may the wise hear and increase learning, and the one who understands gain direction,

Fear of Yahweh [is the] beginning of knowledge; wisdom and instruction, fools despise.

If they say, "Come with us! We shall lie in wait for blood; we shall ambush the innocent without cause.

you shall throw your lot in our midst, there will be one purse for all of us."

for "in vain is the net scattered, in the sight of any {winged bird}."

Because I called out and you refused me, I stretched out my hand, yet there is none who heeds.

Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and retreat from evil.

because whomever Yahweh will love, he will rebuke, as a father delights in his son.

Happy [is] {the one} who finds wisdom, and one who obtains understanding.

For her income is better than the income of silver, and her revenue than [that of] gold.

She is more precious than rubies, and all your desires shall not compare with her.

Length of days [is] in her right hand; in her left hand [are] riches and honor.

She is a tree of life for those who seize her; those who take hold of her are considered happy.

Do not withhold good from its owner when it is in the power of your hand to do.

Do not say to your neighbor, "Go and return and tomorrow I will give [it]," {when it is with you}.

for he who is perverse [is] an abomination of Yahweh, but those who are upright [are] his confidence.

The curse of Yahweh [is] on the house of the wicked, and the abode of the righteous ones he blesses.

With those who scorn, he is scornful, but to those who are humble, he gives favor.

They will inherit the honor of the wise, but stubborn fools, disgrace.

The beginning of wisdom: Get wisdom! With all [that is in] your possession, gain insight.

Seize the instruction! Do not let go! Guard her, for she is your life.

But the path of the righteous ones [is] like the light of dawn, leading and shining until the day {is full}.

The way of the wicked ones [is] like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over.

For the lips of the strange woman will drip honey, and smoother than oil is her mouth.

But her end is bitter as the wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

[She is] a deer of love and a doe of grace; may her breasts satisfy you {always}; by her love may you be intoxicated continually.

Go to the ant, lazy! Consider its ways and be wise.

Upon {such a man}, suddenly shall his calamity come; in a moment he will be damaged and there is no healing.

For [like] a lamp [is] a commandment, and instruction [is] light, and the way of life [is the] reproof of discipline,

For [the] price of a woman, a prostitute, [is the] price of a loaf of bread, but the {woman belonging to a man} hunts precious life.

[People] do not despise a thief when he steals to fill himself when he is hungry.

But [if] he is found, he will pay sevenfold, every possession of his house he shall give.

For jealousy [is the] fury of a husband, and he will not show restraint on the day of revenge.

He will not accept {any compensation}, and he will not be willing, though the bribe is large.

She is loud and stubborn; her feet do not stay at her house.

Come, let us take [our] fill of love making, until the morning let us delight in love.

For there is no man in his home; he has gone on a {long journey}.

"To you, O {people}, I call, and my cry is to the children of humankind.

My mouth will utter truth, and wickedness [is] an abomination to my lips.

For wisdom is better than jewels, and all desires shall not compare with her.

The fear of Yahweh [is] hatred of evil, pride, and arrogance and an evil way. And I hate a mouth of perversity.

{Advice and sound judgment} are mine; I am understanding, {strength is mine}.

My fruit is better than gold, even refined gold, and my yield than choice silver.

Hear teaching and be wise; do not neglect [it].

Happy [is the] person who listens to me, [in order] to keep watch at my doors day by day, [in order] to guard the frames of my entrances.

For he who finds me [is] he who finds life, and he obtains favor from Yahweh.

"Whoever [is] simple, let him turn here." As for the one who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

Do not rebuke a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke the wise and he will love you.

Give to a wise one and he will become more wise; {teach} a righteous one and he will increase learning.

The start of wisdom is fear of Yahweh, and knowledge of the Holy One, insight.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and [if] you scoff, alone you shall bear [it].

A woman of foolishness is loud, simple, and does not know {it}.

"Whoever is simple, may he turn here!" As for he who lacks {sense}, she says to him,

"Stolen waters are sweet, and bread of secrecy is pleasant."

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father glad, but a foolish child grieves his mother.

He who gathers in the summer [is] a child who is prudent; he who sleeps at the harvest [is] a child who brings shame.

The memory of righteousness [is] like a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.

A fountain of life [is] a mouth of righteousness, and a mouth of wickedness conceals violence.

On the lips of one who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod [is] for the back of one who lacks {sense}.

Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but [to] the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

The wealth of the rich [is] the city of his strength; the ruin of the poor [is] their poverty.

[On] the path to life is he who guards instruction, but he who rejects rebuke goes astray.

He who conceals hatred [has] lips of deceit, and he who utters slander--he is a fool.

In many words, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

Choice silver is a tongue of righteousness, a heart of wickedness is {of little worth}.

[It is] like a sport for a fool to do wrong, wisdom for a person of understanding.

With the passing of the tempest, there is no wickedness, but [the] righteous have a foundation forever.

Like vinegar to the tooth and like smoke to the eyes, thus [is] the lazy to one who employs him.

The hope of the righteous [is] gladness, but the expectation of the wicked comes to nothing.

A stronghold for the upright is the way of Yahweh, but ruin [belongs] to {evildoers}.

The righteous one is forever; he will not be removed. But the wicked will not remain in the land.

Pride comes, then disgrace comes, but wisdom [is] with the humble.

The righteous is delivered from trouble, but the wicked enters into it.

When good [is with] the righteous, [the] city rejoices, and with the perishing of the wicked, jubilation.

Where there is no guidance, a nation shall fall, but [there is] safety in an abundance of counsel.

He will suffer trouble when he loans to a stranger, but he who refuses a pledge is safe.

He who is steadfast in righteousness [is] to life as he who pursues evil [is] to death.

A ring of gold in [the] snout of a pig [is] a woman [who is] beautiful but without discretion.

The desire of the righteous [is] only good, but the expectation of the wicked, wrath.

There is one who gives yet {grows richer}, but he who withholds {what is right} only [finds] need.

He who withholds grain, the people curse him, but a blessing [is] for the head of him who sells.

He who trusts in his wealth [is] he who will fall, but like a green leaf the righteous will flourish.

He who brings trouble [to] his household, he will inherit wind, and a fool will serve the wise of heart.

The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life, and he who captures souls [is] wise.

He who loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates rebuke [is] stupid.

A woman of strength [is] the crown of her master, but like rot in his bones is she who brings shame.

The thoughts of the righteous are just; the advice of the wicked is treacherous.

For his mouth of good sense, a man will be recommended, but he who is of perverse {mind} will be despised.

It is better to be lowly and a servant {to someone} than self-glorifying and lacking food.

The righteous knows the life of his animal, but the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

By the transgression of lips, evil is ensnared, but the righteous escapes from trouble.

From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he is filled with good, and the reward of {a man's labor} will return to him.

The way of a fool is upright in his [own] eyes, but he who listens to advice [is] wise.

As for a fool, {on that very day} he makes his anger known, but he who ignores an insult [is] prudent.

There is one who speaks rashly, like the thrust of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Deceit [is] in the heart of {those who plan} evil, but to {those who plan} peace, [there is] joy.

The lazy will not roast his game, but diligence is the precious wealth of a man.

On the road of righteousness is life, and [on] the way of the path, [may there be] no death.

A wise child [hears] the discipline of a father, but a scoffer does not listen to a rebuke.

From the fruit of the mouth of a man, he shall eat what is good, but the desire of the treacherous, wrongdoing.