Because that they have hated knowledge, And the fear of Jehovah have not chosen.

That thou dost go in the way of the good, And the paths of the righteous dost keep.

For better is her merchandise Than the merchandise of silver, And than gold -- her increase.

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

Till an arrow doth split his liver, As a bird hath hastened unto a snare, And hath not known that it is for its life.

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

For better is wisdom than rubies, Yea, all delights are not comparable with it.

Better is my fruit than gold, even fine gold, And mine increase than choice silver.

And he hath not known that Rephaim are there, In deep places of Sheol her invited ones!

Better is the lightly esteemed who hath a servant, Than the self-honoured who lacketh bread.

In the path of righteousness is life, And in the way of that path is no death!

Better is a little with the fear of Jehovah, Than much treasure, and tumult with it.

Better is an allowance of green herbs and love there, Than a fatted ox, and hatred with it.

An ear that is hearing the reproof of life Doth lodge among the wise.

Better is a little with righteousness, Than abundance of increase without justice.

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

Better is humility of spirit with the poor, Than to apportion spoil with the proud.

Better is the slow to anger than the mighty, And the ruler over his spirit than he who is taking a city.

Better is a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

A provocation to his father is a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.

He also that is remiss in his work, A brother he is to a destroyer.

A man with friends is to show himself friendly, And there is a lover adhering more than a brother!

Better is the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse in his lips, who is a fool.

Hear counsel and receive instruction, So that thou art wise in thy latter end.

The desirableness of a man is his kindness, And better is the poor than a liar.

To do righteousness and judgment, Is chosen of Jehovah rather than sacrifice.

Better to sit on a corner of the roof, Than with a woman of contentions and a house of company.

Better to dwell in a wilderness land, Than with a woman of contentions and anger.

A name is chosen rather than much wealth, Than silver and than gold -- good grace.

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

Remove not a border of olden times, That thy fathers have made.

When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, Thou considerest diligently that which is before thee,

Thy morsel thou hast eaten thou dost vomit up, And hast marred thy words that are sweet.

Rejoice doth thy father and thy mother, Yea, she that bare thee is joyful.

Eat my son, honey that is good, And the honeycomb -- sweet to thy palate.

So is the knowledge of wisdom to thy soul, If thou hast found that there is a posterity And thy hope is not cut off.

Also these are Proverbs of Solomon, that men of Hezekiah king of Judah transcribed: --

For better that he hath said to thee, 'Come thou up hither,' Than that he humble thee before a noble, Whom thine eyes have seen.

Better to sit on a corner of a roof, Than with a woman of contentions, and a house of company.

Thou hast seen a man wise in his own eyes, More hope of a fool than of him!

Wiser is the slothful in his own eyes, Than seven men returning a reason.

A stone is heavy, and the sand is heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both.

Better is open reproof than hidden love.

Thine own friend, and the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better is a near neighbour than a brother afar off.

Better is the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.

Troubled for wealth is the man with an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.

Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.

a king that is judging truly the poor, His throne for ever is established.

Thou hast seen a man hasty in his words! More hope of a fool than of him.

For I am more brutish than any one, And have not the understanding of a man.

A generation is, that lightly esteemeth their father, And their mother doth not bless.

An eye that mocketh at a father, And despiseth to obey a mother, Dig it out do ravens of the valley, And eat it do young eagles.

Three things have been too wonderful for me, Yea, four that I have not known:

Four are little ones of earth, And they are made wiser than the wise:

An old lion -- mighty among beasts, That turneth not back from the face of any,

Words of Lemuel a king, a declaration that his mother taught him: