That the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; And that the man of understanding may attain unto sound counsels:

Let us swallow them up alive as Sheol, And whole, as those that go down into the pit;

So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; It taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

For that they hated knowledge, And did not choose the fear of Jehovah:

He layeth up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to them that walk in integrity;

That he may guard the paths of justice, And preserve the way of his saints.

To deliver thee from the way of evil, From the men that speak perverse things;

To deliver thee from the strange woman, Even from the foreigner that flattereth with her words;

That forsaketh the friend of her youth, And forgetteth the covenant of her God:

None that go unto her return again, Neither do they attain unto the paths of life:

That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, And keep the paths of the righteous.

Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding.

For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold.

She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her.

She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her.

But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

For they are life unto those that find them, And health to all their flesh.

That thou mayest preserve discretion, And that thy lips may keep knowledge.

For the lips of a strange woman drop honey, And her mouth is smoother than oil:

So that she findeth not the level path of life: Her ways are unstable, and'she knoweth it not.

Neither have I obeyed the voice of my teachers, Nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

A worthless person, a man of iniquity, Is he that walketh with a perverse mouth;

That winketh with his eyes, that speaketh with his feet, That maketh signs with his fingers;

Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; On a sudden shall he be broken, and that without remedy.

Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood;

A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,

A false witness that uttereth lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.

So he that goeth in to his neighbor's wife; Whosoever toucheth her shall not be unpunished.

He that committeth adultery with a woman is void of understanding: He doeth it who would destroy his own soul.

That they may keep thee from the strange woman, From the foreigner that flattereth with her words.

Till an arrow strike through his liver; As a bird hasteth to the snare, And knoweth not that it is for his life.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, And right to them that find knowledge.

Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold.

For wisdom is better than rubies; And all the things that may be desired are not to be compared unto it.

I love them that love me; And those that seek me diligently shall find me.

My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; And my revenue than choice silver.

That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, And that I may fill their treasuries.

When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

Now therefore, my'sons, hearken unto me; For blessed are they that keep my ways.

Blessed is the man that heareth me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors.

But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: As for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

He that correcteth a scoffer getteth to himself reviling; And he that reproveth a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

To call to them that pass by, Who go right on their ways:

Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; And as for him that is void of understanding, she saith to him,

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; That her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

He becometh poor that worketh with a slack hand; But the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

He that gathereth in summer is a wise son; But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely; But he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow; But a prating fool shall fall.

In the lips of him that hath discernment wisdom is found; But a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

He is in the way of life that heedeth correction; But he that forsaketh reproof erreth.

He that hideth hatred is of lying lips; And he that uttereth a slander is a fool.

In the multitude of words there wanteth not transgression; But he that refraineth his lips doeth wisely.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, So is the sluggard to them that send him.

He that despiseth his neighbor is void of wisdom; But a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; But he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter.

He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it; But he that hateth suretyship is secure.

The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; But he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

The wicked earneth deceitful wages; But he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

He that is stedfast in righteousness'shall attain unto life; And he that pursueth evil doeth it to his own death.

They that are perverse in heart are an abomination to Jehovah; But such as are perfect in their way are his delight.

As a ring of gold in a swine's snout,'so is a fair woman that is without discretion.

There is that scattereth, and increaseth yet more; And there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth only to want.

The liberal soul shall be made fat; And he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

He that withholdeth grain, the people shall curse him; But blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

He that diligently seeketh good seeketh favor; But he that searcheth after evil, it shall come unto him.

He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; But the righteous shall flourish as the green leaf.

He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind; And the foolish shall be servant to the wise of heart.

The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that is wise winneth souls.

Whoso loveth correction loveth knowledge; But he that hateth reproof is brutish.

A worthy woman is the crown of her husband; But she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

A man shall be commended according to his wisdom; But he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

Better is he that is lightly esteemed, and hath a servant, Than he that honoreth himself, and lacketh bread.

He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread; But he that followeth after vain persons is void of understanding.

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes; But he that is wise hearkeneth unto counsel.

He that uttereth truth showeth forth righteousness; But a false witness, deceit.

There is that speaketh rashly like the piercings of a sword; But the tongue of the wise is health.

Deceit is in the heart of them that devise evil; But to the counsellors of peace is joy.

Lying lips are an abomination to Jehovah; But they that deal truly are his delight.

The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting; But the precious substance of men is to the diligent.

He that guardeth his mouth keepeth his life; But he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

Righteousness guardeth him that is upright in the way; But wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: There is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great wealth.

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished; But he that gathereth by labor shall have increase.

Whoso despiseth the word bringeth destruction on himself; But he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

The law of the wise is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

Poverty and shame'shall be to him that refuseth correction; But he that regardeth reproof shall be honored.

Much food is in the tillage of the poor; But there is that is destroyed by reason of injustice.

He that spareth his rod hateth his son; But he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

He that walketh in his uprightness feareth Jehovah; But he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

A scoffer seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not; But knowledge is easy unto him that hath understanding.

He that is soon angry will deal foolishly; And a man of wicked devices is hated.

He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth; But he that hath pity on the poor, happy is he.

Do they not err that devise evil? But mercy and truth'shall be to them that devise good.

A true witness delivereth souls; But he that uttereth lies causeth deceit.

The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, That one may depart from the snares of death.

He that is slow to anger is of great understanding; But he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker; But he that hath mercy on the needy honoreth him.

Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding; But that which is in the inward part of fools is made known.