rolls a stone [up a hill to do mischief], it will come back on him.

Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]
Than love that is hidden.

A man who is burdened with the guilt of human blood (murder)
Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him or give him refuge.

He who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.

He who robs his father or his mother
And says, “This is no sin,”
Is [not only a thief but also] the companion of a man who destroys.

Whoever is partner with a thief hates his own life;
He hears the curse [when swearing an oath to testify], but discloses nothing [and commits perjury by omission].

The way of an eagle in the air,
The way of a serpent on a rock,
The way of a ship in the middle of the sea,
And the way of a man with a maid.

If you have foolishly exalted yourself,
Or if you have plotted evil, put your hand on your mouth.

Open your mouth for the mute,
For the rights of all who are unfortunate and defenseless;

Open your mouth, judge righteously,
And administer justice for the afflicted and needy.