Wisdom of Jesus ben Sirach

The Prologue
Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets and the others that followed them, and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. Now, those who read the scriptures must not only themselves understand them, but must also as lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to help the outsiders. So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our ancestors, and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, so that by becoming familiar also with his book those who love learning might make even greater progress in living according to the law.
You are invited therefore to read it with goodwill and attention, and to be indulgent in cases where, despite our diligent labor in translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. Not only this book, but even the Law itself, the Prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little when read in the original.
When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity for no little instruction. It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. During that time I have applied my skill day and night to complete and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning and are disposed to live according to the law.

1 All wisdom is from the Lord,
and with him it remains forever.
2The sand of the sea, the drops of rain,
and the days of eternity--who can count them?
3The height of heaven, the breadth of the earth,
the abyss, and wisdom--who can search them out?
4Wisdom was created before all other things,
and prudent understanding from eternity
6The root of wisdom--to whom has it been revealed?
Her subtleties--who knows them?
8There is but one who is wise, greatly to be feared,
seated upon his throne--the Lord.
9It is he who created her;
he saw her and took her measure;
he poured her out upon all his works,
10upon all the living according to his gift;
he lavished her upon those who love him.

14To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
she is created with the faithful in the womb.
15She made among human beings an eternal foundation,
and among their descendants she will abide faithfully.
16To fear the Lord is fullness of wisdom;
she inebriates mortals with her fruits;
17she fills their whole house with desirable goods,
and their storehouses with her produce.
18The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom,
making peace and perfect health to flourish.
19She rained down knowledge and discerning comprehension,
and she heightened the glory of those who held her fast.
20To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom,
and her branches are long life.

22Unjust anger cannot be justified,
for anger tips the scale to one's ruin.
23Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment,
and then cheerfulness comes back to them.
24They hold back their words until the right moment;
then the lips of many tell of their good sense.

25In the treasuries of wisdom are wise sayings,
but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
26If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments,
and the Lord will lavish her upon you.
27For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and discipline,
fidelity and humility are his delight.

28Do not disobey the fear of the Lord;
do not approach him with a divided mind.
29Do not be a hypocrite before others,
and keep watch over your lips.
30Do not exalt yourself, or you may fall
and bring dishonor upon yourself.
The Lord will reveal your secrets
and overthrow you before the whole congregation,
because you did not come in the fear of the Lord,
and your heart was full of deceit.

2 My child, when you come to serve the Lord,
prepare yourself for testing.
2Set your heart right and be steadfast,
and do not be impetuous in time of calamity.
3Cling to him and do not depart,
so that your last days may be prosperous.
4Accept whatever befalls you,
and in times of humiliation be patient.
5For gold is tested in the fire,
and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation.
6Trust in him, and he will help you;
make your ways straight, and hope in him.

7You who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy;
do not stray, or else you may fall.
8You who fear the Lord, trust in him,
and your reward will not be lost.
9You who fear the Lord, hope for good things,
for lasting joy and mercy.
10Consider the generations of old and see:
has anyone trusted in the Lord and been disappointed?
Or has anyone persevered in the fear of the Lord and been forsaken?
Or has anyone called upon him and been neglected?
11For the Lord is compassionate and merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of distress.

12Woe to timid hearts and to slack hands,
and to the sinner who walks a double path!
13Woe to the fainthearted who have no trust!
Therefore they will have no shelter.
14Woe to you who have lost your nerve!
What will you do when the Lord's reckoning comes?

15Those who fear the Lord do not disobey his words,
and those who love him keep his ways.
16Those who fear the Lord seek to please him,
and those who love him are filled with his law.
17Those who fear the Lord prepare their hearts,
and humble themselves before him.
18Let us fall into the hands of the Lord,
but not into the hands of mortals;
for equal to his majesty is his mercy,
and equal to his name are his works.

3 Listen to me your father, O children;
act accordingly, that you may be kept in safety.
2For the Lord honors a father above his children,
and he confirms a mother's right over her children.
3Those who honor their father atone for sins,
4and those who respect their mother are like those who lay up treasure.
5Those who honor their father will have joy in their own children,
and when they pray they will be heard.
6Those who respect their father will have long life,
and those who honor their mother obey the Lord;
7they will serve their parents as their masters.
8Honor your father by word and deed,
that his blessing may come upon you.
9For a father's blessing strengthens the houses of the children,
but a mother's curse uproots their foundations.
10Do not glorify yourself by dishonoring your father,
for your father's dishonor is no glory to you.
11The glory of one's father is one's own glory,
and it is a disgrace for children not to respect their mother.

12My child, help your father in his old age,
and do not grieve him as long as he lives;
13even if his mind fails, be patient with him;
because you have all your faculties do not despise him.
14For kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
and will be credited to you against your sins;
15in the day of your distress it will be remembered in your favor;
like frost in fair weather, your sins will melt away.
16Whoever forsakes a father is like a blasphemer,
and whoever angers a mother is cursed by the Lord.

17My child, perform your tasks with humility;
then you will be loved by those whom God accepts.
18The greater you are, the more you must humble yourself;
so you will find favor in the sight of the Lord.
20For great is the might of the Lord;
but by the humble he is glorified.
21Neither seek what is too difficult for you,
nor investigate what is beyond your power.
22Reflect upon what you have been commanded,
for what is hidden is not your concern.
23Do not meddle in matters that are beyond you,
for more than you can understand has been shown you.
24For their conceit has led many astray,
and wrong opinion has impaired their judgment.

25Without eyes there is no light;
without knowledge there is no wisdom.
26A stubborn mind will fare badly at the end,
and whoever loves danger will perish in it.
27A stubborn mind will be burdened by troubles,
and the sinner adds sin to sins.
28When calamity befalls the proud, there is no healing,
for an evil plant has taken root in him.
29The mind of the intelligent appreciates proverbs,
and an attentive ear is the desire of the wise.

4 My child, do not cheat the poor of their living,
and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
2Do not grieve the hungry,
or anger one in need.
3Do not add to the troubles of the desperate,
or delay giving to the needy.
4Do not reject a suppliant in distress,
or turn your face away from the poor.
5Do not avert your eye from the needy,
and give no one reason to curse you;
6for if in bitterness of soul some should curse you,
their Creator will hear their prayer.

7Endear yourself to the congregation;
bow your head low to the great.
8Give a hearing to the poor,
and return their greeting politely.
9Rescue the oppressed from the oppressor;
and do not be hesitant in giving a verdict.
10Be a father to orphans,
and be like a husband to their mother;
you will then be like a son of the Most High,
and he will love you more than does your mother.

11Wisdom teaches her children
and gives help to those who seek her.
12Whoever loves her loves life,
and those who seek her from early morning are filled with joy.
13Whoever holds her fast inherits glory,
and the Lord blesses the place she enters.
14Those who serve her minister to the Holy One;
the Lord loves those who love her.
15Those who obey her will judge the nations,
and all who listen to her will live secure.
16If they remain faithful, they will inherit her;
their descendants will also obtain her.
17For at first she will walk with them on tortuous paths;
she will bring fear and dread upon them,
and will torment them by her discipline
until she trusts them,
and she will test them with her ordinances.
18Then she will come straight back to them again and gladden them,
and will reveal her secrets to them.
19If they go astray she will forsake them,
and hand them over to their ruin.

20Watch for the opportune time, and beware of evil,
and do not be ashamed to be yourself.
21For there is a shame that leads to sin,
and there is a shame that is glory and favor.
22Do not show partiality, to your own harm,
or deference, to your downfall.
23Do not refrain from speaking at the proper moment,
and do not hide your wisdom.
24For wisdom becomes known through speech,
and education through the words of the tongue.
25Never speak against the truth,
but be ashamed of your ignorance.
26Do not be ashamed to confess your sins,
and do not try to stop the current of a river.
27Do not subject yourself to a fool,
or show partiality to a ruler.
28Fight to the death for truth,
and the Lord God will fight for you.

29Do not be reckless in your speech,
or sluggish and remiss in your deeds.
30Do not be like a lion in your home,
or suspicious of your servants.
31Do not let your hand be stretched out to receive
and closed when it is time to give.

4Do not say, "I sinned, yet what has happened to me?"
for the Lord is slow to anger.
5Do not be so confident of forgiveness
that you add sin to sin.
6Do not say, "His mercy is great,
he will forgive the multitude of my sins,"
for both mercy and wrath are with him,
and his anger will rest on sinners.
7Do not delay to turn back to the Lord,
and do not postpone it from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come upon you,
and at the time of punishment you will perish.
8Do not depend on dishonest wealth,
for it will not benefit you on the day of calamity.

9Do not winnow in every wind,
or follow every path.
10Stand firm for what you know,
and let your speech be consistent.
11Be quick to hear,
but deliberate in answering.
12If you know what to say, answer your neighbor;
but if not, put your hand over your mouth.

13Honor and dishonor come from speaking,
and the tongue of mortals may be their downfall.
14Do not be called double-tongued
and do not lay traps with your tongue;
for shame comes to the thief,
and severe condemnation to the double-tongued.
15In great and small matters cause no harm,

6
1and do not become an enemy instead of a friend;
for a bad name incurs shame and reproach;
so it is with the double-tongued sinner.

2Do not fall into the grip of passion,
or you may be torn apart as by a bull.
3Your leaves will be devoured and your fruit destroyed,
and you will be left like a withered tree.
4Evil passion destroys those who have it,
and makes them the laughingstock of their enemies.

5Pleasant speech multiplies friends,
and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.
6Let those who are friendly with you be many,
but let your advisers be one in a thousand.
7When you gain friends, gain them through testing,
and do not trust them hastily.
8For there are friends who are such when it suits them,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.
9And there are friends who change into enemies,
and tell of the quarrel to your disgrace.
10And there are friends who sit at your table,
but they will not stand by you in time of trouble.
11When you are prosperous, they become your second self,
and lord it over your servants;
12but if you are brought low, they turn against you,
and hide themselves from you.
13Keep away from your enemies,
and be on guard with your friends.

14Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter:
whoever finds one has found a treasure.
15Faithful friends are beyond price;
no amount can balance their worth.
16Faithful friends are life-saving medicine;
and those who fear the Lord will find them.
17Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright,
for as they are, so are their neighbors also.

18My child, from your youth choose discipline,
and when you have gray hair you will still find wisdom.
19Come to her like one who plows and sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For when you cultivate her you will toil but little,
and soon you will eat of her produce.
20She seems very harsh to the undisciplined;
fools cannot remain with her.
21She will be like a heavy stone to test them,
and they will not delay in casting her aside.
22For wisdom is like her name;
she is not readily perceived by many.

23Listen, my child, and accept my judgment;
do not reject my counsel.
24Put your feet into her fetters,
and your neck into her collar.
25Bend your shoulders and carry her,
and do not fret under her bonds.
26Come to her with all your soul,
and keep her ways with all your might.
27Search out and seek, and she will become known to you;
and when you get hold of her, do not let her go.
28For at last you will find the rest she gives,
and she will be changed into joy for you.
29Then her fetters will become for you a strong defense,
and her collar a glorious robe.
30Her yoke is a golden ornament,
and her bonds a purple cord.
31You will wear her like a glorious robe,
and put her on like a splendid crown.

32If you are willing, my child, you can be disciplined,
and if you apply yourself you will become clever.
33If you love to listen you will gain knowledge,
and if you pay attention you will become wise.
34Stand in the company of the elders.
Who is wise? Attach yourself to such a one.
35Be ready to listen to every godly discourse,
and let no wise proverbs escape you.
36If you see an intelligent person, rise early to visit him;
let your foot wear out his doorstep.
37Reflect on the statutes of the Lord,
and meditate at all times on his commandments.
It is he who will give insight to your mind,
and your desire for wisdom will be granted.

4Do not seek from the Lord high office,
or the seat of honor from the king.
5Do not assert your righteousness before the Lord,
or display your wisdom before the king.
6Do not seek to become a judge,
or you may be unable to root out injustice;
you may be partial to the powerful,
and so mar your integrity.
7Commit no offense against the public,
and do not disgrace yourself among the people.

8Do not commit a sin twice;
not even for one will you go unpunished.
9Do not say, "He will consider the great number of my gifts,
and when I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it."
10Do not grow weary when you pray;
do not neglect to give alms.
11Do not ridicule a person who is embittered in spirit,
for there is One who humbles and exalts.
12Do not devise a lie against your brother,
or do the same to a friend.
13Refuse to utter any lie,
for it is a habit that results in no good.
14Do not babble in the assembly of the elders,
and do not repeat yourself when you pray.

15Do not hate hard labor
or farm work, which was created by the Most High.
16Do not enroll in the ranks of sinners;
remember that retribution does not delay.
17Humble yourself to the utmost,
for the punishment of the ungodly is fire and worms.

22Do you have cattle? Look after them;
if they are profitable to you, keep them.
23Do you have children? Discipline them,
and make them obedient from their youth.
24Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity,
and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.
25Give a daughter in marriage, and you complete a great task;
but give her to a sensible man.
26Do you have a wife who pleases you? Do not divorce her;
but do not trust yourself to one whom you detest.

27With all your heart honor your father,
and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother.
28Remember that it was of your parents you were born;
how can you repay what they have given to you?

29With all your soul fear the Lord,
and revere his priests.
30With all your might love your Maker,
and do not neglect his ministers.
31Fear the Lord and honor the priest,
and give him his portion, as you have been commanded:
the first fruits, the guilt offering, the gift of the shoulders,
the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of the holy things.

32Stretch out your hand to the poor,
so that your blessing may be complete.
33Give graciously to all the living;
do not withhold kindness even from the dead.
34Do not avoid those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.
35Do not hesitate to visit the sick,
because for such deeds you will be loved.
36In all you do, remember the end of your life,
and then you will never sin.

Prudence and Common Sense

4Do not make fun of one who is ill-bred,
or your ancestors may be insulted.
5Do not reproach one who is turning away from sin;
remember that we all deserve punishment.
6Do not disdain one who is old,
for some of us are also growing old.
7Do not rejoice over anyone's death;
remember that we must all die.

8Do not slight the discourse of the sages,
but busy yourself with their maxims;
because from them you will learn discipline
and how to serve princes.
9Do not ignore the discourse of the aged,
for they themselves learned from their parents;
from them you learn how to understand
and to give an answer when the need arises.

10Do not kindle the coals of sinners,
or you may be burned in their flaming fire.
11Do not let the insolent bring you to your feet,
or they may lie in ambush against your words.
12Do not lend to one who is stronger than you;
but if you do lend anything, count it as a loss.
13Do not give surety beyond your means;
but if you give surety, be prepared to pay.

14Do not go to law against a judge,
for the decision will favor him because of his standing.
15Do not go traveling with the reckless,
or they will be burdensome to you;
for they will act as they please,
and through their folly you will perish with them.
16Do not pick a fight with the quick-tempered,
and do not journey with them through lonely country,
because bloodshed means nothing to them,
and where no help is at hand, they will strike you down.
17Do not consult with fools,
for they cannot keep a secret.
18In the presence of strangers do nothing that is to be kept secret,
for you do not know what they will divulge.
19Do not reveal your thoughts to anyone,
or you may drive away your happiness.

9 Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom,
or you will teach her an evil lesson to your own hurt.
2Do not give yourself to a woman
and let her trample down your strength.
3Do not go near a loose woman,
or you will fall into her snares.
4Do not dally with a singing girl,
or you will be caught by her tricks.
5Do not look intently at a virgin,
or you may stumble and incur penalties for her.
6Do not give yourself to prostitutes,
or you may lose your inheritance.
7Do not look around in the streets of a city,
or wander about in its deserted sections.
8Turn away your eyes from a shapely woman,
and do not gaze at beauty belonging to another;
many have been seduced by a woman's beauty,
and by it passion is kindled like a fire.
9Never dine with another man's wife,
or revel with her at wine;
or your heart may turn aside to her,
and in blood you may be plunged into destruction.

11Do not envy the success of sinners,
for you do not know what their end will be like.
12Do not delight in what pleases the ungodly;
remember that they will not be held guiltless all their lives.

13Keep far from those who have power to kill,
and you will not be haunted by the fear of death.
But if you approach them, make no misstep,
or they may rob you of your life.
Know that you are stepping among snares,
and that you are walking on the city battlements.

14As much as you can, aim to know your neighbors,
and consult with the wise.
15Let your conversation be with intelligent people,
and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High.
16Let the righteous be your dinner companions,
and let your glory be in the fear of the Lord.

6Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury,
and do not resort to acts of insolence.
7Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals,
and injustice is outrageous to both.
8Sovereignty passes from nation to nation
on account of injustice and insolence and wealth.
9How can dust and ashes be proud?
Even in life the human body decays.
10A long illness baffles the physician;
the king of today will die tomorrow.
11For when one is dead
he inherits maggots and vermin and worms.
12The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord;
the heart has withdrawn from its Maker.
13For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the one who clings to it pours out abominations.
Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities,
and destroys them completely.
14The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers,
and enthrones the lowly in their place.
15The Lord plucks up the roots of the nations,
and plants the humble in their place.
16The Lord lays waste the lands of the nations,
and destroys them to the foundations of the earth.
17He removes some of them and destroys them,
and erases the memory of them from the earth.
18Pride was not created for human beings,
or violent anger for those born of women.

19Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are worthy of honor?
Those who fear the Lord.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Human offspring.
Whose offspring are unworthy of honor?
Those who break the commandments.
20Among family members their leader is worthy of honor,
but those who fear the Lord are worthy of honor in his eyes.
22The rich, and the eminent, and the poor--
their glory is the fear of the Lord.
23It is not right to despise one who is intelligent but poor,
and it is not proper to honor one who is sinful.
24The prince and the judge and the ruler are honored,
but none of them is greater than the one who fears the Lord.
25Free citizens will serve a wise servant,
and an intelligent person will not complain.

28My child, honor yourself with humility,
and give yourself the esteem you deserve.
29Who will acquit those who condemn themselves?
And who will honor those who dishonor themselves?
30The poor are honored for their knowledge,
while the rich are honored for their wealth.
31One who is honored in poverty, how much more in wealth!
And one dishonored in wealth, how much more in poverty!

11 The wisdom of the humble lifts their heads high,
and seats them among the great.
2Do not praise individuals for their good looks,
or loathe anyone because of appearance alone.
3The bee is small among flying creatures,
but what it produces is the best of sweet things.
4Do not boast about wearing fine clothes,
and do not exalt yourself when you are honored;
for the works of the Lord are wonderful,
and his works are concealed from humankind.
5Many kings have had to sit on the ground,
but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.
6Many rulers have been utterly disgraced,
and the honored have been handed over to others.

10My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;
if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.
If you pursue, you will not overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
11There are those who work and struggle and hurry,
but are so much the more in want.
12There are others who are slow and need help,
who lack strength and abound in poverty;
but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;
he lifts them out of their lowly condition
13and raises up their heads
to the amazement of the many.

14Good things and bad, life and death,
poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.
17The Lord's gift remains with the devout,
and his favor brings lasting success.
18One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,
and the reward allotted to him is this:
19when he says, "I have found rest,
and now I shall feast on my goods!"
he does not know how long it will be
until he leaves them to others and dies.

20Stand by your agreement and attend to it,
and grow old in your work.
21Do not wonder at the works of a sinner,
but trust in the Lord and keep at your job;
for it is easy in the sight of the Lord
to make the poor rich suddenly, in an instant.
22The blessing of the Lord is the reward of the pious,
and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.
23Do not say, "What do I need,
and what further benefit can be mine?"
24Do not say, "I have enough,
and what harm can come to me now?"
25In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten,
and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.
26For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death
to reward individuals according to their conduct.
27An hour's misery makes one forget past delights,
and at the close of one's life one's deeds are revealed.
28Call no one happy before his death;
by how he ends, a person becomes known.

29Do not invite everyone into your home,
for many are the tricks of the crafty.
30Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of the proud,
and like spies they observe your weakness;
31for they lie in wait, turning good into evil,
and to worthy actions they attach blame.
32From a spark many coals are kindled,
and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.
33Beware of scoundrels, for they devise evil,
and they may ruin your reputation forever.
34Receive strangers into your home and they will stir up trouble for you,
and will make you a stranger to your own family.

1 If you do good, know to whom you do it,
and you will be thanked for your good deeds.
2Do good to the devout, and you will be repaid--
if not by them, certainly by the Most High.
3No good comes to one who persists in evil
or to one who does not give alms.
4Give to the devout, but do not help the sinner.
5Do good to the humble, but do not give to the ungodly;
hold back their bread, and do not give it to them,
for by means of it they might subdue you;
then you will receive twice as much evil
for all the good you have done to them.
6For the Most High also hates sinners
and will inflict punishment on the ungodly.
7Give to the one who is good, but do not help the sinner.
8A friend is not known in prosperity,
nor is an enemy hidden in adversity.
9One's enemies are friendly when one prospers,
but in adversity even one's friend disappears.
10Never trust your enemy,
for like corrosion in copper, so is his wickedness.
11Even if he humbles himself and walks bowed down,
take care to be on your guard against him.
Be to him like one who polishes a mirror,
to be sure it does not become completely tarnished.
12Do not put him next to you,
or he may overthrow you and take your place.
Do not let him sit at your right hand,
or else he may try to take your own seat,
and at last you will realize the truth of my words,
and be stung by what I have said.

13Who pities a snake charmer when he is bitten,
or all those who go near wild animals?
14So no one pities a person who associates with a sinner
and becomes involved in the other's sins.
15He stands by you for a while,
but if you falter, he will not be there.
16An enemy speaks sweetly with his lips,
but in his heart he plans to throw you into a pit;
an enemy may have tears in his eyes,
but if he finds an opportunity he will never have enough of your blood.
17If evil comes upon you, you will find him there ahead of you;
pretending to help, he will trip you up.
18Then he will shake his head, and clap his hands,
and whisper much, and show his true face.

13 Whoever touches pitch gets dirty,
and whoever associates with a proud person becomes like him.
2Do not lift a weight too heavy for you,
or associate with one mightier and richer than you.
How can the clay pot associate with the iron kettle?
The pot will strike against it and be smashed.
3A rich person does wrong, and even adds insults;
a poor person suffers wrong, and must add apologies.
4A rich person will exploit you if you can be of use to him,
but if you are in need he will abandon you.
5If you own something, he will live with you;
he will drain your resources without a qualm.
6When he needs you he will deceive you,
and will smile at you and encourage you;
he will speak to you kindly and say, "What do you need?"
7He will embarrass you with his delicacies,
until he has drained you two or three times,
and finally he will laugh at you.
Should he see you afterwards, he will pass you by
and shake his head at you.

8Take care not to be led astray
and humiliated when you are enjoying yourself.
9When an influential person invites you, be reserved,
and he will invite you more insistently.
10Do not be forward, or you may be rebuffed;
do not stand aloof, or you will be forgotten.
11Do not try to treat him as an equal,
or trust his lengthy conversations;
for he will test you by prolonged talk,
and while he smiles he will be examining you.
12Cruel are those who do not keep your secrets;
they will not spare you harm or imprisonment.
13Be on your guard and very careful,
for you are walking about with your own downfall.

15Every creature loves its like,
and every person the neighbor.
16All living beings associate with their own kind,
and people stick close to those like themselves.
17What does a wolf have in common with a lamb?
No more has a sinner with the devout.
18What peace is there between a hyena and a dog?
And what peace between the rich and the poor?
19Wild asses in the wilderness are the prey of lions;
likewise the poor are feeding grounds for the rich.
20Humility is an abomination to the proud;
likewise the poor are an abomination to the rich.

21When the rich person totters, he is supported by friends,
but when the humble falls, he is pushed away even by friends.
22If the rich person slips, many come to the rescue;
he speaks unseemly words, but they justify him.
If the humble person slips, they even criticize him;
he talks sense, but is not given a hearing.
23The rich person speaks and all are silent;
they extol to the clouds what he says.
The poor person speaks and they say, "Who is this fellow?"
And should he stumble, they even push him down.
24Riches are good if they are free from sin;
poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly.

25The heart changes the countenance,
either for good or for evil.
26The sign of a happy heart is a cheerful face,
but to devise proverbs requires painful thinking.

14 Happy are those who do not blunder with their lips,
and need not suffer remorse for sin.
2Happy are those whose hearts do not condemn them,
and who have not given up their hope.

3Riches are inappropriate for a small-minded person;
and of what use is wealth to a miser?
4What he denies himself he collects for others;
and others will live in luxury on his goods.
5If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous?
He will not enjoy his own riches.
6No one is worse than one who is grudging to himself;
this is the punishment for his meanness.
7If ever he does good, it is by mistake;
and in the end he reveals his meanness.
8The miser is an evil person;
he turns away and disregards people.
9The eye of the greedy person is not satisfied with his share;
greedy injustice withers the soul.
10A miser begrudges bread,
and it is lacking at his table.

11My child, treat yourself well, according to your means,
and present worthy offerings to the Lord.
12Remember that death does not tarry,
and the decree of Hades has not been shown to you.
13Do good to friends before you die,
and reach out and give to them as much as you can.
14Do not deprive yourself of a day's enjoyment;
do not let your share of desired good pass by you.
15Will you not leave the fruit of your labors to another,
and what you acquired by toil to be divided by lot?
16Give, and take, and indulge yourself,
because in Hades one cannot look for luxury.
17All living beings become old like a garment,
for the decree from of old is, "You must die!"
18Like abundant leaves on a spreading tree
that sheds some and puts forth others,
so are the generations of flesh and blood:
one dies and another is born.
19Every work decays and ceases to exist,
and the one who made it will pass away with it.

20Happy is the person who meditates on wisdom
and reasons intelligently,
21who reflects in his heart on her ways
and ponders her secrets,
22pursuing her like a hunter,
and lying in wait on her paths;
23who peers through her windows
and listens at her doors;
24who camps near her house
and fastens his tent peg to her walls;
25who pitches his tent near her,
and so occupies an excellent lodging place;
26who places his children under her shelter,
and lodges under her boughs;
27who is sheltered by her from the heat,
and dwells in the midst of her glory.

15 Whoever fears the Lord will do this,
and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.
2She will come to meet him like a mother,
and like a young bride she will welcome him.
3She will feed him with the bread of learning,
and give him the water of wisdom to drink.
4He will lean on her and not fall,
and he will rely on her and not be put to shame.
5She will exalt him above his neighbors,
and will open his mouth in the midst of the assembly.
6He will find gladness and a crown of rejoicing,
and will inherit an everlasting name.
7The foolish will not obtain her,
and sinners will not see her.
8She is far from arrogance,
and liars will never think of her.
9Praise is unseemly on the lips of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the Lord.
10For in wisdom must praise be uttered,
and the Lord will make it prosper.

11Do not say, "It was the Lord's doing that I fell away";
for he does not do what he hates.
12Do not say, "It was he who led me astray";
for he has no need of the sinful.
13The Lord hates all abominations;
such things are not loved by those who fear him.
14It was he who created humankind in the beginning,
and he left them in the power of their own free choice.
15If you choose, you can keep the commandments,
and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice.
16He has placed before you fire and water;
stretch out your hand for whichever you choose.
17Before each person are life and death,
and whichever one chooses will be given.
18For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees everything;
19his eyes are on those who fear him,
and he knows every human action.
20He has not commanded anyone to be wicked,
and he has not given anyone permission to sin.

16 Do not desire a multitude of worthless children,
and do not rejoice in ungodly offspring.
2If they multiply, do not rejoice in them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in them.
3Do not trust in their survival,
or rely on their numbers;
for one can be better than a thousand,
and to die childless is better than to have ungodly children.
4For through one intelligent person a city can be filled with people,
but through a clan of outlaws it becomes desolate.

5Many such things my eye has seen,
and my ear has heard things more striking than these.
6In an assembly of sinners a fire is kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath blazes up.
7He did not forgive the ancient giants
who revolted in their might.
8He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their arrogance.
9He showed no pity on the doomed nation,
on those dispossessed because of their sins;
10or on the six hundred thousand foot soldiers
who assembled in their stubbornness.
11Even if there were only one stiff-necked person,
it would be a wonder if he remained unpunished.
For mercy and wrath are with the Lord;
he is mighty to forgive--but he also pours out wrath.
12Great as is his mercy, so also is his chastisement;
he judges a person according to his or her deeds.
13The sinner will not escape with plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be frustrated.
14He makes room for every act of mercy;
everyone receives in accordance with his or her deeds.

17Do not say, "I am hidden from the Lord,
and who from on high has me in mind?
Among so many people I am unknown,
for what am I in a boundless creation?
18Lo, heaven and the highest heaven,
the abyss and the earth, tremble at his visitation!
19The very mountains and the foundations of the earth
quiver and quake when he looks upon them.
20But no human mind can grasp this,
and who can comprehend his ways?
21Like a tempest that no one can see,
so most of his works are concealed.
22Who is to announce his acts of justice?
Or who can await them? For his decree is far off."
23Such are the thoughts of one devoid of understanding;
a senseless and misguided person thinks foolishly.

God's Wisdom Seen in Creation

26When the Lord created his works from the beginning,
and, in making them, determined their boundaries,
27he arranged his works in an eternal order,
and their dominion> for all generations.
They neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not abandon their tasks.
28They do not crowd one another,
and they never disobey his word.
29Then the Lord looked upon the earth,
and filled it with his good things.
30With all kinds of living beings he covered its surface,
and into it they must return.

17 The Lord created human beings out of earth,
and makes them return to it again.
2He gave them a fixed number of days,
but granted them authority over everything on the earth.
3He endowed them with strength like his own,
and made them in his own image.
4He put the fear of them in all living beings,
and gave them dominion over beasts and birds.
6Discretion and tongue and eyes,
ears and a mind for thinking he gave them.
7He filled them with knowledge and understanding,
and showed them good and evil.
8He put the fear of him into their hearts
to show them the majesty of his works.
10And they will praise his holy name,
9to proclaim the grandeur of his works.
11He bestowed knowledge upon them,
and allotted to them the law of life.
12He established with them an eternal covenant,
and revealed to them his decrees.
13Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
and their ears heard the glory of his voice.
14He said to them, "Beware of all evil."
And he gave commandment to each of them concerning the neighbor.
15Their ways are always known to him;
they will not be hid from his eyes.
17He appointed a ruler for every nation,
but Israel is the Lord's own portion.
19All their works are as clear as the sun before him,
and his eyes are ever upon their ways.
20Their iniquities are not hidden from him,
and all their sins are before the Lord.
22One's almsgiving is like a signet ring with the Lord,
and he will keep a person's kindness like the apple of his eye.
23Afterward he will rise up and repay them,
and he will bring their recompense on their heads.
24Yet to those who repent he grants a return,
and he encourages those who are losing hope.

A Call to Repentance

25Turn back to the Lord and forsake your sins;
pray in his presence and lessen your offense.
26Return to the Most High and turn away from iniquity,
and hate intensely what he abhors.
27Who will sing praises to the Most High in Hades
in place of the living who give thanks?
28From the dead, as from one who does not exist, thanksgiving has ceased;
those who are alive and well sing the Lord's praises.
29How great is the mercy of the Lord,
and his forgiveness for those who return to him!
30For not everything is within human capability,
since human beings are not immortal.
31What is brighter than the sun? Yet it can be eclipsed.
So flesh and blood devise evil.
32He marshals the host of the height of heaven;
but all human beings are dust and ashes

The Majesty of God

18 He who lives forever created the whole universe;
2the Lord alone is just.
4To none has he given power to proclaim his works;
and who can search out his mighty deeds?
5Who can measure his majestic power?
And who can fully recount his mercies?
6It is not possible to diminish or increase them,
nor is it possible to fathom the wonders of the Lord.
7When human beings have finished, they are just beginning,
and when they stop, they are still perplexed.
8What are human beings, and of what use are they?
What is good in them, and what is evil?
9The number of days in their life is great if they reach one hundred years.
10Like a drop of water from the sea and a grain of sand,
so are a few years among the days of eternity.
11That is why the Lord is patient with them
and pours out his mercy upon them.
12He sees and recognizes that their end is miserable;
therefore he grants them forgiveness all the more.
13The compassion of human beings is for their neighbors,
but the compassion of the Lord is for every living thing.
He rebukes and trains and teaches them,
and turns them back, as a shepherd his flock.
14He has compassion on those who accept his discipline
and who are eager for his precepts.

The Right Spirit in Giving Alms

The Need of Reflection and Self-control

19Before you speak, learn;
and before you fall ill, take care of your health.
20Before judgment comes, examine yourself;
and at the time of scrutiny you will find forgiveness.
21Before falling ill, humble yourself;
and when you have sinned, repent.
22Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow promptly,
and do not wait until death to be released from it.
23Before making a vow, prepare yourself;
do not be like one who puts the Lord to the test.
24Think of his wrath on the day of death,
and of the moment of vengeance when he turns away his face.
25In the time of plenty think of the time of hunger;
in days of wealth think of poverty and need.
26From morning to evening conditions change;
all things move swiftly before the Lord.

27One who is wise is cautious in everything;
when sin is all around, one guards against wrongdoing.
28Every intelligent person knows wisdom,
and praises the one who finds her.
29Those who are skilled in words become wise themselves,
and pour forth apt proverbs.

Self-Control
30Do not follow your base desires,
but restrain your appetites.
31If you allow your soul to take pleasure in base desire,
it will make you the laughingstock of your enemies.
32Do not revel in great luxury,
or you may become impoverished by its expense.
33Do not become a beggar by feasting with borrowed money,
when you have nothing in your purse.

19 The one who does this will not become rich;
one who despises small things will fail little by little.
2Wine and women lead intelligent men astray,
and the man who consorts with prostitutes is reckless.
3Decay and worms will take possession of him,
and the reckless person will be snatched away.

Against Loose Talk

4One who trusts others too quickly has a shallow mind,
and one who sins does wrong to himself.
5One who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned,
6but one who hates gossip has less evil.
7Never repeat a conversation,
and you will lose nothing at all.
8With friend or foe do not report it,
and unless it would be a sin for you, do not reveal it;
9for someone may have heard you and watched you,
and in time will hate you.
10Have you heard something? Let it die with you.
Be brave, it will not make you burst!
11Having heard something, the fool suffers birth pangs
like a woman in labor with a child.
12Like an arrow stuck in a person's thigh,
so is gossip inside a fool.

13Question a friend; perhaps he did not do it;
or if he did, so that he may not do it again.
14Question a neighbor; perhaps he did not say it;
or if he said it, so that he may not repeat it.
15Question a friend, for often it is slander;
so do not believe everything you hear.
16A person may make a slip without intending it.
Who has not sinned with his tongue?
17Question your neighbor before you threaten him;
and let the law of the Most High take its course.

True and False Wisdom

20The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord,
and in all wisdom there is the fulfillment of the law.
22The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom,
nor is there prudence in the counsel of sinners.
23There is a cleverness that is detestable,
and there is a fool who merely lacks wisdom.
24Better are the God-fearing who lack understanding
than the highly intelligent who transgress the law.
25There is a cleverness that is exact but unjust,
and there are people who abuse favors to gain a verdict.
26There is the villain bowed down in mourning,
but inwardly he is full of deceit.
27He hides his face and pretends not to hear,
but when no one notices, he will take advantage of you.
28Even if lack of strength keeps him from sinning,
he will nevertheless do evil when he finds the opportunity.
29A person is known by his appearance,
and a sensible person is known when first met, face to face.
30A person's attire and hearty laughter,
and the way he walks, show what he is.

Silence and Speech

20 There is a rebuke that is untimely,
and there is the person who is wise enough to keep silent.
2How much better it is to rebuke than to fume!
3And the one who admits his fault will be kept from failure.
4Like a eunuch lusting to violate a girl
is the person who does right under compulsion.
5Some people keep silent and are thought to be wise,
while others are detested for being talkative.
6Some people keep silent because they have nothing to say,
while others keep silent because they know when to speak.
7The wise remain silent until the right moment,
but a boasting fool misses the right moment.
8Whoever talks too much is detested,
and whoever pretends to authority is hated.

Paradoxes

9There may be good fortune for a person in adversity,
and a windfall may result in a loss.
10There is the gift that profits you nothing,
and the gift to be paid back double.
11There are losses for the sake of glory,
and there are some who have raised their heads from humble circumstances.
12Some buy much for little,
but pay for it seven times over.
13The wise make themselves beloved by only few words,
but the courtesies of fools are wasted.
14A fool's gift will profit you nothing,
for he looks for recompense sevenfold.
15He gives little and upbraids much;
he opens his mouth like a town crier.
Today he lends and tomorrow he asks it back;
such a one is hateful to God and humans.
16The fool says, "I have no friends,
and I get no thanks for my good deeds.
Those who eat my bread are evil-tongued."
17How many will ridicule him, and how often!

Inappropriate Speech

21One may be prevented from sinning by poverty;
so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22One may lose his life through shame,
or lose it because of human respect.
23Another out of shame makes promises to a friend,
and so makes an enemy for nothing.

Lying

Proverbial Sayings
27The wise person advances himself by his words,
and one who is sensible pleases the great.
28Those who cultivate the soil heap up their harvest,
and those who please the great atone for injustice.
29Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise;
like a muzzle on the mouth they stop reproofs.
30Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure,
of what value is either?
31Better are those who hide their folly
than those who hide their wisdom.

Various Sins

4Panic and insolence will waste away riches;
thus the house of the proud will be laid waste.
5The prayer of the poor goes from their lips to the ears of God,
and his judgment comes speedily.
6Those who hate reproof walk in the sinner's steps,
but those who fear the Lord repent in their heart.
7The mighty in speech are widely known;
when they slip, the sensible person knows it.

8Whoever builds his house with other people's money
is like one who gathers stones for his burial mound.
9An assembly of the wicked is like a bundle of tow,
and their end is a blazing fire.
10The way of sinners is paved with smooth stones,
but at its end is the pit of Hades.

Wisdom and Foolishness

15When an intelligent person hears a wise saying,
he praises it and adds to it;
when a fool hears it, he laughs at it
and throws it behind his back.
16A fool's chatter is like a burden on a journey,
but delight is found in the speech of the intelligent.
17The utterance of a sensible person is sought in the assembly,
and they ponder his words in their minds.

18Like a house in ruins is wisdom to a fool,
and to the ignorant, knowledge is talk that has no meaning.
19To a senseless person education is fetters on his feet,
and like manacles on his right hand.
20A fool raises his voice when he laughs,
but the wise smile quietly.
21To the sensible person education is like a golden ornament,
and like a bracelet on the right arm.

22The foot of a fool rushes into a house,
but an experienced person waits respectfully outside.
23A boor peers into the house from the door,
but a cultivated person remains outside.
24It is ill-mannered for a person to listen at a door;
the discreet would be grieved by the disgrace.

25The lips of babblers speak of what is not their concern,
but the words of the prudent are weighed in the balance.
26The mind of fools is in their mouth,
but the mouth of the wise is in their mind.
27When an ungodly person curses an adversary,
he curses himself.
28A whisperer degrades himself
and is hated in his neighborhood.

The Idler

Degenerate Children

Wisdom and Folly

9Whoever teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together,
or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.
10Whoever tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man;
and at the end he will say, "What is it?"
11Weep for the dead, for he has left the light behind;
and weep for the fool, for he has left intelligence behind.
Weep less bitterly for the dead, for he is at rest;
but the life of the fool is worse than death.
12Mourning for the dead lasts seven days,
but for the foolish or the ungodly it lasts all the days of their lives.

13Do not talk much with a senseless person
or visit an unintelligent person.
Stay clear of him, or you may have trouble,
and be spattered when he shakes himself off.
Avoid him and you will find rest,
and you will never be wearied by his lack of sense.
14What is heavier than lead?
And what is its name except "Fool"?
15Sand, salt, and a piece of iron
are easier to bear than a stupid person.

16A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building
is not loosened by an earthquake;
so the mind firmly resolved after due reflection
will not be afraid in a crisis.
17A mind settled on an intelligent thought
is like stucco decoration that makes a wall smooth.
18Fences set on a high place
will not stand firm against the wind;
so a timid mind with a fool's resolve
will not stand firm against any fear.

The Preservation of Friendship

19One who pricks the eye brings tears,
and one who pricks the heart makes clear its feelings.
20One who throws a stone at birds scares them away,
and one who reviles a friend destroys a friendship.
21Even if you draw your sword against a friend,
do not despair, for there is a way back.
22If you open your mouth against your friend,
do not worry, for reconciliation is possible.
But as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow--
in these cases any friend will take to flight.

23Gain the trust of your neighbor in his poverty,
so that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity.
Stand by him in time of distress,
so that you may share with him in his inheritance.
24The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede the fire;
so insults precede bloodshed.
25I am not ashamed to shelter a friend,
and I will not hide from him.
26But if harm should come to me because of him,
whoever hears of it will beware of him.

A Prayer for Help against Sinning

23 O Lord, Father and Master of my life,
do not abandon me to their designs,
and do not let me fall because of them!
2Who will set whips over my thoughts,
and the discipline of wisdom over my mind,
so as not to spare me in my errors,
and not overlook my sins?
3Otherwise my mistakes may be multiplied,
and my sins may abound,
and I may fall before my adversaries,
and my enemy may rejoice over me.
4O Lord, Father and God of my life,
do not give me haughty eyes,
5and remove evil desire from me.
6Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me,
and do not give me over to shameless passion.

Discipline of the Tongue
7Listen, my children, to instruction concerning the mouth;
the one who observes it will never be caught.
8Sinners are overtaken through their lips;
by them the reviler and the arrogant are tripped up.
9Do not accustom your mouth to oaths,
nor habitually utter the name of the Holy One;
10for as a servant who is constantly under scrutiny
will not lack bruises,
so also the person who always swears and utters the Name
will never be cleansed from sin.
11The one who swears many oaths is full of iniquity,
and the scourge will not leave his house.
If he swears in error, his sin remains on him,
and if he disregards it, he sins doubly;
if he swears a false oath, he will not be justified,
for his house will be filled with calamities.

Foul Language

12There is a manner of speaking comparable to death;
may it never be found in the inheritance of Jacob!
Such conduct will be far from the godly,
and they will not wallow in sins.
13Do not accustom your mouth to coarse, foul language,
for it involves sinful speech.
14Remember your father and mother
when you sit among the great,
or you may forget yourself in their presence,
and behave like a fool through bad habit;
then you will wish that you had never been born,
and you will curse the day of your birth.
15Those who are accustomed to using abusive language
will never become disciplined as long as they live.

Concerning Sexual Sins

16Two kinds of individuals multiply sins,
and a third incurs wrath.
Hot passion that blazes like a fire
will not be quenched until it burns itself out;
one who commits fornication with his near of kin
will never cease until the fire burns him up.
17To a fornicator all bread is sweet;
he will never weary until he dies.
18The one who sins against his marriage bed
says to himself, "Who can see me?
Darkness surrounds me, the walls hide me,
and no one sees me. Why should I worry?
The Most High will not remember sins."
19His fear is confined to human eyes
and he does not realize that the eyes of the Lord
are ten thousand times brighter than the sun;
they look upon every aspect of human behavior
and see into hidden corners.
20Before the universe was created, it was known to him,
and so it is since its completion.
21This man will be punished in the streets of the city,
and where he least suspects it, he will be seized.

22So it is with a woman who leaves her husband
and presents him with an heir by another man.
23For first of all, she has disobeyed the law of the Most High;
second, she has committed an offense against her husband;
and third, through her fornication she has committed adultery
and brought forth children by another man.
24She herself will be brought before the assembly,
and her punishment will extend to her children.
25Her children will not take root,
and her branches will not bear fruit.
26She will leave behind an accursed memory
and her disgrace will never be blotted out.
27Those who survive her will recognize
that nothing is better than the fear of the Lord,
and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord. The Praise of Wisdom
24 Wisdom praises herself,
and tells of her glory in the midst of her people.
2In the assembly of the Most High she opens her mouth,
and in the presence of his hosts she tells of her glory:
3"I came forth from the mouth of the Most High,
and covered the earth like a mist.
4I dwelt in the highest heavens,
and my throne was in a pillar of cloud.
5Alone I compassed the vault of heaven
and traversed the depths of the abyss.
6Over waves of the sea, over all the earth,
and over every people and nation I have held sway.
7Among all these I sought a resting place;
in whose territory should I abide?

8"Then the Creator of all things gave me a command,
and my Creator chose the place for my tent.
He said, 'Make your dwelling in Jacob,
and in Israel receive your inheritance.'
9Before the ages, in the beginning, he created me,
and for all the ages I shall not cease to be.
10In the holy tent I ministered before him,
and so I was established in Zion.
11Thus in the beloved city he gave me a resting place,
and in Jerusalem was my domain.
12I took root in an honored people,
in the portion of the Lord, his heritage.

13"I grew tall like a cedar in Lebanon,
and like a cypress on the heights of Hermon.
14I grew tall like a palm tree in En-gedi,
and like rosebushes in Jericho;
like a fair olive tree in the field,
and like a plane tree beside water I grew tall.
15Like cassia and camel's thorn I gave forth perfume,
and like choice myrrh I spread my fragrance,
like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,
and like the odor of incense in the tent.
16Like a terebinth I spread out my branches,
and my branches are glorious and graceful.
17Like the vine I bud forth delights,
and my blossoms become glorious and abundant fruit.

19"Come to me, you who desire me,
and eat your fill of my fruits.
20For the memory of me is sweeter than honey,
and the possession of me sweeter than the honeycomb.
21Those who eat of me will hunger for more,
and those who drink of me will thirst for more.
22Whoever obeys me will not be put to shame,
and those who work with me will not sin."

Wisdom and the Law

23All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God,
the law that Moses commanded us
as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.
25It overflows, like the Pishon, with wisdom,
and like the Tigris at the time of the first fruits.
26It runs over, like the Euphrates, with understanding,
and like the Jordan at harvest time.
27It pours forth instruction like the Nile,
like the Gihon at the time of vintage.
28The first man did not know wisdom fully,
nor will the last one fathom her.
29For her thoughts are more abundant than the sea,
and her counsel deeper than the great abyss.

30As for me, I was like a canal from a river,
like a water channel into a garden.
31I said, "I will water my garden
and drench my flower-beds."
And lo, my canal became a river,
and my river a sea.
32I will again make instruction shine forth like the dawn,
and I will make it clear from far away.
33I will again pour out teaching like prophecy,
and leave it to all future generations.
34Observe that I have not labored for myself alone,
but for all who seek wisdom.

Those Who Are Worthy of Praise

3If you gathered nothing in your youth,
how can you find anything in your old age?
4How attractive is sound judgment in the gray-haired,
and for the aged to possess good counsel!
5How attractive is wisdom in the aged,
and understanding and counsel in the venerable!
6Rich experience is the crown of the aged,
and their boast is the fear of the Lord.

7I can think of nine whom I would call blessed,
and a tenth my tongue proclaims:
a man who can rejoice in his children;
a man who lives to see the downfall of his foes.
8Happy the man who lives with a sensible wife,
and the one who does not plow with ox and ass together.
Happy is the one who does not sin with the tongue,
and the one who has not served an inferior.
9Happy is the one who finds a friend,
and the one who speaks to attentive listeners.
10How great is the one who finds wisdom!
But none is superior to the one who fears the Lord.
11Fear of the Lord surpasses everything;
to whom can we compare the one who has it?

Some Extreme Forms of Evil

The Evil of a Wicked Woman

16I would rather live with a lion and a dragon
than live with an evil woman.
17A woman's wickedness changes her appearance,
and darkens her face like that of a bear.
18Her husband sits among the neighbors,
and he cannot help sighing bitterly.
19Any iniquity is small compared to a woman's iniquity;
may a sinner's lot befall her!
20A sandy ascent for the feet of the aged--
such is a garrulous wife to a quiet husband.
21Do not be ensnared by a woman's beauty,
and do not desire a woman for her possessions.
22There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace
when a wife supports her husband.
23Dejected mind, gloomy face,
and wounded heart come from an evil wife.
Drooping hands and weak knees
come from the wife who does not make her husband happy.
24From a woman sin had its beginning,
and because of her we all die.
25Allow no outlet to water,
and no boldness of speech to an evil wife.
26If she does not go as you direct,
separate her from yourself.

26 Happy is the husband of a good wife;
the number of his days will be doubled.
2A loyal wife brings joy to her husband,
and he will complete his years in peace.
3A good wife is a great blessing;
she will be granted among the blessings of the man who fears the Lord.
4Whether rich or poor, his heart is content,
and at all times his face is cheerful.

The Worst of Evils: A Wicked Wife

5Of three things my heart is frightened,
and of a fourth I am in great fear:
Slander in the city, the gathering of a mob,
and false accusation--all these are worse than death.
6But it is heartache and sorrow when a wife is jealous of a rival,
and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all.
7A bad wife is a chafing yoke;
taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion.
8A drunken wife arouses great anger;
she cannot hide her shame.
9The haughty stare betrays an unchaste wife;
her eyelids give her away.

10Keep strict watch over a headstrong daughter,
or else, when she finds liberty, she will make use of it.
11Be on guard against her impudent eye,
and do not be surprised if she sins against you.
12As a thirsty traveler opens his mouth
and drinks from any water near him,
so she will sit in front of every tent peg
and open her quiver to the arrow.

The Blessing of a Good Wife
13A wife's charm delights her husband,
and her skill puts flesh on his bones.
14A silent wife is a gift from the Lord,
and nothing is so precious as her self-discipline.
15A modest wife adds charm to charm,
and no scales can weigh the value of her chastity.
16Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord,
so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home.
17Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand,
so is a beautiful face on a stately figure.
18Like golden pillars on silver bases,
so are shapely legs and steadfast feet.

19My child, keep sound the bloom of your youth,
and do not give your strength to strangers.
20Seek a fertile field within the whole plain,
and sow it with your own seed, trusting in your fine stock.
21So your offspring will prosper,
and, having confidence in their good descent, will grow great.
22A prostitute is regarded as spittle,
and a married woman as a tower of death to her lovers.
23A godless wife is given as a portion to a lawless man,
but a pious wife is given to the man who fears the Lord.
24A shameless woman constantly acts disgracefully,
but a modest daughter will even be embarrassed before her husband.
25A headstrong wife is regarded as a dog,
but one who has a sense of shame will fear the Lord.
26A wife honoring her husband will seem wise to all,
but if she dishonors him in her pride she will be known to all as ungodly.
Happy is the husband of a good wife;
for the number of his years will be doubled.
27A loud-voiced and garrulous wife is like a trumpet sounding the charge,
and every person like this lives in the anarchy of war.

29A merchant can hardly keep from wrongdoing,
nor is a tradesman innocent of sin.

27 Many have committed sin for gain,
and those who seek to get rich will avert their eyes.
2As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure between stones,
so sin is wedged in between selling and buying.
3If a person is not steadfast in the fear of the Lord,
his house will be quickly overthrown.

Tests in Life

Reward and Retribution

Varieties of Speech

11The conversation of the godly is always wise,
but the fool changes like the moon.
12Among stupid people limit your time,
but among thoughtful people linger on.
13The talk of fools is offensive,
and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14Their cursing and swearing make one's hair stand on end,
and their quarrels make others stop their ears.
15The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed,
and their abuse is grievous to hear.

Betraying Secrets

16Whoever betrays secrets destroys confidence,
and will never find a congenial friend.
17Love your friend and keep faith with him;
but if you betray his secrets, do not follow after him.
18For as a person destroys his enemy,
so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19And as you allow a bird to escape from your hand,
so you have let your neighbor go, and will not catch him again.
20Do not go after him, for he is too far off,
and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21For a wound may be bandaged,
and there is reconciliation after abuse,
but whoever has betrayed secrets is without hope.

Hypocrisy and Retribution

22Whoever winks the eye plots mischief,
and those who know him will keep their distance.
23In your presence his mouth is all sweetness,
and he admires your words;
but later he will twist his speech
and with your own words he will trip you up.
24I have hated many things, but him above all;
even the Lord hates him.
25Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it on his own head,
and a treacherous blow opens up many wounds.
26Whoever digs a pit will fall into it,
and whoever sets a snare will be caught in it.
27If a person does evil, it will roll back upon him,
and he will not know where it came from.
28Mockery and abuse issue from the proud,
but vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion.
29Those who rejoice in the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare,
and pain will consume them before their death.

Anger and Vengeance

28 The vengeful will face the Lord's vengeance,
for he keeps a strict account of their sins.
2Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has done,
and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.
3Does anyone harbor anger against another,
and expect healing from the Lord?
4If one has no mercy toward another like himself,
can he then seek pardon for his own sins?
5If a mere mortal harbors wrath,
who will make an atoning sacrifice for his sins?
6Remember the end of your life, and set enmity aside;
remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments.
7Remember the commandments, and do not be angry with your neighbor;
remember the covenant of the Most High, and overlook faults.

8Refrain from strife, and your sins will be fewer;
for the hot-tempered kindle strife,
9and the sinner disrupts friendships
and sows discord among those who are at peace.
10In proportion to the fuel, so will the fire burn,
and in proportion to the obstinacy, so will strife increase;
in proportion to a person's strength will be his anger,
and in proportion to his wealth he will increase his wrath.
11A hasty quarrel kindles a fire,
and a hasty dispute sheds blood.

The Evil Tongue

13Curse the gossips and the double-tongued,
for they destroy the peace of many.
14Slander has shaken many,
and scattered them from nation to nation;
it has destroyed strong cities,
and overturned the houses of the great.
15Slander has driven virtuous women from their homes,
and deprived them of the fruit of their toil.
16Those who pay heed to slander will not find rest,
nor will they settle down in peace.
17The blow of a whip raises a welt,
but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
18Many have fallen by the edge of the sword,
but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
19Happy is the one who is protected from it,
who has not been exposed to its anger,
who has not borne its yoke,
and has not been bound with its fetters.
20For its yoke is a yoke of iron,
and its fetters are fetters of bronze;
21its death is an evil death,
and Hades is preferable to it.
22It has no power over the godly;
they will not be burned in its flame.
23Those who forsake the Lord will fall into its power;
it will burn among them and will not be put out.
It will be sent out against them like a lion;
like a leopard it will mangle them.
24aAs you fence in your property with thorns,
25bso make a door and a bolt for your mouth.
24bAs you lock up your silver and gold,
25aso make balances and scales for your words.
26Take care not to err with your tongue,
and fall victim to one lying in wait.

On Lending and Borrowing

29 The merciful lend to their neighbors;
by holding out a helping hand they keep the commandments.
2Lend to your neighbor in his time of need;
repay your neighbor when a loan falls due.
3Keep your promise and be honest with him,
and on every occasion you will find what you need.
4Many regard a loan as a windfall,
and cause trouble to those who help them.
5One kisses another's hands until he gets a loan,
and is deferential in speaking of his neighbor's money;
but at the time for repayment he delays,
and pays back with empty promises,
and finds fault with the time.
6If he can pay, his creditor will hardly get back half,
and will regard that as a windfall.
If he cannot pay, the borrower has robbed the other of his money,
and he has needlessly made him an enemy;
he will repay him with curses and reproaches,
and instead of glory will repay him with dishonor.
7Many refuse to lend, not because of meanness,
but from fear of being defrauded needlessly.

8Nevertheless, be patient with someone in humble circumstances,
and do not keep him waiting for your alms.
9Help the poor for the commandment's sake,
and in their need do not send them away empty-handed.
10Lose your silver for the sake of a brother or a friend,
and do not let it rust under a stone and be lost.
11Lay up your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High,
and it will profit you more than gold.
12Store up almsgiving in your treasury,
and it will rescue you from every disaster;
13better than a stout shield and a sturdy spear,
it will fight for you against the enemy.

On Guaranteeing Debts

14A good person will be surety for his neighbor,
but the one who has lost all sense of shame will fail him.
15Do not forget the kindness of your guarantor,
for he has given his life for you.
16A sinner wastes the property of his guarantor,
17and the ungrateful person abandons his rescuer.
18Being surety has ruined many who were prosperous,
and has tossed them about like waves of the sea;
it has driven the influential into exile,
and they have wandered among foreign nations.
19The sinner comes to grief through surety;
his pursuit of gain involves him in lawsuits.
20Assist your neighbor to the best of your ability,
but be careful not to fall yourself.

Home and Hospitality

21The necessities of life are water, bread, and clothing,
and also a house to assure privacy.
22Better is the life of the poor under their own crude roof
than sumptuous food in the house of others.
23Be content with little or much,
and you will hear no reproach for being a guest.
24It is a miserable life to go from house to house;
as a guest you should not open your mouth;
25you will play the host and provide drink without being thanked,
and besides this you will hear rude words like these:
26"Come here, stranger, prepare the table;
let me eat what you have there."
27"Be off, stranger, for an honored guest is here;
my brother has come for a visit, and I need the guest-room."
28It is hard for a sensible person to bear
scolding about lodging and the insults of the moneylender.

Concerning Children
30 He who loves his son will whip him often,
so that he may rejoice at the way he turns out.
2He who disciplines his son will profit by him,
and will boast of him among acquaintances.
3He who teaches his son will make his enemies envious,
and will glory in him among his friends.
4When the father dies he will not seem to be dead,
for he has left behind him one like himself,
5whom in his life he looked upon with joy
and at death, without grief.
6He has left behind him an avenger against his enemies,
and one to repay the kindness of his friends.

7Whoever spoils his son will bind up his wounds,
and will suffer heartache at every cry.
8An unbroken horse turns out stubborn,
and an unchecked son turns out headstrong.
9Pamper a child, and he will terrorize you;
play with him, and he will grieve you.
10Do not laugh with him, or you will have sorrow with him,
and in the end you will gnash your teeth.
11Give him no freedom in his youth,
and do not ignore his errors.
12Bow down his neck in his youth,
and beat his sides while he is young,
or else he will become stubborn and disobey you,
and you will have sorrow of soul from him.
13Discipline your son and make his yoke heavy,
so that you may not be offended by his shamelessness.

14Better off poor, healthy, and fit
than rich and afflicted in body.
15Health and fitness are better than any gold,
and a robust body than countless riches.
16There is no wealth better than health of body,
and no gladness above joy of heart.
17Death is better than a life of misery,
and eternal sleep than chronic sickness.

Concerning Foods
18Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like offerings of food placed upon a grave.
19Of what use to an idol is a sacrifice?
For it can neither eat nor smell.
So is the one punished by the Lord;
20he sees with his eyes and groans
as a eunuch groans when embracing a girl.

21Do not give yourself over to sorrow,
and do not distress yourself deliberately.
22A joyful heart is life itself,
and rejoicing lengthens one's life span.
23Indulge yourself and take comfort,
and remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and no advantage ever comes from it.
24Jealousy and anger shorten life,
and anxiety brings on premature old age.
25Those who are cheerful and merry at table
will ben