17¹ Better is a dry morsel with quietness,
than a house full of feasting with strife.

² A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,
and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

³ The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,
but Yahweh tests the hearts.

⁴ An evildoer heeds wicked lips.
A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵ Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men;
the glory of children are their parents.

⁷ Arrogant speech isn’t fitting for a fool,
much less do lying lips fit a prince.

⁸ A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;
wherever he turns, he prospers.

⁹ He who covers an offense promotes love;
but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

¹⁰ A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding
than a hundred lashes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeks only rebellion;
therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,
rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoever rewards evil for good,
evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,
therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,
both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

¹⁶ Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
seeing he has no understanding?

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times;
and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding strikes hands,
and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁹ He who loves disobedience loves strife.
One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

²⁰ One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,
and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

²¹ He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.
The father of a fool has no joy.

²² A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

²³ A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,
to pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴ Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,
but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son brings grief to his father,
and bitterness to her who bore him.

²⁶ Also to punish the righteous is not good,
nor to flog officials for their integrity.

²⁷ He who spares his words has knowledge.
He who is even tempered is a man of understanding. ²⁸ Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.
When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, don’t forget my teaching;
but let your heart keep my commandments: ² for length of days, and years of life,
and peace, will they add to you. ³ Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you.
Bind them around your neck.
Write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ So you will find favor,
and good understanding in the sight of God and man. ⁵ Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
and don’t lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Don’t be wise in your own eyes.
Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. ⁸ It will be health to your body,
and nourishment to your bones. ⁹ Honor Yahweh with your substance,
with the first fruits of all your increase: ¹⁰ so your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will overflow with new wine. ¹¹ My son, don’t despise Yahweh’s discipline,
neither be weary of his reproof: ¹² for whom Yahweh loves, he reproves;
even as a father reproves the son in whom he delights.

¹³ Happy is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gets understanding. ¹⁴ For her good profit is better than getting silver,
and her return is better than fine gold. ¹⁵ She is more precious than rubies.
None of the things you can desire are to be compared to her. ¹⁶ Length of days is in her right hand.
In her left hand are riches and honor. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness.
All her paths are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her.
Happy is everyone who retains her. ¹⁹ By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth.
By understanding, he established the heavens. ²⁰ By his knowledge, the depths were broken up,
and the skies drop down the dew.

²¹ My son, let them not depart from your eyes.
Keep sound wisdom and discretion: ²² so they will be life to your soul,
and grace for your neck. ²³ Then you shall walk in your way securely.
Your foot won’t stumble. ²⁴ When you lie down, you will not be afraid.
Yes, you will lie down, and your sleep will be sweet. ²⁵ Don’t be afraid of sudden fear,
neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes: ²⁶ for Yahweh will be your confidence,
and will keep your foot from being taken.

²⁷ Don’t withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in the power of your hand to do it. ²⁸ Don’t say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again;
tomorrow I will give it to you,”
when you have it by you. ²⁹ Don’t devise evil against your neighbor,
seeing he dwells securely by you. ³⁰ Don’t strive with a man without cause,
if he has done you no harm. ³¹ Don’t envy the man of violence.
Choose none of his ways. ³² For the perverse is an abomination to Yahweh,
but his friendship is with the upright. ³³ Yahweh’s curse is in the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the habitation of the righteous. ³⁴ Surely he mocks the mockers,
but he gives grace to the humble. ³⁵ The wise will inherit glory,
but shame will be the promotion of fools.