1:
Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
2:
Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
3:
By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
4:
By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
5:
A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
6:
Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
7:
Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
8:
He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
9:
The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
10:
If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
11:
Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
12:
If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, end he shall render to a man according to his works.
13:
Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
14:
So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
15:
Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
16:
For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
17:
When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
18:
Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
19:
Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
20:
For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
21:
My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
22:
For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
23:
These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
24:
They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
25:
They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
26:
He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
27:
Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
28:
Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
29:
Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
30:
I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
31:
And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
32:
Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
33:
Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
34:
And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.