Make straight the path for your feet, and all your ways shall be established. Turn neither to the right hand nor to the left; turn your foot away from evil. For the Lord knows the ways that are on the right, but perverse are those which are on the left; he himself makes your courses straight and will bring forth your journeys in peace. My son, attend to my wisdom, and incline your ear to my prudence, that you may guard your thoughts and that your lips may preserve discipline. For the lips of a harlot are a dripping honeycomb, and her throat is smoother than oil; but her end is bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, and her steps reach to hell. And after ninety-seven verses:
Let not your heart covet her beauty, lest you be caught by her nods: for the price of a prostitute is scarcely a single loaf of bread, but a woman captures a man's precious soul. Can a man hide fire in his bosom, and his garments not burn? Or walk upon coals, and his feet not be scorched? So he who goes in to his neighbor's wife shall not be clean when he has touched her. The fault is not great when someone has stolen: for he steals to fill his hungry soul; yet if caught he shall repay sevenfold and hand over all the substance of his house. But he who is an adulterer, through want of heart shall destroy his own soul. And after five verses: My son, keep my words, and store up my precepts within you.
Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of your eye. And after fifty-seven verses: Understand shrewdness, O little ones, and take heed, O foolish. And after two verses: My throat shall meditate truth, and my lips shall detest the wicked. And after three verses: Receive my discipline: love instruction more than gold. For wisdom is better than all the most precious things, and everything desirable cannot be compared to it. And after two verses: The fear of the Lord hates evil: arrogance and pride and the crooked way and the double-tongued mouth I detest. And after six verses: I love those who love me, and those who watch for me early shall find me. With me are riches and glory, lofty wealth and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold and precious stone, and my produce than choice silver. I walk in the ways of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment, that I may enrich those who love me and fill their treasuries. And after twenty-three verses: Blessed is the man who hears me, who watches daily at my doors and keeps watch at the posts of my entrance. He who finds me shall find life and draw salvation from the Lord; but he who sins against me shall harm his own soul. All who hate me love death. And after nine verses: Forsake childishness and live, and walk in the ways of prudence. He who instructs a scoffer does himself an injury, and he who reproves the wicked begets a blemish for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give to a wise man, and wisdom shall be added to him; teach a righteous man, and he shall hasten to receive. The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and the knowledge of holy things is prudence. And after eighteen verses: The treasures of iniquity shall not profit, but righteousness shall deliver from death. And after four verses: He who gathers in harvest is a wise son, but he who snores in summer is a son of confusion. And after four verses: The wise of heart will receive precepts, but the fool is struck down by his own lips. He who walks in simplicity walks confidently, but he who perverts his ways shall be found out. He who winks with the eye shall cause sorrow, and the fool shall be beaten with his lips. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked shall cover iniquity. Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.
In the lips of the wise wisdom shall be found, and a rod on the back of him who lacks heart. The wise store up wisdom, but the mouth of the fool is near to confusion. And after four verses: The way of life is for those who keep discipline, but he who forsakes reproofs goes astray. Lying lips conceal hatred; he who utters insult is foolish. In much talking sin will not be lacking, but he who restrains his lips is most prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is worth nothing. The lips of the righteous instruct many, but those who are untaught die in poverty of heart. The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and affliction shall not be joined to it. The fool works wickedness as if in jest, but wisdom is prudence to a man.
What the wicked fears shall come upon him, but the desire of the righteous shall be given to them. And after two verses: As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him. The fear of the Lord adds days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The expectation of the righteous is joy, but the hope of the wicked shall perish. The way of the Lord is the strength of the upright, but terror to those who work evil. The righteous shall never be moved, but the wicked shall not dwell in the land. The mouth of the righteous shall bring forth wisdom, but the tongue of the perverse shall perish. The lips of the righteous consider what is pleasing, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse. A deceitful balance is an abomination before God, but an equal weight is his delight. Where there is pride, there shall be insult, but where there is humility, there also is wisdom.
The simplicity of the righteous shall guide them, but the deceit of the perverse shall destroy them. Riches shall not profit in the day of vengeance, but righteousness shall deliver from death. The righteousness of the upright shall direct his way, but the wicked shall fall in his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but the unjust shall be caught in their own snares. When a wicked man dies there shall be no further hope, and the expectation of the anxious shall perish. And after seven verses: He who despises his friend lacks heart, but a prudent man will keep silent. He who walks deceitfully reveals secrets, but he who is faithful in mind conceals what is entrusted to him. Where there is no governor, the people shall fall, but there is safety where there are many counsels. He who gives surety for a stranger shall be afflicted with evil;
but he who avoids snares shall be safe. And after two verses: A merciful man does good to his own soul, but he who is cruel casts off even his own kin. And after four verses: A crooked heart is an abomination to the Lord, but his delight is in those who walk in simplicity. Hand in hand, the evil man shall not be innocent, but the seed of the righteous shall be saved. And after two verses: The desire of the righteous is all good, but the expectation of the wicked is fury. Some divide their own goods and become richer; others seize what is not theirs and are always in want. The soul that blesses shall be enriched, and he who inebriates others shall himself also be inebriated. He who hides up grain shall be cursed among the peoples, but blessing shall be on the head of those who sell it. He who seeks good things shall rise well at dawn;
but he who searches out evil things shall be oppressed by them. He who trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall spring up like a green leaf. And after four verses: If the righteous receives recompense on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner? He who loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproofs is foolish. He who is good shall draw grace from the Lord, but he who trusts in his own thoughts acts wickedly. A man shall not be strengthened by wickedness, but the root of the righteous shall not be moved. And after sixteen verses: The desire of the wicked is the stronghold of the worst men, but the root of the righteous shall thrive. Because of the sins of the lips ruin draws near to the evil man, but the righteous shall escape from distress.
Everyone shall be filled with good things from the fruit of his mouth, and according to the works of his hands shall it be repaid to him. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he who is wise listens to counsel. And after four verses: There is one who makes promises and is pierced as by the sword of conscience, but the tongue of the wise is healing. The lip of truth shall be firm forever, but the hasty witness fashions a lying tongue. Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but joy shall follow those who enter into counsels of peace. Nothing that befalls the righteous shall grieve him, but the wicked shall be filled with evil. Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord, but those who act faithfully please him. A crafty man conceals knowledge, but the heart of the foolish shall provoke folly.
And after two verses: Grief in a man's heart shall humble it, but by a good word it shall be gladdened. He who neglects loss for a friend's sake is righteous, but the way of the wicked shall deceive them. The deceitful shall not find gain, but a man's substance shall be worth its weight in gold. In the path of righteousness is life, but the devious way leads to death. A wise son is his father's teaching, but the mocker does not listen when he is reproved. From the fruit of his mouth a man shall be filled with good things, but the soul of transgressors is wicked. He who guards his mouth guards his soul, but he who is heedless in speaking shall feel evils. The sluggard wills and wills not, but the soul of the diligent shall be enriched. The righteous man shall detest a lying word;
but the wicked man confounds and is confounded. Righteousness guards the way of the innocent, but wickedness overthrows sinners. There is one who is as though rich, when he has nothing, and one who is as though poor, when he is amid great riches. A man's riches are the ransom of his soul, but the poor man cannot endure reproof. The light of the righteous gives joy, but the lamp of the wicked shall be extinguished. Among the proud there are always quarrels, but those who do all things with counsel are governed by wisdom. Substance gotten in haste shall be diminished, but what is gathered little by little by hand shall be multiplied. Hope that is deferred afflicts the soul; a desire that comes is a tree of life. He who disparages any matter binds himself for the future, but he who fears the commandment shall dwell in peace.
The law is a fountain of life to the wise man, that he may turn away from the ruin of death. Good doctrine gives grace, but in the way of the scornful is a pit. And after twelve verses: He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to instruct him. The righteous eats and fills his soul, but the belly of the wicked is insatiable. And after two verses: He who walks in the straight way and fears God shall be despised by him who walks in the way of infamy. In the mouth of the fool is a rod of pride, but the lips of the wise preserve them. And after two verses: A faithful witness will not lie, but a deceitful witness utters a lie. The scoffer seeks wisdom and does not find it, but instruction is easy to the prudent. Go away from a foolish man, and you shall not know the lips of imprudence.
The wisdom of the crafty is to understand his own way, but the imprudence of fools is erring. The fool shall mock sin, but among the righteous grace shall abide. The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul—a stranger shall not share in its joy. The house of the wicked shall be destroyed, but the tents of the righteous shall flourish. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end leads down to death. Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning takes over the end of joy. And after three verses: The wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool leaps over and is confident. The impatient man shall work folly, and the crafty man is hateful. And after four verses: He who despises his neighbor sins, but he who has mercy on the poor shall be blessed. They go astray who work evil;
but mercy and truth prepare good things. In all labor there shall be abundance, but where words are many, there is often want. And after four verses: In the fear of the Lord is the confidence of strength, and for his children there shall be hope. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that they may turn away from the ruin of death. And after two verses: He who is patient is governed by much prudence, but he who is impatient exalts his own folly. Health of heart is the life of the flesh, but envy is rottenness of the bones. He who slanders the needy reproaches his Maker, but he who has mercy on the poor honors him. And after seven verses: A soft answer breaks wrath, but a harsh word stirs up fury. The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of fools pours forth folly. And after seventeen verses:
The scoffer does not love him who reproves him, nor does he go to the wise. And after five verses: Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great and insatiable treasures. Better to be invited to herbs with love than to a fatted calf with hatred. A wrathful man provokes quarrels, but he who is patient calms those that are stirred up. The way of the sluggards is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the righteous is without obstacle. A wise son gladdens his father, but the foolish man despises his mother. And after two verses: Thoughts are scattered where there is no counsel, but where there are many counselors, they are made firm. A man rejoices in the utterance of his mouth, and a word in season is best. The path of life is above the learned man, that he may turn away from the lowest hell.
And after four verses: He who pursues avarice troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes shall live. The mind of the righteous shall meditate obedience, but the mouth of the wicked overflows with evils. The Lord is far from the wicked, but he shall hear the prayers of the righteous. The light of the eyes rejoices the soul, and a good report makes the bones fat. The ear that hears the reproofs of life shall dwell among the wise. He who casts off discipline despises his own soul, but he who acquiesces in reproofs possesses his own heart. The fear of the Lord is the discipline of wisdom, and humility goes before glory. It is man's part to prepare the soul, and God's to govern the tongue. All the ways of men lie open before his eyes; the Lord is the weigher of spirits.
Reveal your works to the Lord, and your thoughts shall be directed. The Lord has made all things for himself, even the wicked for the evil day. Every arrogant man is an abomination to the Lord; even hand to hand, he shall not be innocent. By mercy and truth iniquity is redeemed, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. When the ways of a man please the Lord, he shall turn even his enemies to peace. Better is a little with righteousness than great fruits with iniquity. A man's heart disposes his way, but it belongs to the Lord to direct his steps. Divination is on the lips of the king; his mouth shall not err in judgment. Weight and balance are the judgments of the Lord, and all the stones of the age are his works.
Those who act wickedly are abominable to the king, for the throne is established by righteousness. Righteous lips are the will of kings; he who speaks what is right shall be directed. The king's indignation is a messenger of death, but a wise man will appease it. In the cheerfulness of the king's countenance is life, and his clemency is like the latter rain. Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold; and gain prudence, for it is more precious than silver. The path of the righteous turns away from evils; he who guards his own soul preserves his way. Pride goes before destruction, and the spirit is exalted before a fall. It is better to be humbled with the meek than to divide spoils with the proud. He who is learned in the word shall find good things, and he who hopes in the Lord is blessed.
He who is wise of heart shall be called prudent, and he who is sweet in speech shall attain greater things. And after seventeen verses: The patient man is better than the strong, and he who rules his own soul than the conqueror of cities. Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed by the Lord. Better is a dry morsel with joy than a house full of sacrifices with strife. A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brothers. As silver is tried by fire and gold in the furnace, so the Lord tries hearts. The evil man obeys an iniquitous tongue, and the deceitful man heeds lying lips. He who despises the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who rejoices at another's ruin shall not go unpunished. Children's children are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Fine words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince. Expectation is a most pleasing gem to him who awaits it: wherever he turns, he shall understand prudently. He who conceals an offense seeks friendships, but he who repeats a matter in another's words separates confederates. Reproof profits more with the prudent than a hundred blows with the fool. The evil man always seeks quarrels, but a cruel angel shall be sent against him. It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool trusting in his own folly. He who returns evil for good—evil shall not depart from his house. He who lets out water is the head of quarrels, and before he suffers insult he abandons judgment.
Both he who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are alike an abomination before the Lord. And after sixteen verses: The wicked man takes gifts from the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment. Wisdom shines on the face of the prudent, but the eyes of fools are at the ends of the earth. And after four verses: He who moderates his words is learned and prudent, and a man of understanding is of a precious spirit. And after two verses: He who wishes to depart from a friend seeks occasions; at every time he shall be reproachable. And after six verses: To accept the person of the wicked is not good, so that you turn aside from the truth of judgment. And after four verses: He who is soft and slack in his work is brother to him who wastes his own works. The name of the Lord is a strongest tower;
the righteous runs to it and shall be exalted. And after two verses: Before he is crushed, a man's heart is exalted, and before he is glorified, he is humbled. And after seven verses: The righteous is first the accuser of himself; his friend comes and shall examine him. The lot represses contradictions and decides even between the mighty. A brother who is helped by a brother is like a firm city, and judgments are like the bars of cities. Again after two verses: Death and life are in the hand of the tongue; those who love it shall eat its fruits. He who finds a good wife finds a good thing and shall draw gladness from the Lord. The poor man speaks with entreaties, but the rich man will answer harshly. A man friendly toward fellowship shall be more a friend than a brother.
Better is a poor man who walks in his simplicity than a fool who twists his lips. Where there is no knowledge of the soul there is no good, and he who is hasty stumbles with his feet. A man's folly overthrows his steps, and he rages in his mind against God. Riches add many friends, but from the poor man even those he had are separated. A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall not escape. Many court the person of the powerful and are friends of him who gives gifts. The brothers of a poor man hate him; moreover his friends have withdrawn far from him. He who pursues only words shall have nothing, but he who is possessor of understanding loves his own soul. And after nine verses:
Sloth brings on deep sleep, and the slack soul shall go hungry. He who keeps the commandment keeps his own soul, but he who neglects his ways shall be put to death. He who has mercy on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him his recompense. Instruct your son, do not despair. And after six verses: A needy man is merciful, and a poor man is better than a liar. The fear of the Lord tends to life, and one shall abide in fullness, without the visitation of evil. And after two verses: When the pestilent man is scourged the fool becomes wiser, but if you reprove a wise man, he shall understand discipline. He who afflicts his father and drives away his mother is disgraceful and unhappy. Do not cease, my son, to hear instruction, nor be ignorant of the words of knowledge.
An unjust witness mocks judgment, and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity. Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and hammers to strike the bodies of fools. Wine is a luxurious thing and drunkenness tumultuous: whoever delights in these shall not be wise. And after nineteen verses: Weight and weight, measure and measure—both are an abomination before God. A boy is known by his pursuits, whether his works are pure and right. And after two verses: Do not love sleep, lest want oppress you; open your eyes and be filled with bread. And after seventeen verses: Diverse weights are an abomination before God, and a deceitful balance is not good. And after twenty-five verses:
He who stops his ear at the cry of the poor shall himself also cry out and not be heard. A hidden gift extinguishes wrath, and a present in the bosom the greatest indignation. It is joy to the righteous to do judgment, but terror to those who work iniquity. The man who strays from the way of instruction shall be reckoned in the assembly of giants. And after nine verses: He who guards his mouth and tongue guards his soul from distress. The proud and arrogant is called untaught, who works pride in anger. Desires kill the sluggard, for his hands have refused to do anything. All day he covets and desires, but the righteous gives and does not cease. The sacrifices of the wicked are abominable, because they are offered out of crime. A lying witness shall perish;
but the man who speaks well proclaims victory. And after five verses: A good name is better than many riches. And after fifteen verses: He who is inclined to mercy shall be blessed, for he has given of his bread to the poor. Cast out the scoffer, and strife shall go out with him, and lawsuits and insults shall cease. And after four verses: The sluggard says, 'There is a lion outside; I shall be slain in the midst of the streets.' And after three verses: He who slanders the poor to increase his own riches shall himself give to a richer man and shall be in want. And after eight verses: Do not do violence to the poor because he is poor, nor crush the needy in the gate, for the Lord will judge his cause and will pierce those who have pierced his soul.
Do not be a friend to an angry man, nor walk with a furious man, lest perhaps you learn his ways and take a stumbling-block for your soul. Do not be with those who pledge their hands and who offer themselves as sureties for debts. And after a little: Do not withhold discipline from a boy; for if you strike him with the rod, he shall not die. You strike him with the rod, and shall deliver his soul from hell. And after eight verses: Do not be at the banquets of drinkers, nor in the revels of those who bring meats together to eat. And after twenty verses: Do not gaze at wine when it grows golden, when its color shines in the glass. It goes in smoothly, but at the last it will bite like a serpent, and like a basilisk it will spread its poison. And after seven verses:
Do not envy evil men, it says, nor desire to be with them: for their mind meditates plunder, and their lips speak deceits. Again after sixteen verses: Rescue those who are led to death, and cease not to deliver those who are dragged to destruction. If you say, 'My strength does not suffice,' he who is the inspector of the heart understands, and nothing escapes the preserver of your soul, and he will repay a man according to his works. Again after nine verses: When your enemy falls, do not rejoice, and let not your heart exult in his ruin, lest perhaps the Lord see it and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him. Do not contend with the worst men, nor envy the wicked. And after two verses: Fear the Lord, my son, and the king, and do not mingle with detractors:
for their destruction shall rise up suddenly, and who knows the ruin of them both? These things also are for the wise: to know a person's face in judgment is not good. He who says to the wicked, 'You are righteous,' the peoples shall curse him, and the tribes shall detest him. Those who reprove shall be praised, and upon them shall come a blessing. He who answers with right words shall kiss the lips. And after two verses: Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor, nor deceive anyone with your lips. Do not say, 'As he has done to me, so will I do to him: I will repay each one according to his work.' I passed through the field of a slothful man and through the vineyard of a foolish man, and behold, nettles had filled it all, thorns had covered its surface, and the stone wall was broken down.
When I saw this, I laid it to heart, and by the example learned discipline. And after twenty verses: What your eyes have seen, do not bring forth hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you cannot amend it when you have dishonored your friend. Handle your case with your friend, and do not reveal a secret to a stranger, lest perhaps he insult you when he hears it and not cease to reproach you. Golden apples on beds of silver is he who speaks a word in its season. A golden earring and a shining pearl is he who reproves a wise man and an obedient ear. And after seventeen verses: As vinegar upon niter, so is he who sings songs to a very evil heart. And if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he thirsts, give him water to drink: for you shall heap coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.
And after ten verses: Like a city that is open and without the circuit of walls, so is a man who cannot restrain his spirit in speaking. And after two verses: As a bird flying off elsewhere and a sparrow going where it will, so a curse uttered in vain against anyone shall come to nothing. A whip for the horse, a bridle for the ass, and a rod for the back of the imprudent. Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you become like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he seem wise in his own eyes. And after ten verses: As a dog that returns to its vomit, so is the imprudent man who repeats his folly. Have you seen a man who thinks himself wise? A fool shall have more hope than he. The sluggard says, 'There is a lioness in the way, a lion on the roads.'
As a door turns on its hinge, so does the sluggard on his bed. The sluggard hides his hands under his armpit, and it is a labor if he brings them to his mouth. The sluggard seems wiser to himself than seven men who speak sentences. As one who seizes a dog by the ears, so is he who passes by and impatiently mixes himself in another's quarrel. As one is harmful who hurls lances and arrows and death, so is the man who deceitfully harms his friend and, when caught, says, 'I did it in jest.' When the wood fails, the fire is extinguished; and when the whisperer is removed, quarrels are quieted. As coals to embers and wood to fire, so a wrathful man stirs up quarrels. The words of a whisperer seem simple, yet they reach to the innermost parts of the belly.