271 Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a day's outcome may be.

2 Let another man give you praise, and not your mouth; one who is strange to you, and not your lips.

3 A stone has great weight, and sand is crushing; but the wrath of the foolish is of greater weight than these. 4 Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing stream; but who does not give way before envy?

5 Better is open protest than love kept secret. 6 The wounds of a friend are given in good faith, but the kisses of a hater are false.

7 The full man has no use for honey, but to the man in need of food every bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a bird wandering from the place of her eggs is a man wandering from his station.

9 Oil and perfume make glad the heart, and the wise suggestion of a friend is sweet to the soul. 10 Do not give up your friend and your father's friend; and do not go into your brother's house in the day of your trouble: better is a neighbour who is near than a brother far off.

11 My son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may give back an answer to him who puts me to shame.

12 The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover: the simple go straight on and get into trouble.

13 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.

14 He who gives a blessing to his friend with a loud voice, getting up early in the morning, will have it put to his account as a curse.

15 Like an unending dropping on a day of rain is a bitter-tongued woman. 16 He who keeps secret the secret of his friend, will get himself a name for good faith.

17 Iron makes iron sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend.

18 Whoever keeps a fig-tree will have its fruit; and the servant waiting on his master will be honoured.

19 Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts of men to one another.

20 The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of man have never enough.

21 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, and a man is measured by what he is praised for.

22 Even if a foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a vessel among crushed grain, still his foolish ways will not go from him.

23 Take care to have knowledge about the condition of your flocks, looking well after your herds; 24 For wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on for all generations. 25 The grass comes up and the young grass is seen, and the mountain plants are got in. 26 The lambs are for your clothing, and the he-goats make the value of a field: 27 There will be goats' milk enough for your food, and for the support of your servant-girls.

The Wicked and the Righteous

281 The evil man goes running away when no man is after him, but the upright are without fear, like the lion.

2 Because of the sin of the land, its troubles are increased; but by a man of wisdom and knowledge they will be put out like a fire.

3 A man of wealth who is cruel to the poor is like a violent rain causing destruction of food.

4 Those who have no respect for the law give praise to the evil-doer; but such as keep the law are against him.

5 Evil men have no knowledge of what is right; but those who go after the Lord have knowledge of all things.

6 Better is the poor man whose ways are upright, than the man of wealth whose ways are not straight.

7 He who keeps the law is a wise son, but he who keeps company with feasters puts shame on his father.

8 He who makes his wealth greater by taking interest, only gets it together for him who has pity on the poor.

9 As for the man whose ear is turned away from hearing the law, even his prayer is disgusting.

10 Anyone causing the upright to go wandering in an evil way, will himself go down into the hole he has made; but the upright will have good things for their heritage.

11 The man of wealth seems to himself to be wise, but the poor man who has sense has a low opinion of him.

12 When the upright do well, there is great glory; but when evil-doers are lifted up, men do not let themselves be seen.

13 He who keeps his sins secret will not do well; but one who is open about them, and gives them up, will get mercy.

14 Happy is the man in whom is the fear of the Lord at all times; but he whose heart is hard will come into trouble.

15 Like a loud-voiced lion and a wandering bear, is an evil ruler over a poor people.

16 The prince who has no sense is a cruel ruler; but he who has no desire to get profit for himself will have long life.

17 One who has been the cause of a man's death will go in flight to the underworld: let no man give him help.

18 He whose ways are upright will be safe, but sudden will be the fall of him whose ways are twisted.

19 By ploughing his land a man will have bread in full measure; but he who goes after good-for-nothing persons will be poor enough.

20 A man of good faith will have great blessing, but one attempting to get wealth quickly will not go free from punishment.

21 It is not good to have respect for a man's position: for a man will do wrong for a bit of bread.

22 He who is ever desiring wealth goes running after money, and does not see that need will come on him.

23 He who says words of protest to a man will later have more approval than one who says smooth words with his tongue.

24 He who takes from his father or his mother what is theirs by right, and says, It is no sin; is the same as a taker of life.

25 He who is ever desiring profit is a cause of fighting; but he who puts his faith in the Lord will be made fat.

26 He whose faith is in himself is foolish; but everyone walking wisely will be kept safe.

27 He who gives to the poor will never be in need, but great curses will be on him who gives no attention to them.

28 When evil-doers are lifted up, men take cover; but when destruction overtakes them, the upright are increased.

291 A man hating sharp words and making his heart hard, will suddenly be broken and will not be made well again.

2 When the upright have power, the people are glad; when an evil man is ruler, grief comes on the people.

3 A man who is a lover of wisdom is a joy to his father: but he who goes in the company of loose women is a waster of wealth.

4 A king, by right rule, makes the land safe; but one full of desires makes it a waste.

5 A man who says smooth things to his neighbour is stretching out a net for his steps.

6 In the steps of an evil man there is a net for him, but the upright man gets away quickly and is glad.

7 The upright man gives attention to the cause of the poor: the evil-doer gives no thought to it.

8 Men of pride are the cause of violent acts in a town, but by wise men wrath is turned away.

9 If a wise man goes to law with a foolish man, he may be angry or laughing, but there will be no rest.

10 Men of blood are haters of the good man, and evil-doers go after his soul.

11 A foolish man lets out all his wrath, but a wise man keeps it back quietly.

12 If a ruler gives attention to false words, all his servants are evil-doers.

13 The poor man and his creditor come face to face: the Lord gives light to their eyes equally.

14 The king who is a true judge in the cause of the poor, will be safe for ever on the seat of his power.

15 The rod and sharp words give wisdom: but a child who is not guided is a cause of shame to his mother.

16 When evil men are in power, wrongdoing is increased; but the upright will have pleasure when they see their downfall.

17 Give your son training, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your soul.

18 Where there is no vision, the people are uncontrolled; but he who keeps the law will be happy.

19 A servant will not be trained by words; for though the sense of the words is clear to him, he will not give attention.

20 Have you seen a man who is quick with his tongue? There is more hope for a foolish man than for him.

21 If a servant is gently cared for from his early years, he will become a cause of sorrow in the end.

22 An angry man is the cause of fighting, and a man given to wrath does much wrong.

23 A man's pride will be the cause of his fall, but he who has a gentle spirit will get honour.

24 A man who takes part with a thief has hate for his soul; he is put under oath, but says nothing.

25 The fear of man is a cause of danger: but whoever puts his faith in the Lord will have a safe place on high.

26 The approval of a ruler is desired by great numbers: but the decision in a man's cause comes from the Lord.

27 An evil man is disgusting to the upright, and he who is upright is disgusting to evil-doers.

Paul's Defense of His Ministry

101 Now I, Paul, myself make request to you by the quiet and gentle behaviour of Christ, I who am poor in spirit when with you, but who say what is in my mind to you without fear when I am away from you: 2 Yes, I make my request to you, so that when I am with you I may not have to make use of the authority which may be needed against some to whom we seem to be walking after the flesh. 3 For though we may be living in the flesh, we are not fighting after the way of the flesh 4 (For the arms with which we are fighting are not those of the flesh, but are strong before God for the destruction of high places); 5 Putting an end to reasonings, and every high thing which is lifted up against the knowledge of God, and causing every thought to come under the authority of Christ; 6 Being ready to give punishment to whatever is against his authority, after you have made it clear that you are completely under his control.

7 Give attention to the things which are before you. If any man seems to himself to be Christ's, let him keep in mind that we are as much Christ's as he is. 8 For though I might take pride in our authority (which the Lord gave for building you up, and not for your destruction), it will not be a cause of shame to me: 9 That I may not seem to have the desire of causing you fear by my letters. 10 For his letters, they say, have weight and are strong; but in body he is feeble, and his way of talking has little force. 11 Let those who say this keep in mind that, what we are in word by letters when we are away, so will we be in act when we are present.

12 For we will not make comparison of ourselves with some of those who say good things about themselves: but these, measuring themselves by themselves, and making comparison of themselves with themselves, are not wise. 13 We will not give glory to ourselves in over-great measure, but after the measure of the rule which God has given us, a measure which comes even to you. 14 For we have no need to make ourselves seem more than we are, as if our authority did not come as far as to you: for we came even as far as you with the good news of Christ: 15 Not taking credit to ourselves for what is not our business, that is, for the work of others; but having hope that, with the growth of your faith, we may get the credit for an increase which is the effect of our work, 16 So that we may be able to go on and take the good news to countries still farther away than you are, and not take credit for another man's work in making things ready to our hand. 17 But whoever has a desire for glory, let his glory be in the Lord. 18 For the Lord's approval of a man is not dependent on his opinion of himself, but on the Lord's opinion of him.