For [there is] not a word [yet] on my tongue, [but] behold, O Yahweh, you know it completely.

And if I should say, "Surely darkness will cover me, and [the] light around me [will be as] night,"

even [the] darkness is not too dark for you, and [the] night shines as the day-- the darkness [and] the light are alike [for you].

My {frame} was not hidden from you, when I was created secretly, [and] intricately woven in [the] depths of [the] earth.

Your eyes saw my embryo, and in your book they all were written-- days fashioned [for me] when [there was] not one of them.

Do I not hate those who hate you, O Yahweh? And do I [not] loathe those who rise up against you?

[The] proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords. They have spread out a net along [the] {side} of [the] path. They have set snares for me. Selah

Do not grant, O Yahweh, [the] desires of [the] wicked. Do not allow [them] to attain their plan, lest they be exalted. Selah

Do not let a {slanderer} be established in the land; as for [the] man of violence, let evil hunt him quickly.

Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked deeds with men [who] do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies.

Let a righteous one strike me in kindness, and let him chasten me. [It is] oil for [my] head; let not my head refuse. For still my prayer [is] against their evil deeds.

But my eyes [are] toward you, O Yahweh, my Lord; I have taken refuge in you. Do not lay bare my soul.

And do not enter into judgment with your servant, because no one alive [is] righteous before you.

Quickly answer me, O Yahweh; my spirit fails. Do not hide your face from me, or I will become like [those] descending to [the] pit.

Do not place trust in princes, in a son of humankind with whom there is no deliverance.

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; he takes no pleasure in the legs of the man.

He has not done so for any nation, and they do not know [his] ordinances. Praise Yah.

And he put them in place forever and ever, [by] a decree he gave that will not pass away.

My child, may you keep your father's instruction, and do not reject your mother's teachings,

My child, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

My child, do not walk in their way. Keep your foot from their paths,

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

You have ignored all my counsel, and my reproof you are not willing [to accept].

then they will call me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but not find me.

Since they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,

they were not willing [to accept] my counsel, they despised all my reproof.

My child, do not forget my instruction, and may your heart guard my commands.

May loyal love and truth not forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them upon your heart.

{Trust Yahweh} with all your heart; do not lean toward your own understanding.

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

Do not despise the discipline of Yahweh, my child. Do not be weary of his reproof

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

My child, may they not escape from your {sight}; may you keep sound wisdom and prudence.

Then you will walk in the confidence of your ways, and your foot will not stumble.

If you sit down, you will not panic, and [if] you lie down, then your sleep shall be sweet.

Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or the storm of wickedness that will come.

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}.

Do not plot harm against your neighbor [who] dwells in confidence beside you.

Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when he did not do you harm.

Do not envy a man of violence, and do not choose any of his ways,

For I have given you good instruction; do not forsake my teaching.

Get wisdom and insight; do not forget and do not turn from the sayings of my mouth.

Do not forsake her--then she will guard you; love her and she will keep you.

{When you walk}, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble.

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

In the path of the wicked do not go; do not walk in the way of those who do evil.

Avoid it; do not transgress it; turn away from it and pass by.

For they will not sleep if they have not done wrong, and they are robbed of their sleep if they do not cause stumbling.

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

May they not escape from your {sight}; keep them in [the] midst of your heart.

Do not swerve right or left; remove your foot from evil.

She does not observe the path of life; her ways wander, [and] she does not know [it].

Now, O children, listen to me; do not depart from the sayings of my mouth.

Keep your paths far from her, and do not go near to the door of her house,

and "I did not listen to the voice of my teachers, and I did not incline my ear to my instructors!

May they be yours alone, and not for strangers [who are] with you.

Do not give sleep to your eyes, or slumber to your eyelids.

My child, keep [the] commandment of your father, and do not disregard [the] instruction of your mother.

Do not desire her beauty in your heart; may she not capture you with her eyelashes.

Can a man carry fire in his lap, and his clothes not burn?

If a man walks upon the hot coals, will his feet not be burned?

Thus, he who goes to the wife of his neighbor, any who touches her shall not go unpunished.

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

A wound and dishonor he will find, and his disgrace will not be wiped out.

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.

at twilight, at [the] day's evening, in [the] midst of night and the darkness.

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

until an arrow pierces his {entrails}, like a bird rushing into a snare, but he does not know that {it will cost him his life}.

May your heart not turn aside to her ways; do not stray into her path.

Does not wisdom call, and understanding raise its voice?

Take my teaching and not silver; may you choose knowledge rather than choice gold.

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

When he had not yet made earth and fields, or the first dust of the world,

{when he assigned} his limits to the sea, that waters shall not transgress his {command}, {when he marked} the foundations of the earth,

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

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

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

But he does not know that the dead [are] there, in the depths of Sheol [are] her guests.

Treasures of wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.

Yahweh will not cause a righteous person to go hungry, but the craving of the wicked he will thwart.

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

The blessing of Yahweh makes [one] rich, and he does not increase sorrow with it.

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

Wealth does not profit on the day of wrath, but righteousness will deliver from death.

{Rest assured}, the wicked will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will escape.

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

A person will not be established by wickedness, but the root of the righteous will not be moved.

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

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

The ransom of the life of a man [is] his wealth, but the poor does not receive a threat.

A faithful witness does not lie, but he who breathes out falsehood is a witness of deceit.

Leave {the presence of a foolish man}, [for] you will not [come to] know {words of knowledge}.

The heart knows the bitterness of its soul, but in its joy, it will not share itself with a stranger.

Have they not erred, those who plan evil? But loyalty and faithfulness [belong to] those who plan good.

The lips of the wise will spread knowledge, but the heart of fools, not so.

A scoffer does not like {his rebuke}; to the wise he will not go.

An abomination of Yahweh [are] all who are arrogant of heart; {rest assured}, he will not go unpunished.

A decision is upon the lips of a king; in judgment his mouth will not sin.