'Till when, ye simple, do ye love simplicity? And have scorners their scorning desired? And do fools hate knowledge?

I also in your calamity do laugh, I deride when your fear cometh,

When your fear cometh as destruction, And your calamity as a hurricane doth come, When on you come adversity and distress.

Be not afraid of sudden fear, And of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh.

Withhold not good from its owners, When thy hand is toward God to do it.

Exalt her, and she doth lift thee up, She honoureth thee, when thou dost embrace her.

Till when, O slothful one, dost thou lie? When dost thou arise from thy sleep?

They do not despise the thief, When he stealeth to fill his soul when he is hungry,

Evil one suffereth when he hath been surety for a stranger, And whoso is hating suretyship is confident.

When a man's ways please Jehovah, even his enemies, He causeth to be at peace with him.

Take his garment when a stranger hath been surety, And for strangers pledge it.

When the scorner is punished, the simple becometh wise, And in giving understanding to the wise He receiveth knowledge.

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination, Much more when in wickedness he bringeth it.

Give instruction to a youth about his way, Even when he is old he turneth not from it.

For they are pleasant when thou dost keep them in thy heart, They are prepared together for thy lips.

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

Withhold not from a youth chastisement, When thou smitest him with a rod he dieth not.

And my reins exult when thy lips speak uprightly.

Hearken to thy father, who begat thee, And despise not thy mother when she hath become old.

See not wine when it showeth itself red, When it giveth in the cup its colour, It goeth up and down through the upright.

They smote me, I have not been sick, They beat me, I have not known. When I awake -- I seek it yet again!'

When thou sayest, 'Lo, we knew not this.' Is not the Ponderer of hearts He who understandeth? And the Keeper of thy soul He who knoweth? And He hath rendered to man according to his work.

Go not forth to strive, haste, turn, What dost thou in its latter end, When thy neighbour causeth thee to blush?

When his voice is gracious trust not in him, For seven abominations are in his heart.

Take his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.

For a servant when he reigneth, And a fool when he is satisfied with bread,

For a hated one when she ruleth, And a maid-servant when she succeedeth her mistress.

She hath perceived when her merchandise is good, Her lamp is not extinguished in the night.