11¹ A false balance is an abomination to Jehovah; but a just weight is his delight.

² [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame; but with the lowly is wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guideth them; but the crookedness of the unfaithful destroyeth them.

⁴ Wealth profiteth not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.

⁵ The righteousness of the perfect maketh plain his way; but the wicked falleth by his own wickedness. ⁶ The righteousness of the upright delivereth them; but the treacherous are taken in their own craving.

⁷ When a wicked man dieth, [his] expectation shall perish; and the hope of evil [men] perisheth.

⁸ The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

⁹ With his mouth a hypocrite destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.

¹⁰ When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and when the wicked perish, there is shouting. ¹¹ By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted; but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

¹² He that despiseth his neighbour is void of heart; but a man of understanding holdeth his peace. ¹³ He that goeth about talebearing revealeth secrets; but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

¹⁴ Where no advice is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

¹⁵ It goeth ill with him that is surety for another; but he that hateth suretyship is secure.

¹⁶ A gracious woman retaineth honour; and the violent retain riches.

¹⁷ The merciful man doeth good to his own soul; but the cruel troubleth his own flesh.

¹⁸ The wicked worketh a deceitful work; but he that soweth righteousness hath a sure reward.

¹⁹ As righteousness [tendeth] to life, so he that pursueth evil [doeth it] to his own death.

²⁰ The perverse in heart are abomination to Jehovah; but they that are perfect in [their] way are his delight.

²¹ Hand for hand! an evil [man] shall not be held innocent; but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

²² A fair woman who is without discretion, is [as] a gold ring in a swine's snout.

²³ The desire of the righteous is only good; the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

²⁴ There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is right, but [it tendeth] only to want.

²⁵ The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

²⁶ He that withholdeth corn, the people curse him; but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

²⁷ He that is earnest after good seeketh favour; but he that searcheth for mischief, it shall come upon him.

²⁸ He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a leaf.

²⁹ He that troubleth his own house shall inherit wind; and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and the wise winneth souls.

³¹ Behold, the righteous shall be requited on the earth: how much more the wicked and the sinner.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, forget not my teaching, and let thy heart observe my commandments; ² for length of days, and years of life, and peace shall they add to thee. ³ Let not loving-kindness and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck, write them upon the tablet of thy heart: ⁴ and thou shalt find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Confide in Jehovah with all thy heart, and lean not unto thine own intelligence; ⁶ in all thy ways acknowledge him, and he will make plain thy paths.

⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: ⁸ it shall be health for thy navel, and moisture for thy bones. ⁹ Honour Jehovah with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase; ¹⁰ so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy vats shall overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, despise not the instruction of Jehovah, neither be weary of his chastisement; ¹² for whom Jehovah loveth he chasteneth, even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

¹³ Blessed is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. ¹⁴ For the gain thereof is better than the gain of silver, and her revenue than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou canst desire are not equal unto her. ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand; in her left hand riches and honour. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her; and happy is he that retaineth her. ¹⁹ Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge the deeps were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²² so shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace unto thy neck. ²³ Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thy foot shall not stumble; ²⁴ when thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid, but thou shalt lie down and thy sleep shall be sweet. ²⁵ Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh; ²⁶ for Jehovah shall be thy confidence, and he will keep thy foot from being taken.

²⁷ Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it. ²⁸ Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to-morrow I will give, when thou hast it by thee. ²⁹ Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. ³⁰ Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm. ³¹ Envy not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways. ³² For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; but his secret is with the upright. ³³ The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; but he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. ³⁴ He indeed scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace unto the lowly. ³⁵ The wise shall inherit glory; but shame shall be the promotion of the foolish.