if they entice thee, and say, "Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, and lurk privily for the innocent without a cause:

Say not unto thy neighbour, "Go thy way and come again, tomorrow will I give thee"

and then say, "Alas, why hated I nurture? Why did my heart despise correction?

Say unto wisdom, "Thou art my sister," and call understanding thy kinswoman:

Who can say, "My heart is clean, I am innocent from sin"?

Say not thou, "I will recompense evil"; but put thy trust in the LORD, and he shall defend thee.

"They wounded me," shalt thou say, "but it hath not hurt me. They smote me, but I felt it not. When I am well awakened, I will go to the drink again."

If thou wilt say, "I knew not of it"; Thinkest thou that he which made the hearts, doth not consider it? And that he which regardeth thy soul, seeth it not? Shall not he recompense every man according to his works?

Say not, "I will handle him, even as he hath dealt with me, and will reward every man according to his deeds."

Lest I be so full, I deny thee, and say, "What fellow is the LORD?" And lest I, being constrained through poverty, fall unto stealing and foreswear the name of my God.