and leave yourself like a dry tree.
4 A wicked soul will destroy him who has it,
and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies.
5 Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends.
A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies.
6 Let those that are at peace with you be many,
but your advisers one of a thousand.
7 If you want to gain a friend, get him in a time of testing,
and don’t be in a hurry to trust him.
8 For there is a friend just for an occasion.
He won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
9 And there is a friend who turns into an enemy.
He will discover strife to your reproach.
10 And there is a friend who is a companion at the table,
but he won’t continue in the day of your affliction.
11 In your prosperity he will be as yourself,
and will be bold over your servants.
12 If you are brought low, he will be against you,
and will hide himself from your face.
13 Separate yourself from your enemies,
and beware of your friends.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence.
He who has found him has found a treasure.
15 There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend.
His excellency is beyond price.
16 A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine.
Those who fear the Lord will find him.
17 He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly;
for as he is, so is his neighbour also.
18 My son, gather instruction from your youth up.
Even when you have grey hair you will find wisdom.
19 Come to her as one who ploughs and sows
and wait for her good fruit;
for your toil will be little in her cultivation,
and you will soon eat of her fruit.
20 How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned!
He who is without understanding will not remain in her.
21 She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial.
He won’t hesitate to cast her from him.
22 For wisdom is according to her name.
She isn’t manifest to many.
23 Give ear, my son, and accept my judgement.
Don’t refuse my counsel.
24 Bring your feet into her fetters,
and your neck into her chain.
25 Put your shoulder under her and bear her.
Don’t be grieved with her bonds.
26 Come to her with all your soul.
Keep her ways with your whole power.
27 Search and seek, and she will be made known to you.
When you get hold of her, don’t let her go.
28 For at the last you will find her rest;
and she will be turned for you into gladness.
29 Her fetters will be to you for a covering of strength,
and her chains for a robe of glory.
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her,
and her bands are * a purple cord.
31 You shall put her on as a robe of glory,
and shall put her on as a crown of rejoicing.
32 My son, if you are willing, you will be instructed.
If you will yield your soul, you will be prudent.
33 If you love to hear, you will receive.
If you incline your ear, you will be wise.
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders.
Attach yourself to whomever is wise.
35 Be willing to listen to every godly discourse.
Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you.
36 If you see a man of understanding, get to him early.
Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors.
37 Let your mind dwell on the ordinances of the Lord
and meditate continually on his commandments.
He will establish your heart
and your desire for wisdom will be given to you.
7
1 Do no evil,
so no evil will overtake you.
2 Depart from wrong,
and it will turn away from you.
3 My son, don’t sow upon the furrows of unrighteousness,
and you won’t reap them sevenfold.
4 Don’t seek preeminence from the Lord,
nor the seat of honour from the king.
5 Don’t justify yourself in the presence of the Lord,
and don’t display your wisdom before the king.
6 Don’t seek to be a judge,
lest you not be able to take away iniquities,
lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man,
and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness.
7 Don’t sin against the multitude of the city.
Don’t disgrace yourself in the crowd.
8 Don’t commit a sin twice,
for even in one you will not be unpunished.
9 Don’t say, “He will look upon the multitude of my gifts.
When I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”
10 Don’t be faint-hearted in your prayer.
Don’t neglect to give alms.
11 Don’t laugh a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul,
for there is one who humbles and exalts.
12 Don’t devise† a lie against your brother,
or do the same to a friend.
13 Refuse to utter a lie,
for that habit results in no good.
14 Don’t babble in the assembly of elders.
Don’t repeat your words in your prayer.
15 Don’t hate hard labour
or farm work, which the Most High has created.
16 Don’t number yourself amongst the multitude of sinners.
Remember that wrath will not wait.
17 Humble your soul greatly,
for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.
18 Don’t exchange a friend for something,
neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir.
19 Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife,
for her grace is worth more than gold.
20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully,
or a hireling who gives you his life.
21 Let your soul love a wise servant.
Don’t defraud him of liberty.
22 Do you have cattle? Look after them.
If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you.
23 Do you have children? Correct them,
and make them obedient from their youth.
24 Do you have daughters? Take care of their bodies,
and don’t be overly indulgent towards them.
25 Give your daughter in marriage, and you will have accomplished a great matter.
Give her to a man of understanding.
26 Do you have a wife who pleases you? Don’t cast her out.
‡ But don’t trust yourself to one who is hateful.
27 Honour your father with your whole heart,
and don’t forget the birth pangs of your mother.
28 Remember that you were born of them.
What will you repay them for the things that they have done for you?
29 Fear the Lord with all your soul;
and revere his priests.
30 With all your strength love him who made you.
Don’t forsake his ministers.
31 Fear the Lord and honour the priest.
Give him his portion, even as it is commanded you:
the first fruits, the trespass offering, the gift of the shoulders,
the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of holy things.
32 Also stretch out your hand to the poor man,
that your blessing may be complete.
33 A gift has grace in the sight of every living man.
Don’t withhold grace for a dead man.
34 Don’t avoid those who weep,
and mourn with those who mourn.
35 Don’t be slow to visit a sick man,
for by such things you will gain love.
36 In all your words, remember eternity,
and you will never sin.
8
1 Don’t contend with a mighty man,
lest perhaps you fall into his hands.
2 Don’t strive with a rich man, lest perhaps he overpower you;
for gold has destroyed many,
and turned away the hearts of kings.
3 Don’t argue with a loudmouthed man.
Don’t heap wood upon his fire.
4 Don’t make fun of a rude man,
lest your ancestors be dishonoured.
5 Don’t reproach a man when he turns from sin.
Remember that we are all worthy of punishment.
6 Don’t dishonour a man in his old age,
for some of us are also growing old.
7 Don’t rejoice over anyone’s death.
Remember that we all die.
8 Don’t neglect the discourse of the wise.
Be conversant with their proverbs;
for from them you will learn discipline
and how to serve great men.
9 Don’t miss the discourse of the aged,
for they also learnt from their parents,
because from them you will learn understanding,
and to give an answer in time of need.
10 Don’t kindle the coals of a sinner,
lest you be burnt with the flame of his fire.
11 Don’t rise up from the presence of an insolent man,
lest he lie in wait as an ambush for your mouth.
12 Don’t lend to a man who is stronger than you;
and if you lend, count it as a loss.
13 Don’t be surety beyond your means.
If you give surety, think as one who will have to pay.
14 Don’t go to law with a judge;
for according to his honour they will give judgement for him.
15 Don’t travel with a reckless man,
lest he be burdensome to you;
for he will do as he pleases,
and you will perish with his folly.
16 Don’t fight with a wrathful man.
Don’t travel with him through the desert,
for blood is as nothing in his sight.
Where there is no help, he will overthrow you.
17 Don’t consult with a fool,
for he will not be able to keep a secret.
18 Do no secret thing before a stranger,
for you don’t know what it will cause.
19 Don’t open your heart to every man.
Don’t let him return you a favour.
9
1 Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom,
and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself.
2 Don’t give your soul to a woman
and let her trample down your strength.
3 Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute,
lest perhaps you fall into her snares.
4 Don’t associate with a woman who is a singer,
lest perhaps you be caught by her tricks.
5 Don’t gaze at a virgin,
lest perhaps you stumble and incur penalties for her.
6 Don’t give your soul to prostitutes,
that you not lose your inheritance.
7 Don’t look around in the streets of the city.
Don’t wander in its deserted places.
8 Turn your eye away from a beautiful woman,
and don’t gaze at another’s beauty.
Many have been led astray by the beauty of a woman;
and with this, passion is kindled like a fire.
9 Don’t dine at all with a woman who has a husband,
or revel with her at wine,†
lest perhaps your soul turn away to her,
and
