The path of life -- lest thou ponder, Moved have her paths -- thou knowest not.

Lest thou give to others thy honour, And thy years to the fierce,

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

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee, Give reproof to the wise, and he loveth thee.

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

Lest thou learn his paths, And have received a snare to thy soul.

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

Lest the hearer put thee to shame, And thine evil report turn not back.

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.

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.

Add not to His words, lest He reason with thee, And thou hast been found false.

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.

Lest he drink, and forget the decree, And change the judgment of any of the sons of affliction.