Let us swallow them alive like Sheol (the place of the dead),
Even whole, as those who go down to the pit [of death];

My son, if you will receive my words
And treasure my commandments within you,

By His knowledge the deeps were broken up
And the clouds drip with dew.

Do not devise evil against your neighbor,
Who lives securely beside you.

My son, keep my words
And treasure my commandments within you [so they are readily available to guide you].

Wisdom has built her [spacious and sufficient] house;
She has hewn out and set up her seven pillars.

The wise in heart [are willing to learn so they] will accept and obey commands (instruction),
But the babbling fool [who is arrogant and thinks himself wise] will come to ruin.

Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers and overwhelms all transgressions [forgiving and overlooking another’s faults].

Wise men store up and treasure knowledge [in mind and heart],
But with the mouth of the foolish, ruin is at hand.

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

A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children,
And the wealth of the sinner is stored up for [the hands of] the righteous.

A quick-tempered man acts foolishly and without self-control,
And a man of wicked schemes is hated.

A soft and gentle and thoughtful answer turns away wrath,
But harsh and painful and careless words stir up anger.

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
But he who is slow to anger and patient calms disputes.

A worthless man devises and digs up evil,
And the words on his lips are like a scorching fire.

A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

The spirit of a man sustains him in sickness,
But as for a broken spirit, who can bear it?

There is precious treasure and oil in the house of the wise [who prepare for the future],
But a short-sighted and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it.

Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents],
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child;
The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.

Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property]
Which your fathers have set.

The morsel which you have eaten you will vomit up,
And you will waste your compliments.

You shall swat him with the reed-like rod
And rescue his life from Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead).

Take away the dross from the silver,
And there comes out [the pure metal for] a vessel for the silversmith [to shape].

For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey,
And a rod for the backs of fools [who refuse to learn].

He who hates, disguises it with his lips,
But he stores up deceit in his heart.

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.

An arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.

An angry man stirs up strife,
And a hot-tempered and undisciplined man commits many transgressions.

The eye that mocks a father
And scorns a mother,
The ravens of the valley will pick it out,
And the young vultures will devour it.

Under three things the earth is disquieted and quakes,
And under four it cannot bear up:

The ants are not a strong people,
Yet they prepare their food in the summer;

She makes [fine] linen garments and sells them;
And supplies sashes to the merchants.

Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired);
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying,