Let us overcome them living, like the underworld, and in their strength, as those who go down to death;

Such is the fate of everyone who goes in search of profit; it takes away the life of its owners.

He has salvation stored up for the upright, he is a breastplate to those in whom there is no evil;

He keeps watch on the ways which are right, and takes care of those who have the fear of him.

Who give up the way of righteousness, to go by dark roads;

Who take pleasure in wrongdoing, and have joy in the evil designs of the sinner;

To take you out of the power of the strange woman, who says smooth words with her tongue;

Who is false to the husband of her early years, and does not keep the agreement of her God in mind:

Those who go to her do not come back again; their feet do not keep in the ways of life:

For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge.

She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her.

Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it.

For they are life to him who gets them, and strength to all his flesh.

I did not give attention to the voice of my teachers, my ear was not turned to those who were guiding me!

Make yourself free, like the roe from the hand of the archer, and the bird from him who puts a net for her.

A false witness, breathing out untrue words, and one who lets loose violent acts among brothers.

So it is with him who goes in to his neighbour's wife; he who has anything to do with her will not go free from punishment.

Men do not have a low opinion of a thief who takes food when he is in need of it:

He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.

For those wounded and made low by her are great in number; and all those who have come to their death through her are a great army.

They are all true to him whose mind is awake, and straightforward to those who get knowledge.

Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

Give ear to me then, my sons: for happy are those who keep my ways.

Happy is the man who gives ear to me, watching at my doors day by day, keeping his place by the pillars of my house.

But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.

Whoever is simple, let him come in here; and to him who has no sense, she says:

He who gives teaching to a man of pride gets shame for himself; he who says sharp words to a sinner gets a bad name.

Crying out to those who go by, going straight on their way, she says:

Whoever is simple, let him come in here: and to him who is without sense, she says:

He who is slow in his work becomes poor, but the hand of the ready worker gets in wealth.

He who in summer gets together his store is a son who does wisely; but he who takes his rest when the grain is being cut is a son causing shame.

He who makes signs with his eyes is a cause of trouble, but he who makes a man see his errors is a cause of peace.

In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense.

He who takes note of teaching is a way of life, but he who gives up training is a cause of error.

Hate is covered up by the lips of the upright man, but he who lets out evil about another is foolish.

Where there is much talk there will be no end to sin, but he who keeps his mouth shut does wisely.

Like acid drink to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the hater of work to those who send him.

He who has a poor opinion of his neighbour has no sense, but a wise man keeps quiet.

He who goes about talking of others makes secrets public, but the true-hearted man keeps things covered.

He who makes himself responsible for a strange man will undergo much loss; but the hater of such undertakings will be safe.

A woman who is full of grace is honoured, but a woman hating righteousness is a seat of shame: those hating work will undergo loss, but the strong keep their wealth.

The man who has mercy will be rewarded, but the cruel man is the cause of trouble to himself.

The sinner gets the payment of deceit; but his reward is certain who puts in the seed of righteousness.

So righteousness gives life; but he who goes after evil gets death for himself.

Like a ring of gold in the nose of a pig, is a beautiful woman who has no sense.

He who gives blessing will be made fat, but the curser will himself be cursed.

He who keeps back grain will be cursed by the people; but a blessing will be on the head of him who lets them have it for a price.

He who, with all his heart, goes after what is good is searching for grace; but he who is looking for trouble will get it.

He who puts his faith in wealth will come to nothing; but the upright man will be full of growth like the green leaf.

He who is of low position and has a servant, is better than one who has a high opinion of himself and is in need of bread.

He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.

The hand of the ready worker will have authority, but he who is slow in his work will be put to forced work.

He who is slow in his work does not go in search of food; but the ready worker gets much wealth.

He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.

Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.

He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.

A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.

Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.

Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.

He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.

He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour.

He who is quickly angry will do what is foolish, but the man of good sense will have quiet.

He who has no respect for his neighbour is a sinner, but he who has pity for the poor is happy.

A true witness is the saviour of lives; but he who says false things is a cause of deceit.

He who is slow to be angry has great good sense; but he whose spirit is over-quick gives support to what is foolish.

He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.

The king has pleasure in a servant who does wisely, but his wrath is against him who is a cause of shame.

A foolish man puts no value on his father's training; but he who has respect for teaching has good sense.

The way of the evil-doer is disgusting to the Lord, but he who goes after righteousness is dear to him.

There is bitter punishment for him who is turned from the way; and death will be the fate of the hater of teaching.

An angry man makes men come to blows, but he who is slow to get angry puts an end to fighting.

He whose desires are fixed on profit is a cause of trouble to his family; but he who has no desire for offerings will have life.

He who will not be controlled by training has no respect for his soul, but he who gives ear to teaching will get wisdom.

Everyone who has pride in his heart is disgusting to the Lord: he will certainly not go free from punishment.

Lips of righteousness are the delight of kings; and he who says what is upright is dear to him.

The wrath of the king is like those who give news of death, but a wise man will put peace in place of it.

The highway of the upright is to be turned away from evil: he who takes care of his way will keep his soul.

He who gives attention to the law of right will get good; and whoever puts his faith in the Lord is happy.

Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it; but the punishment of the foolish is their foolish behaviour.

A man of twisted purposes is a cause of fighting everywhere: and he who says evil secretly makes trouble between friends.

He whose eyes are shut is a man of twisted purposes, and he who keeps his lips shut tight makes evil come about.

He who is slow to be angry is better than a man of war, and he who has control over his spirit than he who takes a town.

A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.

Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.

An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.

He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.

A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.

Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.

He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.

He who keeps himself separate for his private purpose goes against all good sense.

The words of one who says evil of his neighbour secretly are like sweet food, and go down into the inner parts of the stomach.

He who does not give his mind to his work is brother to him who makes destruction.

The man who first puts his cause before the judge seems to be in the right; but then his neighbour comes and puts his cause in its true light.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those to whom it is dear will have its fruit for their food.