20¹ Wine makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.

² The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.

³ It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.

⁴ The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.

⁵ The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.

⁶ Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?

⁷ An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!

⁸ A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.

⁹ Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?

¹⁰ Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.

¹¹ Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.

¹² The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.

¹³ Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.

¹⁴ A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.

¹⁵ There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.

¹⁶ Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.

¹⁷ Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.

¹⁸ Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.

¹⁹ He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.

²⁰ If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.

²¹ A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.

²² Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.

²³ Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.

²⁴ A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?

²⁵ It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.

²⁶ A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.

²⁷ The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.

²⁸ Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.

³⁰ By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.

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.