Whereas many great teachings have been given
to us through the law and the prophets and the others that followed
them, on account of which we should praise Israel for instruction
and wisdom; and since it is necessary not only that the readers
themselves should acquire understanding but also that those who
love learning should be able to help the outsiders by both speaking
and writing, my grandfather Jesus, after devoting himself
especially to the reading of the law and the prophets and the other
books of our fathers, and after acquiring considerable proficiency
in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to
instruction and wisdom, in order that, by becoming conversant with
this also, those who love learning should make even greater
progress in living according to the law.
You are urged therefore to read with good
will and attention, and to be indulgent
a 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 work, but even the
law itself, the prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a
little as originally expressed.When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth
year of the reign of Euer'getes and stayed for some time, I found
opportunity for no little instruction.
b It seemed
highly necessary that I should myself devote some pains and labor
to the translation of the following book, using in that period of
time great watchfulness and skill in order to complete and publish
the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning, being
prepared in character to live according to the law.In Praise of Wisdom
1 * All wisdom comes from the Lord
and is with him for ever.
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 things,
and prudent understanding from
eternity.
c5The source of wisdom is God’s word in
the highest heaven,
and her ways are the eternal
commandments.
6The root of wisdom—to whom has it been
revealed?
Her clever devices—who knows
them?
d7The knowledge of wisdom—to whom was it
manifested?
And her abundant experience—who has
understood it?
8There is One who is wise, the Creator of
all,
the King greatly to be feared, sitting upon
his throne, and ruling as God.
9The Lord himself created wisdom
e in the holy
spirit;
he saw her and apportioned her,
he poured her out upon all his works.
10She dwells with all flesh according to his
gift,
and he supplied her to those who love
him.
11The fear of the Lord is glory and
exultation,
and gladness and a crown of rejoicing.
12The fear of the Lord delights the
heart,
and gives gladness and joy and long
life.
13With him who fears the Lord it will go well
at the end;
on the day of his death he will be
blessed.
14To fear the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom;
she is created with the faithful in the
womb.
15She made
f among men an
eternal foundation,
and among their descendants she will be
trusted.
16To fear the Lord is wisdom’s full
measure;
she satisfies
g men 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.
19He saw her and apportioned her;
he rained down knowledge and discerning
comprehension,
and he exalted the glory of those who held
her fast.
20To fear the Lord is the root of
wisdom,
and her branches are long life.
h22Unrighteous anger cannot be
justified,
for a man’s anger tips the scale to
his ruin.
23A patient man will endure until the right
moment,
and then joy will burst forth for him.
24He will hide his words until the right
moment,
and the lips of many will tell of his 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 supply it for you.
27For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and
instruction,
and he delights in fidelity and
meekness.
28Do not disobey the fear of the Lord;
do not approach him with a divided
mind.
29Be not a hypocrite in men’s
sight,
i
and keep watch over your lips.
30Do not exalt yourself lest you fall,
and thus bring dishonor upon yourself.
The Lord will reveal your secrets
and cast you down in the midst of the
congregation,
because you did not come in the fear of the
Lord,
and your heart was full of deceit.
Duties toward God
2 My son,
if you come forward to serve the Lord,
remain in justice and in fear,
and prepare yourself for
temptation.
j2Set your heart right and be steadfast,
incline your ear, and receive words of
understanding,
and do not be hasty in time of
calamity.
3Await God’s patience, cling to him and
do not depart,
that you may be wise in all your ways.
4Accept whatever is brought upon you,
and endure it in sorrow;
in changes that humble you be patient.
5For gold and silver are tested in the
fire,
and acceptable men in the furnace of
humiliation.
6Trust in God, and he will help you;
hope in him, and he will make your ways
straight.
Stay in fear of him, and grow old in
him.
7You who fear the Lord, wait for his
mercy;
and turn not aside, lest you fall.
8You who fear the Lord, trust in him,
and your reward will not fail;
9you who fear the Lord, hope for good
things,
for everlasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the Lord, love him,
and your hearts will be made radiant.
10Consider the ancient generations and
see:
who ever trusted in the Lord and was put to
shame?
Or who ever persevered in his
commandments
k and was
forsaken?Or who ever called upon him and was
overlooked?
11For the Lord is compassionate and
merciful;
he forgives sins and saves in time of
affliction,
and he is the shield of all who seek him in
truth.
12Woe to timid hearts and to slack
hands,
and to the sinner who walks along two
ways!
13Woe to the faint heart, for it has no
trust!
Therefore it will not be sheltered.
14Woe to you who have lost your
endurance!
What will you do when the Lord punishes
you?
15Those who fear the Lord will not disobey
his words,
and those who love him will keep his
ways.
16Those who fear the Lord will seek his
approval,
and those who love him will be filled with
the law.
17Those who fear the Lord will prepare their
hearts,
and will humble themselves before him.
18Let us fall
l into the
hands of the Lord,
but not into the hands of men;
for as his majesty is,
so also is his mercy.
Duties toward Parents and Others
3
Listen to me your father, O children;
and act accordingly, that you may be kept in
safety.
2For the Lord honored the father above the
children,
and he confirmed the right of the mother
over her sons.
3Whoever honors his father atones for
sins,
and preserves himself from them.
When he prays, he is heard;
4 and whoever glorifies his mother is like
one who lays up treasure.
5Whoever honors his father will be gladdened
by his own children,
and when he prays he will be heard.
6Whoever glorifies his father will have long
life,
and whoever obeys the Lord will refresh his
mother;
7 he will serve his parents as his
masters.
m
8Honor your father by word and deed,
that a blessing from him 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.
11For a man’s glory comes from honoring
his father,
and it is a disgrace for children not to
respect their mother.
12O son, help your father in his old
age,
and do not grieve him as long as he
lives;
13even if he is lacking in understanding,
show forbearance;
and do not despise him all the days of his
life.
14For kindness to a father will not be
forgotten,
and against your sins it will be credited to
you
—a house raised in justice to
you.
15in the day of your affliction it will be
remembered in your favor;
as frost in fair weather, your sins will
melt away.
16Whoever forsakes his father is like a
blasphemer,
and whoever angers his mother is cursed by
the Lord.
17My son, perform your tasks in
meekness;
then you will be loved more than a giver of
gifts.
18The greater you are, the more you must
humble yourself;
so you will find favor with God.
n19There are many who are noble and
renowned,
but it is to the humble that he reveals his
mysteries.
20For great is the might of the Lord;
he is glorified by the humble.
21Seek not what is too difficult for
you,
nor investigate what is beyond your
power.
22Reflect upon what has been assigned to
you,
and do not be curious about many of his
works,
for you do not need to see with your eyes
what is hidden.
23Do not meddle in what is beyond your
tasks,
for matters too great for human
understanding have been shown you.
24For their hasty judgment has led many
astray,
and wrong opinion has caused their thoughts
to slip.
o26A stubborn mind will be afflicted at the
end,
and whoever loves danger will perish by
it.
27A stubborn mind will be burdened by
troubles,
and the sinner will heap sin upon sin.
28The affliction of the proud has no
healing,
for a plant of wickedness has taken root in
them,
though it will not be perceived.
29The mind of the wise man will ponder the
words of the wise,
and an attentive ear is the wise man’s
desire.
30Water extinguishes a blazing fire:
so almsgiving atones for sin.
31Whoever repays favors gives thought to the
future;
at the moment of his falling he will find
support.
Precepts for Everyday Life
4
My son, deprive not the poor of his living,
and do not keep needy eyes waiting.
2Do not grieve the one who is hungry,
nor anger a man in want.
3Do not add to the troubles of an angry
mind,
nor delay your gift to a beggar.
4Do not reject an afflicted suppliant,
nor turn your face away from the poor.
5Do not avert your eye from the needy,
nor give a man occasion to curse you;
6for if in bitterness of soul he calls down a
curse upon you,
his Creator will hear his prayer.
7Make yourself beloved in the
congregation;
bow your head low to a great man.
8Incline your ear to the poor,
and answer him peaceably and gently.
9Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of
the wrongdoer;
and do not be fainthearted in judging a
case.
10Be like a father to orphans,
and instead of 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 breathes life into her sons
and gives help to those who seek her.
12Whoever loves her loves life,
and those who seek her early
will win the Lord’s good favor.
13Whoever holds her fast will obtain
glory,
and the Lord will bless the place
she
p enters.14Those who serve her will minister to the
Holy One;
q
the Lord loves those who love her.
15He who obeys her will judge the
nations,
and whoever gives heed to her will dwell
secure.
16If he has faith in her he will obtain
her;
and his descendants will remain in
possession of her.
17For she will walk with him in
disguise,
and at first she will put him to the
test;
she will bring fear and cowardice upon
him,
and will torment him by her discipline
until he holds her in his thoughts,
and she trusts him.
18Then she will come straight back to him and
strengthen him,
she will gladden him and will reveal her
secrets to him,
and store up for him knowledge
and the discernment of what is right.
19But if he goes astray she will forsake
him,
and give him over into the hands of his
foe.
20Observe the right time, and beware of
evil;
r
and do not bring shame on yourself.
21For there is a shame which brings
sin,
and there is a shame which is glory and
favor.
22Do not show partiality, to your own
harm,
or deference, to your downfall.
23Do not refrain from speaking at the crucial
time,
s
and do not hide your wisdom.
t24For wisdom is known through speech,
and education through the words of the
tongue.
25Never speak against the truth,
but be mindful 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 foolish
fellow,
nor show partiality to a ruler.
28Strive even to death for the 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,
nor be a faultfinder with your
servants.
31Let not your hand be extended to
receive,
but withdrawn when it is time to
repay.
5
Do not set your heart on your wealth,
nor say, “I have enough.”
2Do not follow your inclination and
strength,
walking according to the desires of your
heart.
3Do not say, “Who will have power over
me?”
or “Who will bring me down because of
my deeds?”
for God will surely punish you.
4Do not say, “I sinned, and what
happened to me?”
for the Most High is slow to anger.
5Do not be so confident of atonement
that you add sin to sin.
6Do not say, “His mercy is great,
he will forgive
u the multitude
of my sins,”for both mercy and wrath are with him,
and his anger rests on sinners.
7Do not delay to turn to the Lord,
nor postpone it from day to day;
for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will go
forth,
and at the time of punishment you will
perish.
8Do not depend on dishonest wealth,
for it will not benefit you in the day of
calamity.
9Do not winnow with every wind,
nor follow every path:
the double-tongued sinner does that.
10Be steadfast in your understanding,
and let your speech be consistent.
11Be quick to hear,
and be deliberate in answering.
12If you have understanding, answer your
neighbor;
but if not, put your hand on your
mouth.
13Glory and dishonor come from
speaking,
and a man’s tongue is his
downfall.
14Do not be called a slanderer,
and do not lie in ambush with your
tongue;
for shame comes to the thief,
and severe condemnation to the
double-tongued.
15In great or small matters do not act
amiss,
and do not become an enemy instead of a
friend;
6
for a bad name incurs shame and reproach:
so fares the double-tongued sinner.
2Do not exalt yourself through your
soul’s counsel,
lest your soul be torn in pieces like a
bull.
v3You will devour your leaves and destroy your
fruit,
and will be left like a withered tree.
4An evil soul will destroy him who has
it,
and make him the laughingstock of his
enemies.
5A pleasant voice multiplies friends and
softens enemies,
and a gracious tongue multiplies
courtesies.
6Let those that are at peace with you be
many,
but let your advisers be one in a
thousand.
7When you gain a friend, gain him through
testing,
and do not trust him hastily.
8For there is a friend who is such at his own
convenience,
but will not stand by you in your day of
trouble.
9And there is a friend who changes into an
enemy,
and will disclose a quarrel to your
disgrace.
10And there is a friend who is a table
companion,
but will not stand by you in your day of
trouble.
11In prosperity he will make himself your
equal,
and be bold with your servants;
12but if you are brought low he will turn
against you,
and will hide himself from your
presence.
13Keep yourself far from your enemies,
and be on guard toward your friends.
14A faithful friend is a sturdy
shelter:
he that has found one has found a
treasure.
15There is nothing so precious as a faithful
friend,
and no scales can measure his
excellence.
16A faithful friend is an elixir of
life;
and those who fear the Lord will find
him.
17Whoever fears the Lord directs his
friendship aright,
for as he is, so is his neighbor also.
18My son, from your youth up choose
instruction,
and until you are old you will keep finding
wisdom.
19Come to her like one who plows and
sows,
and wait for her good harvest.
For in her service you will toil a little
while,
and soon you will eat of her produce.
20She seems very harsh to the
uninstructed;
a weakling will not remain with her.
21She will weigh him down like a heavy
testing stone,
and he will not be slow to cast her
off.
22For wisdom is like her name,
and is not manifest to many.
23Listen, my son, and accept my
judgment;
do not reject my counsel.
24Put your feet into her chains,
and your neck into her collar.
25Put your shoulder under her 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 chains will become for you a
strong protection,
and her collar a glorious robe.
30Her yoke
w is a golden
ornament,
and her bonds are a cord of blue.
31You will wear her like a glorious
robe,
and put her on like a crown of
gladness.
32If you are willing, my son, you will be
taught,
and if you apply yourself you will become
clever.
33If you love to listen you will gain
knowledge,
and if you incline your ear you will become
wise.
34Stand in the assembly of the elders.
Who is wise? Cling to him.
35Be ready to listen to every
x narrative,
and do not let wise proverbs escape
you.
36If you see an intelligent man, visit him
early;
let your foot wear out his doorstep.
Reflect on the statutes of the
Lord,
and meditate at all times on his
commandments.
It is he who will give insight to
y your
mind,and your desire for wisdom will be
granted.
Advice for Right Conduct
7
Do no evil, and evil will never befall you.
2Stay away from wrong, and it will turn away
from you.
3My son, do not sow the furrows of
injustice,
and you will not reap a sevenfold
crop.
4Do not seek from the Lord the highest
office,
nor the seat of honor from the king.
5Do not assert your righteousness before the
Lord,
nor display your wisdom before the
king.
6Do not seek to become a judge,
lest you be unable to remove iniquity,
lest you be partial to a powerful man,
and thus put a blot on your integrity.
7Do not offend against the public,
and do not disgrace yourself among the
people.
8Do not commit a sin twice;
even for one you will not go
unpunished.
9Do not say, “He will consider the
multitude of my gifts,
and when I make an offering to the Most High
God he will accept it.”
10Do not be fainthearted in your
prayer,
nor neglect to give alms.
11Do not ridicule a man who is bitter in
soul,
for there is One who abases and
exalts.
12Do not devise
z a lie against
your brother,
nor do the like to a friend.
13Refuse to utter any lie,
for the habit of lying serves no good.
14Do not prattle in the assembly of the
elders,
nor repeat yourself in your prayer.
15Do not hate toilsome labor,
or farm work, which were created by the Most
High.
16Do not count yourself among the crowd of
sinners;
remember that wrath does not delay.
17Humble yourself greatly,
for the punishment of the ungodly is fire
and worms.
a18Do not exchange a friend for money,
or a real brother for the gold of
Ophir.
19Do not deprive yourself of a wise and good
wife,
for her charm is worth more than gold.
20Do not abuse a servant who performs his
work faithfully,
or a hired laborer who devotes himself to
you.
21Let your soul love
b an
intelligent servant;
do not withhold from him his freedom.
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
c from their
youth.24Do you have daughters? Be concerned for
their chastity,
d
and do not show yourself too indulgent with
them.
25Give a daughter in marriage; you will have
finished a great task.
But give her to a man of
understanding.
26If you have a wife who pleases you,
e do not cast
her out;
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 through your parents
f you were
born;
and what can you give back to them that
equals their gift to you?
29With all your soul fear the Lord,
and honor his priests.
30With all your might love your Maker,
and do not forsake his ministers.
31Fear the Lord and honor the priest,
and give him his portion, as is commanded
you:
the first fruits, the guilt offering, the
gift of the shoulders,
the sacrifice of sanctification, and the
first fruits of the holy things.
32Stretch forth your hand to the poor,
so that your blessing may be complete.
33Give graciously to all the living,
and withhold not kindness from the
dead.
34Do not fail those who weep,
but mourn with those who mourn.
35Do not shrink from visiting a sick
man,
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
8
Do not contend with a powerful man,
lest you fall into his hands.
2Do not quarrel with a rich man,
lest his resources outweigh yours;
for gold has ruined many,
and has perverted the minds of kings.
3Do not argue with a chatterer,
nor heap wood on his fire.
4Do not jest with an ill-bred person,
lest your ancestors be disgraced.
5Do not reproach a man who is turning away
from sin;
remember that we all deserve
punishment.
6Do not disdain a man when he is old,
for some of us are growing old.
7Do not rejoice over any one’s
death;
remember that we all must die.
8Do not slight the discourse of the
sages,
but busy yourself with their maxims;
because from them you will gain
instruction
and learn how to serve great men.
9Do not disregard the discourse of the
aged,
for they themselves learned from their
fathers;
because from them you will gain
understanding
and learn how to give an answer in time of
need.
10Do not kindle the coals of a sinner,
lest you be burned in his flaming
fire.
11Do not get up and leave an insolent
fellow,
lest he lie in ambush against your
words.
12Do not lend to a man who is stronger than
you;
but if you do lend anything, be as one who
has lost it.
13Do not give surety beyond your means,
but if you give surety, be concerned as one
who must pay.
14Do not go to law against a judge,
for the decision will favor him because of
his standing.
15Do not travel on the road with a foolhardy
fellow,
lest he be burdensome to you;
for he will act as he pleases,
and through his folly you will perish with
him.
16Do not fight with a wrathful man,
and do not cross the wilderness with
him;
because blood is as nothing in his
sight,
and where no help is at hand, he will strike
you down.
17Do not consult with a fool,
for he will not be able to keep a
secret.
18In the presence of a stranger do nothing
that is to be kept secret,
for you do not know what he will
divulge.
g19Do not reveal your thoughts to every
one,
lest you drive away your good luck
.hOn Conduct toward Others
9
Do not be jealous of the wife of your bosom,
and do not teach her an evil lesson to your
own hurt.
2Do not give yourself to a woman
so that she gains mastery over your
strength.
3Do not go to meet a loose woman,
lest you fall into her snares.
4Do not associate with a woman singer,
lest you be caught in her intrigues.
5Do not look intently at a virgin,
lest you stumble and incur penalties for
her.
6Do not give yourself to harlots
lest you lose your inheritance.
7Do not look around in the streets of a
city,
nor wander about in its deserted
sections.
8Turn away your eyes from a shapely
woman,
and do not look intently at beauty belonging
to another;
many have been misled by a woman’s
beauty,
and by it passion is kindled like a
fire.
9Never dine with another man’s
wife,
nor revel with her at wine;
lest your heart turn aside to her,
and in blood
i you be
plunged into destruction.10Forsake not an old friend,
for a new one does not compare with
him.
A new friend is like new wine;
when it has aged you will drink it with
pleasure.
11Do not envy the honors of a sinner,
for you do not know what his end will
be.
12Do not delight in what pleases the
ungodly;
remember that they will not be held
guiltless as long as they live.
13Keep far from a man who has the power to
kill,
and you will not be worried by the fear of
death.
But if you approach him, make no
misstep,
lest he rob you of your life.
Know that you are walking in the midst of
snares,
and that you are going about on the city
battlements.
14As much as you can, aim to know your
neighbors,
and consult with the wise.
15Let your conversation be with men of
understanding,
and let all your discussion be about the law
of the Most High.
16Let righteous men be your dinner
companions,
and let your glorying be in the fear of the
Lord.
17A work will be praised for the skill of the
craftsmen;
so a people’s leader is proved wise by
his words.
18A babbler is feared in his city,
and the man who is reckless in speech will
be hated.
10 A wise magistrate will educate his
people,
and the rule of an understanding man will be
well ordered.
2Like the magistrate of the people, so are
his officials;
and like the ruler of the city, so are all
its inhabitants.
3An undisciplined king will ruin his
people,
but a city will grow through the
understanding of its rulers.
4The government of the earth is in the hands
of the Lord,
and over it he will raise up the right man
for the time.
5The success of a man is in the hands of the
Lord,
and he confers his honor upon the person of
the scribe.
j6Do not be angry with your neighbor for any
injury,
and do not attempt anything by acts of
insolence.
7Arrogance is hateful before the Lord and
before men,
and injustice is outrageous to both.
8Sovereignty passes from nation to
nation
on account of injustice and insolence and
wealth.
9How can he who is dust and ashes be
proud?
for even in life his bowels decay.
k10A long illness baffles the
physician;
l
the king of today will die tomorrow.
11For when a man is dead,
he will inherit creeping things, and wild
beasts, and worms.
12The beginning of man’s pride is to
depart from the Lord;
his heart has forsaken his Maker.
13For the beginning of pride is sin,
and the man who clings to it pours out
abominations.
Therefore the Lord brought upon them
extraordinary afflictions,
and destroyed them utterly.
14The Lord has cast down the thrones of
rulers,
and has seated the lowly in their
place.
15The Lord has plucked up the roots of the
nations,
m
and has planted the humble in their
place.
16The Lord has overthrown the lands of the
nations,
and has destroyed them to the foundations of
the earth.
17He has removed some of them and destroyed
them,
and has extinguished the memory of them from
the earth.
18Pride was not created for men,
nor fierce anger for those born of
women.
19What race is worthy of honor? The human
race.
What race is worthy of honor? Those who fear
the Lord.
What race is unworthy of honor? The human
race.
What race is unworthy of honor? Those who
transgress the commandments.
20Among brothers their leader is worthy of
honor,
and those who fear the Lord are worthy of
honor in his eyes.
n22The rich, and the eminent, and the
poor—
their glory is the fear of the Lord.
23It is not right to despise an intelligent
poor man,
nor is it proper to honor a sinful
man.
24The nobleman, and the judge, and the ruler
will be honored,
but none of them is greater than the man who
fears the Lord.
25Free men will be at the service of a wise
servant,
and a man of understanding will not
grumble.
26Do not make a display of your wisdom when
you do your work,
nor glorify yourself at a time when you are
in want.
27Better is a man who works and has an
abundance of everything,
than one who goes about boasting, but lacks
bread.
28My son, glorify yourself with
humility,
and ascribe to yourself honor according to
your worth.
29Who will justify the man that sins against
himself?
And who will honor the man that dishonors
his own life?
30A poor man is honored for his
knowledge,
while a rich man is honored for his
wealth.
31A man honored in poverty, how much more in
wealth!
And a man dishonored in wealth, how much
more in poverty!
11
The wisdom of a humble man will lift up his head,
and will seat him among the great.
2Do not praise a man for his good
looks,
nor loathe a man because of his
appearance.
3The bee is small among flying
creatures,
but her product is the best of sweet
things.
4Do not boast about wearing fine
clothes,
nor exalt yourself in the day that you are
honored;
for the works of the Lord are
wonderful,
and his works are concealed from men.
5Many kings have had to sit on the
ground,
but one who was never thought of has worn a
crown.
6Many rulers have been greatly
disgraced,
and illustrious men have been handed over to
others.
7Do not find fault before you
investigate;
first consider, and then reprove.
8Do not answer before you have heard,
nor interrupt a speaker in the midst of his
words.
9Do not argue about a matter which does not
concern you,
nor sit with sinners when they judge a
case.
10My son, do not busy yourself with many
matters;
if you multiply activities you will not go
unpunished,
and if you pursue you will not
overtake,
and by fleeing you will not escape.
11There is a man who works, and toils, and
presses on,
but is so much the more in want.
12There is another who is slow and needs
help,
who lacks strength and abounds in
poverty;
but the eyes of the Lord look upon him for
his good;
he lifts him out of his low estate
13and raises up his head,
so that many are amazed at him.
14Good things and bad, life and death,
poverty and wealth, come from the
Lord.
o17The gift of the Lord endures for those who
are godly,
and what he approves will have lasting
success.
18There is a man who is rich through his
diligence and self-denial,
and this is the reward allotted to
him:
19when he says, “I have found
rest,
and now I shall enjoy
p my
goods!”he does not know how much time will
pass
until he leaves them to others and
dies.
20Stand by your covenant
q 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
toil;
for it is easy in the sight of the
Lord
to enrich a poor man quickly and
suddenly.
22The blessing of the Lord is
r the reward of
the godly,
and quickly God causes his blessing to
flourish.
23Do not say, “What do I need,
and what prosperity could be mine in the
future?”
24Do not say, “I have enough,
and what calamity could happen to me in the
future?”
25In the day of prosperity, adversity is
forgotten,
and in the day of adversity, prosperity is
not remembered.
26For it is easy in the sight of the
Lord
to reward a man on the day of death
according to his conduct.
27The misery of an hour makes one forget
luxury,
and at the close of a man’s life his
deeds will be revealed.
28Call no one happy before his death;
a man will be known through his
children.
29Do not bring every man into your
home,
for many are the wiles of the crafty.
30Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the
mind of a proud man,
and like a spy he observes your
weakness;
s31for he lies in wait, turning good into
evil,
and to worthy actions he will attach
blame.
32From a spark of fire come many burning
coals,
and a sinner lies in wait to shed
blood.
33Beware of a scoundrel, for he devises
evil,
lest he give you a lasting blemish.
34Receive a stranger into your home and he
will upset you with commotion,
and will estrange you from your
family.
Friends and Enemies
12 If you do a kindness, know to whom you do
it,
and you will be thanked for your good
deeds.
2Do good to a godly man, and you will be
repaid—
if not by him, certainly by the Most
High.
3No good will come to the man who persists in
evil
or to him who does not give alms.
4Give to the godly man, but do not help the
sinner.
5 Do good to the humble, but do not give to
the ungodly;
hold back his bread, and do not give it to
him,
lest by means of it he subdue you;
for you will receive twice as much
evil
for all the good which you do to him.
6For the Most High also hates sinners
and will inflict punishment on the
ungodly.
t7Give to the good man, but do not help the
sinner.
8A friend will not be known
u in
prosperity,
nor will an enemy be hidden in
adversity.
9A man’s enemies are grieved when he
prospers,
and in his adversity even his friend will
separate from him.
10Never trust your enemy,
for like the rusting of copper, so is his
wickedness.
11Even if he humbles himself and goes about
cringing,
watch yourself, and be on your guard against
him;
and you will be to him like one who has
polished a mirror,
and you will know that it was not hopelessly
tarnished.
12Do not put him next to you,
lest he overthrow you and take your
place;
do not have him sit at your right,
lest he try to take your seat of
honor,
and at last you will realize the truth of my
words,
and be stung by what I have said.
13Who will pity a snake charmer bitten by a
serpent,
or any who go near wild beasts?
14So no one will pity a man who associates
with a sinner
and becomes involved in his sins.
15He will stay with you for a time,
but if you falter, he will not stand by
you.
16An enemy will speak sweetly with his
lips,
but in his mind he will plan to throw you
into a pit;
an enemy will weep with his eyes,
but if he finds an opportunity his thirst
for blood will be insatiable.
17If calamity befalls you, you will find him
there ahead of you;
and while pretending to help you, he will
trip you by the heel;
18he will shake his head, and clap his
hands,
and whisper much, and change his
expression.
Responsible Use of Riches
13 Whoever touches pitch will be
defiled,
and whoever associates with a proud man will
become like him.
2Do not lift a weight beyond your
strength,
nor associate with a man mightier and richer
than you.
How can the clay pot associate with the iron
kettle?
The pot will strike against it, and will
itself be broken.
3A rich man does wrong, and he even adds
reproaches;
a poor man suffers wrong, and he must add
apologies.
4A rich man
v will exploit
you if you can be of use to him,
but if you are in need he will forsake
you.
5If you own something, he will live with
you;
he will drain your resources and he will not
care.
6When he needs you he will deceive you,
he will smile at you and give you
hope.
He will speak to you kindly and say,
“What do you need?”
7He will shame you with his foods,
until he has drained you two or three
times;
and finally he will deride you.
Should he see you afterwards, he will
forsake you,
and shake his head at you.
8Take care not to be led astray,
and not to be humiliated in your
feasting.
w9When a powerful man invites you, be
reserved;
and he will invite you the more often.
10Do not push forward, lest you be
repulsed;
and do not remain at a distance, lest you be
forgotten.
11Do not try to treat him as an equal,
nor trust his abundance of words;
for he will test you through much
talk,
and while he smiles he will be examining
you.
12Cruel is he who does not keep words to
himself;
he will not hesitate to injure or to
imprison.
13Keep words to yourself and be very
watchful,
for you are walking about with your own
downfall.
x15Every creature loves its like,
and every person his neighbor;
16all living beings associate by
species,
and a man clings to one like himself.
17What fellowship has a wolf with a
lamb?
No more has a sinner with a godly man.
18What peace is there between a hyena and a
dog?
And what peace between a rich man and a poor
man?
19Wild donkeys in the wilderness are the prey
of lions;
likewise the poor are pastures for the
rich.
20Humility is an abomination to a proud
man;
likewise a poor man is an abomination to a
rich one.
21When a rich man totters, he is steadied by
friends,
but when a humble man falls, he is even
pushed away by friends.
22If a rich man slips, his helpers are
many;
he speaks unseemly words, and they justify
him.
If a humble man slips, they even reproach
him;
he speaks sensibly, and receives no
attention.
23When the rich man speaks all are
silent,
and they extol to the clouds what he
says.
When the poor man speaks they say,
“Who is this fellow?”
And should he stumble, they even push him
down.
24Riches are good if they are free from
sin,
and poverty is evil in the opinion of the
ungodly.
25A man’s heart changes his
countenance,
either for good or for evil.
y26The mark of a happy heart is a cheerful
face,
but to devise proverbs requires painful
thinking.
14
Blessed is the man who does not blunder with his lips
and need not suffer grief for sin.
2Blessed is he whose heart does not condemn
him,
and who has not given up his hope.
3Riches are not seemly for a stingy
man;
and of what use is property to an envious
man?
4Whoever accumulates by depriving himself,
accumulates for others;
and others will live in luxury on his
goods.
5If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he
be generous?
He will not enjoy his own riches.
6No one is meaner than the man who is
grudging to himself,
and this is the retribution for his
baseness;
7even if he does good, he does it
unintentionally,
and betrays his baseness in the end.
8Evil is the man with a grudging eye;
he averts his face and disregards
people.
9A greedy man’s eye is not satisfied
with a portion,
and mean injustice withers the soul.
10A stingy man’s eye begrudges
bread,
and it is lacking at his table.
11My son, treat yourself well, according to
your means,
and present worthy offerings to the
Lord.
12Remember that death will not delay,
and the decree
z of Hades has
not been shown to you.13Do good to a friend before you die,
and reach out and give to him as much as you
can.
14Do not deprive yourself of a happy
day;
let not 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 beguile yourself,
because in Hades one cannot look for
luxury.
17All living beings become old like a
garment,
for the decree
a from of old
is, “You must surely die!”18Like flourishing leaves on a spreading
tree
which sheds some and puts forth
others,
so are the generations of flesh and
blood:
one dies and another is born.
19Every product decays and ceases to
exist,
and the man who made it will pass away with
it.
20Blessed is the man who meditates on
b wisdom
and who reasons intelligently.
21He who reflects in his mind on her
ways
will also ponder her secrets.
22Pursue wisdom
c like a
hunter,
and lie in wait on her paths.
23He who peers through her windows
will also listen at her doors;
24he who encamps near her house
will also fasten his tent peg to her
walls;
25he will pitch his tent near her,
and will lodge in an excellent lodging
place;
26he will place his children under her
shelter,
and will camp under her boughs;
27he will be sheltered by her from the
heat,
and will dwell in the midst of her
glory.
Freedom of Choice and Its
Consequences
15 The
man who fears the Lord will do this,
and he who holds to the law will obtain
wisdom.
d2She will come to meet him like a
mother,
and like the wife of his youth she will
welcome him.
3She will feed him with the bread of
understanding,
and give him the water of wisdom to
drink.
4He will lean on her and will not fall,
and he will rely on her and will not be put
to shame.
5She will exalt him above his
neighbors,
and will open his mouth in the midst of the
assembly;
she will fill him with a spirit of wisdom
and understanding,
and clothe him with a robe of glory.
6He will find gladness and a crown of
rejoicing,
and will acquire an everlasting name.
7Foolish men will not obtain her,
and sinful men will not see her.
8She is far from men of pride,
and liars will never think of her.
9A hymn of praise is not fitting on the lips
of a sinner,
for it has not been sent from the
Lord.
10For a hymn of praise should be uttered in
wisdom,
and the Lord will prosper it.
11Do not say, “Because of the Lord I
left the right way”;
for he
e will not do
what he hates.12Do not say, “It was he who led me
astray”;
for he has no need of a sinful man.
13The Lord hates all abominations,
and they are not loved by those who fear
him.
14It was he who created man in the
beginning,
and he left him in the power of his own
inclination.
15If you will, you can keep the commandments,
they will save you;
if you trust in God, you too shall
live.
16He has placed before you fire and
water:
stretch out your hand for whichever you
wish.
17Before a man
f are life and
death, good and evil,
and whichever he chooses will be given to
him.
18For great is the wisdom of the Lord;
he is mighty in power and sees
everything.
19The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear
him,
and he knows every deed of man.
20He has not commanded any one to be
ungodly,
and he has not given any one permission to
sin.
16 Do not desire a multitude of useless
children,
nor rejoice in ungodly sons.
2If they multiply, do not rejoice in
them,
unless the fear of the Lord is in
them.
3Do not trust in their survival,
and do not rely on their multitude;
for one is better than a thousand,
gand to die childless is better than to have
ungodly children.
4For through one man of understanding a city
will be filled with people,
but through a tribe of lawless men it will
be made 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 will be
kindled,
and in a disobedient nation wrath was
kindled.
7He was not propitiated for the ancient
giants
who revolted in their might.
8He did not spare the neighbors of Lot,
whom he loathed on account of their
insolence.
9He showed no pity for a nation devoted to
destruction,
for those destroyed in their sins;
10nor for the six hundred thousand men on
foot,
who rebelliously assembled in their
stubbornness.
11Even if there is only one stiffnecked
person,
it will be a wonder if he remains
unpunished.
For mercy and wrath are with the
Lord;
hhe is mighty to forgive, and he pours out
wrath.
12As great as his mercy, so great is also his
reproof;
he judges a man according to his
deeds.
13The sinner will not escape with his
plunder,
and the patience of the godly will not be
frustrated.
14He will make room for every act of
mercy;
every one will receive in accordance with
his deeds.
i17Do not say, “I shall be hidden from
the Lord,
and who from on high will remember me?
Among so many people I shall not be
known,
for what is my soul in the boundless
creation?
18Behold, heaven and the highest
heaven,
the abyss and the earth, will tremble at his
visitation.
19The mountains also and the foundations of
the earth
shake with trembling when he looks upon
them.
20And no mind will reflect on this.
Who will ponder his ways?
21Like a tempest which no man can see,
so most of his works are concealed.
22Who will announce his acts of
justice?
Or who will await them? For the covenant is
far off.”
23This is what one devoid of understanding
thinks;
a senseless and misguided man thinks
foolishly.
24Listen to me, my son, and acquire
knowledge,
and pay close attention to my words.
25I will impart instruction by weight,
and declare knowledge accurately.
26The works of the Lord have existed from the
beginning by his creation,
j
and when he made them, he determined their
divisions.
27He arranged his works in an eternal
order,
and their dominion
k for
alll generations;they neither hunger nor grow weary,
and they do not cease from their
labors.
28They do not crowd one another aside,
and they will never disobey his word.
29After this the Lord looked upon the
earth,
and filled it with his good things;
30with all kinds of living beings he covered
its surface,
and to it they return.
Wisdom concerning God’s Gifts to
Men
17 The Lord created man out of earth,
and made him into his own image;
2he turned him back into earth again,
but clothed him in strength like his
own.
o3He gave to men
m few days, a
limited time,
but granted them authority over the things
upon the earth.
n4He placed the fear of them
p in all
flesh,
and granted them dominion over beasts and
birds.
q6He made for them
r discretion,
with a tongue and eyes and ears;
he gave them a mind for thinking,
and filled them with the discipline of
discernment.
7He created in them the knowledge of the
spirit;
he filled their hearts with
understanding,
and showed them good and evil.
8He placed the fear of him into their
hearts,
showing them the majesty of his
works.
s9He made them glory in his wondrous
deeds,
10 that they might praise his holy
name,
to 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 showed them his justice and his
judgments.
13Their eyes saw his glorious majesty,
and their ears heard the glory of his
voice.
14And he said to them, “Beware of all
unrighteousness.”
t
And he gave commandment to each of them
concerning his neighbor.
15Their ways are always before him,
they will not be hidden from his
eyes.
u17He appointed a ruler for every nation,
but Israel is the Lord’s own
portion.
v19All their works are as the sun before
him,
and his eyes are continually upon their
ways.
20Their iniquities are not hidden from
him,
and all their sins are before the
Lord.
w22A man’s almsgiving is like a signet
with the Lord,
x
and he will keep a person’s kindness
like the apple of his eye.
23Afterward he will arise 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 whose endurance is
failing,
and he has appointed to them the lot of
truth.
25Turn to the Lord and forsake your
sins;
pray in his presence and lessen your
offenses.
26Return to the Most High and turn away from
iniquity,
y
and hate abominations intensely.
Know the justice and the judgments of
God,
and stand firm the lot that is set before
you,
in prayer to God, the Almighty.
27Who will sing praises to the Most High in
Hades,
as do those who are alive and give
thanks?
Tarry not in the waywardness of the
ungodly,
and give thanks before death.
28From the dead, as from one who does not
exist, thanksgiving has ceased;
he who is alive and well sings the
Lord’s praises.
29How great is the mercy of the Lord,
and his forgiveness for those who turn to
him!
30For all things cannot be in men,
z
since a son of man is not immortal.
31What is brighter than the sun? Yet its light
fails.
a
So flesh and blood devise evil.
32He marshals the host of the height of
heaven;
but all men are dust and ashes.
God and Man
18 He who lives for ever created the whole
universe;
the Lord alone will be declared
righteous.
b4To 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 trace the wonders of
the Lord.
7When a man has finished, he is just
beginning,
and when he stops, he will be at a
loss.
8What is man, and of what use is he?
What is his good and what is his evil?
9The number of a man’s days is great if
he reaches a hundred years.
10Like a drop of water from the sea and a
grain
c of
sand
so are a few years in the day of
eternity.
11Therefore the Lord is patient with
them
and pours out his mercy upon them.
12He sees and recognizes that their end will
be evil;
therefore he grants them forgiveness in
abundance.
13The compassion of man is for his
neighbor,
but the compassion of the Lord is for all
living beings.
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 judgments.
15My son, do not mix reproach with your good
deeds,
nor cause grief by your words when you
present a gift.
16Does not the dew assuage the scorching
heat?
So a word is better than a gift.
17Indeed, does not a word surpass a good
gift?
Both are to be found in a gracious
man.
18A fool is ungracious and abusive,
and the gift of a grudging man makes the
eyes dim.
19Before you speak, learn,
and before you fall ill, take care of your
health.
20Before judgment, examine yourself,
and in the hour of visitation you will find
forgiveness.
21Before falling ill, humble yourself,
and when you are on the point of sinning,
turn back.
22Let nothing hinder you from paying a vow
promptly,
and do not wait until death to be released
from it.
23Before making a vow,
d prepare
yourself;
and do not be like a man who tempts the
Lord.
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 the days of wealth think of poverty and
need.
26From morning to evening conditions
change,
and all things move swiftly before the
Lord.
27A wise man is cautious in everything,
and in days of sin he guards against
wrongdoing.
28Every intelligent man knows wisdom,
and he praises the one who finds her.
29Those who understand sayings become skilled
themselves,
and pour forth apt proverbs.
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,
lest you become impoverished by its
expense.
33Do not become a beggar by feasting with
borrowed money,
when you have nothing in your purse.
True Wisdom Contrasted to Cleverness and Evil
19 A workman who is a drunkard will not
become rich;
he who despises small things will fail
little by little.
2Wine and women lead intelligent men
astray,
and the man who consorts with harlots is
very reckless.
3Decay and worms will inherit him,
and the reckless soul will be snatched
away.
4One who trusts others too quickly is
lightminded,
and one who sins does wrong to
himself.
5One who rejoices in wickedness
e will be
condemned,f
6and for one who hates gossip evil is
lessened.
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
disclose it;
9for some one has heard you and watched
you,
and when the time comes he will hate
you.
10Have you heard a word? Let it die with
you.
Be brave! It will not make you burst!
11With such a word a fool will suffer
pangs
like a woman in labor with a child.
12Like an arrow stuck in the flesh of the
thigh,
so is a word inside a fool.
13Question a friend, perhaps he did not do
it;
but if he did anything, so that he may do it
no more.
14Question a neighbor, perhaps he did not say
it;
but if he said it, so that he may not say it
again.
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 never sinned with his tongue?
17Question your neighbor before you threaten
him;
and let the law of the Most High take its
course.
g20All wisdom is the fear of the Lord,
and in all wisdom there is the fulfilment of
the law.
h22But the knowledge of wickedness is not
wisdom,
nor is there prudence where sinners take
counsel.
23There is a cleverness which is
abominable,
but there is a fool who merely lacks
wisdom.
24Better is the God-fearing man who lacks
intelligence,
than the highly prudent man who transgresses
the law.
25There is a cleverness which is scrupulous
but unjust,
and there are people who distort kindness to
gain a verdict.
26There is a rascal bowed down in
mourning,
i
but inwardly he is full of deceit.
27He hides his face and pretends not to
hear;
but where no one notices, he will forestall
you.
28And if by lack of strength he is prevented
from sinning,
he will do evil when he finds an
opportunity.
29A man is known by his appearance,
and a sensible man is known by his face,
when you meet him.
30A man’s attire and open-mouthed
laughter,
and a man’s manner of walking, show
what he is.
On Silence and Speech
20 There is a reproof which is not
timely;
and there is a man who keeps silent but is
wise.
2How much better it is to reprove than to stay
angry!
And the one who confesses his fault will be
kept from loss.
j4Like a eunuch’s desire to violate a
maiden
is a man who executes judgments by
violence.
5There is one who by keeping silent is found
wise,
while another is detested for being too
talkative.
6There is one who keeps silent because he has
no answer,
while another keeps silent because he knows
when to speak.
7A wise man will be silent until the right
moment,
but a braggart and fool goes beyond the
right moment.
8Whoever uses too many words will be
loathed,
and whoever usurps the right to speak will
be hated.
9There may be good fortune for a man in
adversity,
and a windfall may result in a loss.
10There is a gift that profits you
nothing,
and there is a gift that brings a double
return.
11There are losses because of glory,
and there are men who have raised their
heads from humble circumstances.
12There is a man who buys much for a
little,
but pays for it seven times over.
13The wise man makes himself beloved through
his words,
but the courtesies of fools are
wasted.
14A fool’s gift will profit you
nothing,
for he has many eyes instead of one.
15He gives little and upbraids much,
he opens his mouth like a herald;
today he lends and tomorrow he asks it
back;
such a one is a hateful man.
16A fool will say, “I have no
friend,
and there is no gratitude for my good
deeds;
those who eat my bread speak
unkindly.”
17How many will ridicule him, and how
often!
18A slip on the pavement is better than a
slip of the tongue;
so the downfall of the wicked will occur
speedily.
19An ungracious man is like a story told at
the wrong time,
which is continually on the lips of the
ignorant.
20A proverb from a fool’s lips will be
rejected,
for he does not tell it at its proper
time.
21A man may be prevented from sinning by his
poverty,
so when he rests he feels no remorse.
22A man may lose his life through
shame,
or lose it because of his foolish
look.
23A man may for shame make promises to a
friend,
and needlessly make him an enemy.
24A lie is an ugly blot on a man;
it is continually on the lips of the
ignorant.
25A thief is preferable to a habitual
liar,
but the lot of both is ruin.
26The disposition of a liar brings
disgrace,
and his shame is ever with him.
27He who speaks wisely will advance
himself,
and a sensible man will please great
men.
28Whoever cultivates the soil will heap up
his harvest,
and whoever pleases great men will atone for
injustice.
29Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the
wise;
like a muzzle on the mouth they avert
reproofs.
30Hidden wisdom and unseen treasure,
what advantage is there in either of
them?
31Better is the man who hides his folly
than the man who hides his wisdom.
kVarious Sins and Foolishness
21 Have you sinned, my son? Do so no
more,
but pray about your former sins.
2Flee from sin as from a snake;
for if you approach sin, it will bite
you.
Its teeth are lion’s teeth,
and destroy the souls of men.
3All lawlessness is like a two-edged
sword;
there is no healing for its wound.
4Terror and violence will lay waste
riches;
thus the house of the proud will be laid
waste.
5The prayer of a poor man goes from his lips
to the ears of God,
l
and his judgment comes speedily.
6Whoever hates reproof walks in the steps of
the sinner,
but he that fears the Lord will repent in
his heart.
7He who is mighty in speech is known from
afar;
but the sensible man, when he slips, is
aware of it.
8A man who builds his house with other
people’s money
is like one who gathers stones for his
burial mound.
m9An assembly of the wicked is like tow
gathered together,
and their end is a flame of fire.
10The way of sinners is smoothly paved with
stones,
but at its end is the pit of Hades.
11Whoever keeps the law controls his
thoughts,
and wisdom is the fulfilment of the fear of
the Lord.
12He who is not clever cannot be
taught,
but there is a cleverness which increases
bitterness.
13The knowledge of a wise man will increase
like a flood,
and his counsel like a flowing spring.
14The mind of a fool is like a broken
jar;
it will hold no knowledge.
15When a man of understanding hears a wise
saying,
he will praise it and add to it;
when a reveler hears it, he dislikes
it
and casts it behind his back.
16A fool’s narration is like a burden
on a journey,
but delight will be found in the speech of
the intelligent.
17The utterance of a sensible man will be
sought in the assembly,
and they will ponder his words in their
minds.
18Like a house that has vanished, so is
wisdom to a fool;
and the knowledge of the ignorant is
unexamined talk.
19To a senseless man education is chains on
his feet,
and like manacles on his right hand.
20A fool raises his voice when he
laughs,
but a clever man smiles quietly.
21To a sensible man education is like a
golden ornament,
and like a bracelet on the right arm.
22The foot of a fool rushes into a
house,
but a man of experience stands respectfully
before it.
23A boor peers into the house from the
door,
but a cultivated man remains outside.
24It is ill-mannered for a man to listen at a
door,
and a discreet man is grieved by the
disgrace.
25The lips of strangers will speak of these
things,
n
but the words of the prudent will be weighed
in the balance.
26The mind of fools is in their mouth,
but the mouth of wise men is in
o their
mind.27When an ungodly man curses his
adversary,
p
he curses his own soul.
28A whisperer defiles his own soul
and is hated in his neighborhood.
On Wisdom, Folly, and
Self-Control
22 The indolent may be compared to a filthy
stone,
and every one hisses at his disgrace.
2The indolent may be compared to the filth of
dunghills;
any one that picks it up will shake it off
his hand.
3It is a disgrace to be the father of an
undisciplined son,
and the birth of a daughter is a loss.
4A sensible daughter obtains her
husband,
but one who acts shamefully brings grief to
her father.
5An impudent daughter disgraces father and
husband,
and will be despised by both.
6Like music in mourning is a tale told at the
wrong time,
but chastising and discipline are wisdom at
all times.
7He who teaches a fool is like one who glues
potsherds together,
or who rouses a sleeper from deep
slumber.
8He who tells a story to a fool tells it to a
drowsy man;
and at the end he will say, “What is
it?”
q11Weep for the dead, for he lacks the
light;
and weep for the fool, for he lacks
intelligence;
weep less bitterly for the dead, for he has
attained rest;
but the life of the fool is worse than
death.
12Mourning for the dead lasts seven
days,
but for a fool or an ungodly man it lasts
all his life.
13Do not talk much with a foolish man,
and do not visit an unintelligent man;
guard yourself from him to escape
trouble,
and you will not be soiled when he shakes
himself off;
avoid him and you will find rest,
and you will never be wearied by his
madness.
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 man.
16A wooden beam firmly bonded into a
building
will not be torn loose by an
earthquake;
so the mind firmly fixed on a reasonable
counsel
will not be afraid in a crisis.
17A mind settled on an intelligent
thought
is like the stucco decoration on the wall of
a colonnade.
r18Fences set on a high place
will not stand firm against the wind;
so a timid heart with a fool’s
purpose
will not stand firm against any fear.
19A man who pricks an eye will make tears
fall,
and one who pricks the heart makes it show
feeling.
20One who throws a stone at birds scares them
away,
and one who reviles a friend will break off
the friendship.
21Even if you have drawn your sword against a
friend,
do not despair, for a renewal of friendship
is possible.
22If you have opened 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 flee.
23Gain the trust of your neighbor in his
poverty,
that you may rejoice with him in his
prosperity;
stand by him in time of affliction,
that you may share with him in his
inheritance.
s24The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede
the fire;
so insults precede bloodshed.
25I will not be ashamed to protect a
friend,
and I will not hide from him;
26but if some harm should happen to me
because of him,
whoever hears of it will beware of
him.
27O that a guard were set over my mouth,
and a seal of prudence upon my lips,
that it may keep me from falling,
so that my tongue may not destroy
me!
t23
O Lord, Father and Ruler of my life,
do not abandon me to their counsel,
and let me not fall because of them!
2O that whips were set over my thoughts,
and the discipline of wisdom over my
mind!
uThat they may not spare me in my
errors,
and that it may not pass by my
v sins;3in order that my mistakes may not be
multiplied,
and my sins may not abound;
then I will not fall before my
adversaries,
and my enemy will not rejoice over me.
4O Lord, Father and God of my life,
do not give me haughty eyes,
5 and remove from me evil desire.
6Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome
me,
and do not surrender me to a shameless
soul.
7Listen, my children, to instruction
concerning speech;
the one who observes it will never be
caught.
8The sinner is overtaken through his
lips,
the reviler and the arrogant are tripped by
them.
9Do not accustom your mouth to oaths,
and do not habitually utter the name of the
Holy One;
10for as a servant who is continually
examined under torture
will not lack bruises,
so also the man who always swears and utters
the Name
will not be cleansed from sin.
11A man who swears many oaths will be filled
with iniquity,
and the scourge will not leave his
house;
if he offends, his sin remains on him,
and if he disregards it, he sins
doubly;
if he has sworn needlessly, he will not be
justified,
for his house will be filled with
calamities.
12There is an utterance which is comparable to
death;
w
may it never be found in the inheritance of
Jacob!
For all these errors will be far from the
godly,
and they will not wallow in sins.
13Do not accustom your mouth to lewd
vulgarity,
for it involves sinful speech.
14Remember your father and mother
when
x you sit among
great men;lest you be forgetful in their
presence,
and be deemed a fool on account of your
habits;
then you will wish that you had never been
born,
and you will curse the day of your
birth.
15A man accustomed to using insulting
words
will never become disciplined all his
days.
16Two sorts of men multiply sins,
and a third incurs wrath.
The soul heated like a burning fire
will not be quenched until it is
consumed;
a man who commits fornication with his near
of kin
ywill never cease until the fire burns him
up.
17To a fornicator all bread tastes
sweet;
he will never cease until he dies.
18A man who breaks his marriage vows
says to himself, “Who sees me?
Darkness surrounds me, and the walls hide
me,
and no one sees me. Why should I fear?
The Most High will not take notice of my
sins.”
19His fear is confined to the eyes of
men,
and he does not realize that the eyes of the
Lord
are ten thousand times brighter than the
sun;
they look upon all the ways of men,
and perceive even the hidden places.
20Before the universe was created, it was
known to him;
so it was also after it was finished.
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 provides an heir by a stranger.
23For first of all, she has disobeyed the law
of the Most High;
second, she has committed an offense against
her husband;
and third, she has committed adultery
through harlotry
and brought forth children by another
man.
24She herself will be brought before the
assembly,
and punishment will fall on her
children.
25Her children will not take root,
and her branches will not bear fruit.
26She will leave her memory for a
curse,
and her disgrace will not 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.
zThe Praise of Wisdom
24
Wisdom will praise herself and is honored in God,
and will glory in the midst of her
people.
a2In the assembly of the Most High she will
open her mouth,
and in the presence of his host she will
glory.
In the midst of her people she is
exalted;
in holy fulness she is admired.
In the multitude of the chosen she finds
praise,
and among the blessed she is blessed,
saying:
3“I came forth from the mouth of the
Most High,
the first-born before all creatures.
I ordained that an unfailing light
should arise in the heavens,
and I covered the earth like a mist.
4I dwelt in high places,
and my throne was in a pillar of
cloud.
5Alone I have made the circuit of the vault
of heaven
and have walked in the depths of the
abyss.
6In the waves of the sea, in the whole
earth,
and in every people and nation I have gotten
a possession.
7Among all these I sought a resting
place;
I sought in whose territory I might
lodge.
8“Then the Creator of all things gave
me a commandment,
and the one who created me assigned a place
for my tent.
And he said, ‘Make your dwelling in
Jacob,
and in Israel receive your
inheritance,
and among my chosen put down your
roots.’
9From eternity, in the beginning, he created
me,
and for eternity I shall not cease to
exist.
10In the holy tabernacle I ministered before
him,
and so I was established in Zion.
11In the beloved city likewise he gave me a
resting place,
and in Jerusalem was my dominion.
12So I took root in an honored people,
in the portion of the Lord, who is their
inheritance,
and my abode was in the full assembly of the
saints.
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-ge'di,
b
and like rose plants in Jericho;
like a beautiful olive tree in the
field,
and like a plane tree I grew tall.
15Like cassia and camel’s thorn I gave
forth the aroma of spices,
and like choice myrrh I spread a pleasant
odor,
like galbanum, onycha, and stacte,
and like the fragrance of frankincense in
the tabernacle.
16Like a terebinth I spread out my
branches,
and my branches are glorious and
graceful.
17Like a vine I caused loveliness to
bud,
and my blossoms became glorious and abundant
fruit.
c19“Come to me, you who desire me,
and eat your fill of my produce.
20For my teaching is sweeter than
honey,
and my inheritance sweeter than the
honeycomb,
and my remembrance lasts throughout all
generations.
21Those who eat me will hunger for
more,
and those who drink me will thirst for
more.
22Whoever obeys me will not be put to
shame,
and those who work with my help will not
sin.”
23All this is the book of the covenant of the
Most High God,
the law which Moses commanded us
as an inheritance for the congregations of
Jacob.
d25It fills men with wisdom, like the
Pi'shon,
and like the Tigris at the time of the first
fruits.
26It makes them full of understanding, like
the Euphrates,
and like the Jordan at harvest time.
27It makes instruction shine forth like
light,
like the Gi'hon at the time of
vintage.
28Just as the first man did not know her
perfectly,
the last one has not fathomed her;
29for her thought is more abundant than the
sea,
and her counsel deeper than the great
abyss.
30I went forth like a canal from a
river
and like a water channel into a
garden.
31I said, “I will water my
orchard
and drench my garden plot”;
and behold, my canal became a river,
and my river became a sea.
32I will again make instruction shine forth
like the dawn,
and I will make it shine afar;
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 instruction.
eThe Good and the Evil in Daily
Life
25 My
soul takes pleasure in three things,
and they are beautiful in the sight of the
Lord and of men:
fagreement between brothers, friendship
between neighbors,
and a wife and husband who live in
harmony.
2My soul hates three kinds of men,
and I am greatly offended at their
life:
a beggar who is proud, a rich man who is a
liar,
and an adulterous old man who lacks good
sense.
3You have gathered nothing in your
youth;
how then can you find anything in your old
age?
4What an attractive thing is judgment in
gray-haired men,
and for the aged to possess good
counsel!
5How attractive is wisdom in the aged,
and understanding and counsel in honorable
men!
6Rich experience is the crown of the
aged,
and their boast is the fear of the
Lord.
7With nine thoughts I have gladdened my
heart,
and a tenth I shall tell with my
tongue:
a man rejoicing in his children;
a man who lives to see the downfall of his
foes;
8happy is he who lives with an intelligent
wife,
and he who has not made a slip with his
tongue,
and he who has not served a man inferior to
himself;
9happy is he who has gained good sense,
and he who speaks to attentive
listeners.
10How great is he who has gained
wisdom!
But there is no one superior to him who
fears the Lord.
11The fear of the Lord surpasses
everything;
to whom shall be likened the one who holds
it fast?
g13Any wound, but not a wound of the
heart!
Any wickedness, but not the wickedness of a
wife!
14Any attack, but not an attack from those
who hate!
And any vengeance, but not the vengeance of
enemies!
15There is no venom
h worse than a
snake’s venom,h
and no wrath worse than an enemy’s
wrath.
16I would rather dwell with a lion and a
dragon
than dwell with an evil wife.
17The wickedness of a wife changes her
appearance,
and darkens her face like that of a
bear.
18Her husband takes his meals among the
neighbors,
and he cannot help sighing
i bitterly.19Any iniquity is insignificant compared to a
wife’s iniquity;
may a sinner’s lot befall her!
20A sandy ascent for the feet of the
aged—
such is a garrulous wife for a quiet
husband.
21Do not be ensnared by a woman’s
beauty,
and do not desire a woman for her
possessions.
j22There is wrath and impudence and great
disgrace
when a wife supports her husband.
23A dejected mind, a gloomy face,
and a wounded heart are caused by an evil
wife.
Drooping hands and weak knees
are caused by 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 in 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 rejoices 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
glad,
and at all times his face is cheerful.
5Of three things my heart is afraid,
and of a fourth I am frightened:
kThe slander of a city, the gathering of a
mob,
and false accusation—all these are
worse than death.
6There is grief of heart and sorrow when a
wife is envious of a rival,
and a tongue-lashing makes it known to
all.
7An evil wife is an ox yoke which
chafes;
taking hold of her is like grasping a
scorpion.
8There is great anger when a wife is
drunken;
she will not hide her shame.
9A wife’s harlotry shows in her lustful
eyes,
and she is known by her eyelids.
10Keep strict watch over a headstrong
daughter,
lest, when she finds liberty, she use it to
her hurt.
11Be on guard against her impudent eye,
and do not wonder if she sins against
you.
12As a thirsty wayfarer opens his mouth
and drinks from any water near him,
so will she sit in front of every post
and open her quiver to the arrow.
13A wife’s charm delights her
husband,
and her skill puts fat on his bones.
14A sensible and silent wife is a gift of the
Lord,
and there is nothing so precious as a
disciplined soul.
15A modest wife adds charm to charm,
and no balance can weigh the value of a
chaste soul.
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 pillars of gold on a base of
silver,
so are beautiful feet with a steadfast
heart.
l28At two things my heart is grieved,
and because of a third anger comes over
me:
a warrior in want through poverty,
and intelligent men who are treated
contemptuously;
a man who turns back from righteousness to
sin—
the Lord will prepare him for the
sword!
29A merchant can hardly keep from
wrongdoing,
and a tradesman will not be declared
innocent of sin.
27 Many
have committed sin for a trifle,
m
and whoever seeks to get rich will avert his
eyes.
2As a stake is driven firmly into a fissure
between stones,
so sin is wedged in between selling and
buying.
3If a man is not steadfast and zealous in the
fear of the Lord,
his house will be quickly overthrown.
4When a sieve is shaken, the refuse
remains;
so a man’s filth remains in his
thoughts.
5The kiln tests the potter’s
vessels;
so the test of just men is in
tribulation.
6The fruit discloses the cultivation of a
tree;
so the expression of a thought discloses the
cultivation of a man’s mind.
7Do not praise a man before you hear him
speak,
for this is the test of men.
8If you pursue justice, you will attain
it
and wear it as a glorious robe.
9Birds flock with their kind;
so truth returns to those who practice
it.
10A lion lies in wait for prey;
so does sin for the workers of
iniquity.
11The talk of the godly man is always
wise,
but the fool changes like the moon.
12Among stupid people watch for a chance to
leave,
but among thoughtful people stay on.
13The talk of fools is offensive,
and their laughter is wantonly sinful.
14The talk of men given to swearing makes
one’s hair stand on end,
and their quarrels make a man stop his
ears.
15The strife of the proud leads to
bloodshed,
and their abuse is grievous to hear.
16Whoever betrays secrets destroys
confidence,
and he will never find a congenial
friend.
17Love your friend and keep faith with
him;
but if you betray his secrets, do not run
after him.
18For as a man 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.
22Whoever winks his eye plans evil
deeds,
and no one can keep him from them.
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 give
offense.
24I have hated many things, but none to be
compared to him;
even the Lord will hate him.
25Whoever throws a stone straight up throws
it on his own head;
and a treacherous blow opens up
wounds.
26He who digs a pit will fall into it,
and he who sets a snare will be caught in
it.
27If a man does evil, it will roll back upon
him,
and he will not know where it came
from.
28Mockery and abuse issue from the proud
man,
n
but vengeance lies in wait for him 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.
30Anger and wrath, these also are
abominations,
and the sinful man will possess them.
28 He
that takes vengeance will suffer vengeance from the Lord,
and he will firmly establish
o his
sins.2Forgive your neighbor the wrong he has
done,