Who are forsaking paths of uprightness, To walk in ways of darkness,

Who are rejoicing to do evil, They delight in frowardness of the wicked,

To deliver thee from the strange woman, From the stranger who hath made smooth her sayings,

Who is forsaking the guide of her youth, And the covenant of her God hath forgotten.

For whom Jehovah loveth He reproveth, Even as a father the son He is pleased with.

O the happiness of a man who hath found wisdom, And of a man who bringeth forth understanding.

A false witness who doth breathe out lies -- And one sending forth contentions between brethren.

So is he who hath gone in unto the wife of his neighbour, None who doth touch her is innocent.

He who committeth adultery with a woman lacketh heart, He is destroying his soul who doth it.

To preserve thee from a strange woman, From a stranger who hath made smooth her sayings.

And now, ye sons, hearken to me, Yea, happy are they who keep my ways.

Who is simple? let him turn aside hither.' Whoso lacketh heart: she hath said to him,

To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight on their paths.

Who is simple? let him turn aside hither.' And whoso lacketh heart -- she said to him,

Poor is he who is working -- a slothful hand, And the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

In the lips of the intelligent is wisdom found, And a rod is for the back of him who is lacking understanding.

A traveller to life is he who is keeping instruction, And whoso is forsaking rebuke is erring.

There is who is scattering, and yet is increased, And who is keeping back from uprightness, only to want.

Whoso is withholding corn, the people execrate him, And a blessing is for the head of him who is selling.

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

Righteousness keepeth him who is perfect in the way, And wickedness overthroweth a sin offering.

There is who is making himself rich, and hath nothing, Who is making himself poor, and wealth is abundant.

Do not they err who are devising evil? And kindness and truth are to those devising good,

Chastisement is grievous to him who is forsaking the path, Whoso is hating reproof dieth.

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

Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!

For an object of desire he who is separated doth seek, With all wisdom he intermeddleth.

The spirit of a man sustaineth his sickness, And a smitten spirit who doth bear?

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

The fear of a king is a growl as of a young lion, He who is causing him to be wroth is wronging his soul.

A multitude of men proclaim each his kindness, And a man of stedfastness who doth find?

Who saith, 'I have purified my heart, I have been cleansed from my sin?'

Froward is the way of a man who is vile, And the pure -- upright is his work.

A man who is wandering from the way of understanding, In an assembly of Rephaim resteth.

Proud, haughty, scorner is his name, Who is working in the wrath of pride.

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

Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? who hath plaint? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes?

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.

For suddenly doth their calamity rise, And the ruin of them both -- who knoweth!

Lips he kisseth who is returning straightforward words.

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.

If he who is hating thee doth hunger, cause him to eat bread, And if he thirst, cause him to drink water.

He is cutting off feet, he is drinking injury, Who is sending things by the hand of a fool.

As one who is binding a stone in a sling, So is he who is giving honour to a fool.

As one pretending to be feeble, Who is casting sparks, arrows, and death,

Fury is fierce, and anger is overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?

By the transgression of a land many are its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right -- it is prolonged.

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

Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.

A ruler who is attending to lying words, All his ministers are wicked.

Who went up to heaven, and cometh down? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound waters in a garment? Who established all ends of the earth? What is His name? and what His son's name? Surely thou knowest!

Lest I become satiated, and have denied, And have said, 'Who is Jehovah?' And lest I be poor, and have stolen, And have laid hold of the name of my God.

A woman of worth who doth find? Yea, far above rubies is her price.

Many are the daughters who have done worthily, Thou hast gone up above them all.'