17¹ Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.

² A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.

³ The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

⁴ A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.

⁵ Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.

⁶ Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.

⁷ Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.

⁸ An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.

⁹ He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.

¹⁰ A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

¹¹ An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.

¹² It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.

¹³ If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.

¹⁴ The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.

¹⁵ He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

¹⁶ How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?

¹⁷ A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.

¹⁸ A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.

¹⁹ The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.

²⁰ Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

²¹ He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

²² A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

²³ A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.

²⁴ Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.

²⁶ To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.

²⁷ He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense. ²⁸ Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son, keep my teaching in your memory, and my rules in your heart: ² For they will give you increase of days, years of life, and peace. ³ Let not mercy and good faith go from you; let them be hanging round your neck, recorded on your heart; ⁴ So you will have grace and a good name in the eyes of God and men. ⁵ Put all your hope in God, not looking to your reason for support. ⁶ In all your ways give ear to him, and he will make straight your footsteps.

⁷ Put no high value on your wisdom: let the fear of the Lord be before you, and keep yourself from evil: ⁸ This will give strength to your flesh, and new life to your bones. ⁹ Give honour to the Lord with your wealth, and with the first-fruits of all your increase: ¹⁰ So your store-houses will be full of grain, and your vessels overflowing with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not make your heart hard against the Lord's teaching; do not be made angry by his training: ¹² For to those who are dear to him the Lord says sharp words, and makes the son in whom he has delight undergo pain.

¹³ Happy is the man who makes discovery of wisdom, and he who gets knowledge. ¹⁴ For trading in it is better than trading in silver, and its profit greater than bright gold. ¹⁵ She is of more value than jewels, and nothing for which you may have a desire is fair in comparison with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand, and in her left are wealth and honour. ¹⁷ Her ways are ways of delight, and all her goings are peace. ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to all who take her in their hands, and happy is everyone who keeps her. ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom put in position the bases of the earth; by reason he put the heavens in their place. ²⁰ By his knowledge the deep was parted, and dew came dropping from the skies.

²¹ My son, keep good sense, and do not let wise purpose go from your eyes. ²² So they will be life for your soul, and grace for your neck. ²³ Then you will go safely on your way, and your feet will have no cause for slipping. ²⁴ When you take your rest you will have no fear, and on your bed sleep will be sweet to you. ²⁵ Have no fear of sudden danger, or of the storm which will come on evil-doers: ²⁶ For the Lord will be your hope, and will keep your foot from being taken in the net.

²⁷ Do not keep back good from those who have a right to it, when it is in the power of your hand to do it. ²⁸ Say not to your neighbour, Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give; when you have it by you at the time. ²⁹ Do not make evil designs against your neighbour, when he is living with you without fear. ³⁰ Do not take up a cause at law against a man for nothing, if he has done you no wrong. ³¹ Have no envy of the violent man, or take any of his ways as an example. ³² For the wrong-hearted man is hated by the Lord, but he is a friend to the upright. ³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the evil-doer, but his blessing is on the tent of the upright. ³⁴ He makes sport of the men of pride, but he gives grace to the gentle-hearted. ³⁵ The wise will have glory for their heritage, but shame will be the reward of the foolish.