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

² A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.

⁴ The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

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

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!

⁸ A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.

¹⁰ A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

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

¹³ Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.

¹⁶ To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?

¹⁷ The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.

²² A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³ A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.

²⁴ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

²⁶ To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.

²⁷ He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit. ²⁸ Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

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.