day of his prayer he shall be heard.
He that giveth glory to his father shall have length of days; and he
that hearkeneth unto the Lord shall bring rest unto his mother,
And will do service under his parents, as unto masters.
In deed and word honour thy father, that a blessing may come upon thee
from him.
For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but
the curse of the mother rooteth out the foundations.
* * * * *
Glorify not thyself in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father’s
dishonour is no glory unto thee.
For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother
in dishonour is a reproach to her children.
My son, help thy father in his old age; and grieve him not as long as
he liveth.
And if he fail in understanding, have patience with him; and dishonour
him not while thou art in thy full strength.
For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of
sins it shall be added to build thee up.
In the day of thine affliction it shall remember thee; as fair weather
upon ice, so shall thy sins also melt away.
He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that provoketh
his mother is cursed of the Lord.
* * * * *
My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved
of an acceptable man.
The greater thou art, humble thyself the more, and thou shalt find
favour before the Lord.
* * * * *
For great is the potency of the Lord, and he is glorified of them that
are lowly.
Seek not things that are too hard for thee, and search not out things
that are above thy strength.
The things that have been commanded thee, think thereupon; for thou
hast no need of the things that are secret.
Be not over busy in thy superfluous works: for more things are shewed
unto thee than men can understand.
For the conceit of many hath led them astray; and evil surmising hath
caused their judgement to slip.
* * * * *
A stubborn heart shall fare ill at the last; and he that loveth danger
shall perish therein.
A stubborn heart shall be laden with troubles; and the sinner shall
heap sin upon sin.
The calamity of the proud is no healing; for a plant of wickedness hath
taken root in him.
The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and the ear of a
listener is the desire of a wise man.
Water will quench a flaming fire; and almsgiving will make atonement
for sins.
He that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which cometh afterward;
and in the time of his falling he shall find a support.
* * * * *
=4= My son, deprive not the poor of his living, and make not the needy
eyes to wait long.
Make not a hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.
To a heart that is provoked add not more trouble; and defer not to give
to him that is in need.
Reject not a suppliant in his affliction; and turn not away thy face
from a poor man.
Turn not away thine eye from one that asketh of thee, and give none
occasion to a man to curse thee:
For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, he that made him
will hear his supplication.
* * * * *
Get thyself the love of the congregation; and to a great man bow thy
head.
Incline thine ear to a poor man, and answer him with peaceable words in
meekness.
Deliver him that is wronged from the hand of him that wrongeth him; and
be not fainthearted in giving judgement.
Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of a husband unto their
mother: so shalt thou be as a son of the Most High, and he shall love
thee more than thy mother doth.
* * * * *
Wisdom exalteth her sons, and taketh hold of them that seek her.
He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall
be filled with gladness.
He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and where he entereth,
the Lord will bless.
They that do her service shall minister to the Holy One; and them that
love her the Lord doth love.
He that giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations; and he that
giveth heed unto her shall dwell securely.
If he trust her, he shall inherit her; and his generations shall have
her in possession.
For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways, and will bring
fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she
may trust his soul, and try him by her judgements:
Then will she return again the straight way unto him, and will gladden
him, and reveal to him her secrets.
If he go astray, she will forsake him, and give him over to his fall.
* * * * *
Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed
concerning thy soul.
For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame that is
glory and grace.
Accept not the person of any against thy soul; and reverence no man
unto thy falling.
Refrain not speech, when it tendeth to safety; and hide not thy wisdom
for the sake of fair-seeming.
For by speech wisdom shall be known; and instruction by the word of the
tongue.
Speak not against the truth; and be abashed for thine ignorance.
Be not ashamed to make confession of thy sins; and force not the
current of the river.
Lay not thyself down for a fool to tread upon; and accept not the
person of one that is mighty.
Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord God shall fight for thee.
Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
Be not as a lion in thy house, nor fanciful among thy servants.
Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when thou
shouldest repay.
=5= Set not thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, They are sufficient
for me.
Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the desires of
thy heart;
And say not, Who shall have dominion over me? for the Lord will surely
take vengeance on thee.
* * * * *
Say not, I sinned, and what happened unto me? for the Lord is
longsuffering.
Concerning atonement, be not without fear, to add sin upon sins:
And say not, His compassion is great; he will be pacified for the
multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath are with him, and his
indignation will rest upon sinners.
Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord; and put not off from day to day:
for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth; and thou shalt
perish in the time of vengeance.
* * * * *
Set not thine heart upon unrighteous gains: for thou shalt profit
nothing in the day of calamity.
Winnow not with every wind, and walk not in every path: thus doeth the
sinner that hath a double tongue.
Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be one.
Be swift to hear; and with patience make thine answer.
If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; and if not, let thy
hand be upon thy mouth.
Glory and dishonour is in talk: and the tongue of a man is his fall.
Be not called a whisperer; and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for
upon the thief there is shame, and an evil condemnation upon him that
hath a double tongue.
In a great matter and in a small be not ignorant;
=6= And instead of a friend become not an enemy; for an evil name shall
inherit shame and reproach: even so shall the sinner that hath a double
tongue.
* * * * *
Exalt not thyself in the counsel of thy soul; that thy soul be not torn
in pieces as a bull:
Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruits, and leave thyself
as a dry tree.
A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath gotten it, and shall make him
a laughing-stock to his enemies.
* * * * *
Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends; and a fair-speaking tongue
will multiply courtesies.
Let those that are at peace with thee be many; but thy counsellors one
of a thousand.
If thou wouldest get thee a friend, get him by proving, and be not in
haste to trust him.
For there is a friend that is so for his own occasion; and he will not
continue in the day of thy affliction.
And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and he will discover
strife to thy reproach.
And there is a friend that is a companion at the table; and he will not
continue in the day of thy affliction.
And in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy
servants:
If thou shalt be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide
himself from thy face.
Separate thyself from thine enemies; and beware of thy friends.
* * * * *
A faithful friend is a strong defence; and he that hath found him hath
found a treasure.
There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend;
and his excellency is beyond price.
A faithful friend is a medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord
shall find him.
He that feareth the Lord directeth his friendship aright; for as he is,
so is his neighbour also.
* * * * *
My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: and even unto hoar hairs
thou shalt find wisdom.
Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good
fruits; for thy toil shall be little in the tillage of her, and thou
shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
How exceeding harsh is she to the unlearned! and he that is without
understanding will not abide in her.
As a mighty stone of trial shall she rest upon him; and he will not
delay to cast her from him.
For wisdom is according to her name; and she is not manifest unto many.
* * * * *
Give ear, my son, and accept my judgement, and refuse not my counsel,
And bring thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.
Put thy shoulder under her, and bear her, and be not grieved with her
bonds.
Come unto her with all thy soul, and keep her ways with thy whole power.
Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee; and when thou
hast got hold of her, let her not go.
For at the last thou shalt find her rest; and she shall be turned for
thee into gladness.
And her fetters shall be to thee for a covering of strength, and her
chains for a robe of glory.
For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a riband of
blue.
Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and shalt array thee with her
as a crown of rejoicing.
* * * * *
My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be instructed; and if thou wilt yield
thy soul, thou shalt be prudent.
If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive; and if thou incline thine
ear, thou shalt be wise.
Stand thou in the multitude of the elders; and whoso is wise, cleave
thou unto him.
Be willing to listen to every godly discourse; and let not the proverbs
of understanding escape thee.
If thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and
let thy foot wear out the steps of his doors.
Let thy mind dwell upon the ordinances of the Lord, and meditate
continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and
thy desire of wisdom shall be given unto thee.
* * * * *
=7= Do no evil, so shall no evil overtake thee.
Depart from wrong, and it shall turn aside from thee.
My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not
reap them sevenfold.
* * * * *
Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of
honour.
Justify not thyself in the presence of the Lord; and display not thy
wisdom before the king.
Seek not to be a judge, lest thou be not able to take away iniquities;
lest haply thou fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a
stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.
* * * * *
Sin not against the multitude of the city, and cast not thyself down in
the crowd.
Bind not up sin twice; for in one sin thou shalt not be unpunished.
Say not, He will look upon the multitude of my gifts, and when I offer
to the Most High God, he will accept it.
Be not fainthearted in thy prayer; and neglect not to give alms.
Laugh not a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul; for
there is one who humbleth and exalteth.
Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to a friend.
Love not to make any manner of lie; for the custom thereof is not for
good.
Prate not in the multitude of elders; and repeat not thy words in thy
prayer.
* * * * *
Hate not laborious work; neither husbandry, which the Most High hath
ordained.
Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners: remember that wrath
will not tarry.
Humble thy soul greatly; for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire
and the worm.
* * * * *
Change not a friend for a thing indifferent; neither a true brother for
the gold of Ophir.
Forgo not a wise and good wife; for her grace is above gold.
Entreat not evil a servant that worketh truly, nor a hireling that
giveth thee his life.
Let thy soul love a wise servant; defraud him not of liberty.
* * * * *
Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them; and if they are profitable to
thee, let them stay by thee.
Hast thou children? correct them, and bow down their neck from their
youth.
Hast thou daughters? give heed to their body, and make not thy face
cheerful toward them.
Give thy daughter in marriage, and thou shalt have accomplished a great
matter: and give her to a man of understanding.
* * * * *
Hast thou a wife after thy mind? cast her not out: but trust not
thyself to one that is hateful.
Give glory to thy father with thy whole heart; and forget not the pangs
of thy mother.
Remember that of them thou wast born: and what wilt thou recompense
them for the things that they have done for thee?
Fear the Lord with all thy soul; and reverence his priests.
With all thy strength love him that made thee; and forsake not his
ministers.
Fear the Lord, and glorify the priest; and give him his portion, even
as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering,
and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and
the firstfruits of holy things.
* * * * *
Also to the poor man stretch out thy hand, that thy blessing may be
perfected.
A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living, and for a dead man
keep not back grace.
Be not wanting to them that weep; and mourn with them that mourn.
Be not slow to visit a sick man; for by such things thou shalt gain
love.
In all thy matters remember thy last end, and thou shalt never do amiss.
=8= Contend not with a mighty man, lest haply thou fall into his hands.
Strive not with a rich man, lest haply he overweigh thee: for gold hath
destroyed many, and turned aside the hearts of kings.
Contend not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon
his fire.
* * * * *
Jest not with a rude man, lest thine ancestors be dishonoured.
Reproach not a man when he turneth from sin: remember that we are all
worthy of punishment.
Dishonour not a man in his old age; for some of us also are waxing old.
Rejoice not over one that is dead: remember that we die all.
* * * * *
Neglect not the discourse of the wise, and be conversant with their
proverbs; for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to minister
to great men.
Miss not the discourse of the aged; for they also learned of their
fathers: because from them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give
answer in time of need.
* * * * *
Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burned with the flame of
his fire.
Rise not up from the presence of an insolent man, lest he lie in wait
as an ambush for thy mouth.
Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself; and if thou lend, be
as one that hath lost.
Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, take thought as
one that will have to pay.
* * * * *
Go not to law with a judge; for according to his honour will they give
judgement for him.
Go not in the way with a rash man, lest he be aggrieved with thee; for
he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with his
folly.
Fight not with a wrathful man, and travel not with him through the
desert; for blood is as nothing in his sight; and where there is no
help, he will overthrow thee.
Take not counsel with a fool; for he will not be able to conceal the
matter.
Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will
bring forth.
Open not thine heart to every man; and let him not return thee a favour.
* * * * *
=9= Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an
evil lesson against thyself.
Give not thy soul unto a woman, that she should set her foot upon thy
strength.
Go not to meet a woman that playeth the harlot, lest haply thou fall
into her snares.
Use not the company of a woman that is a singer, lest haply thou be
caught by her attempts.
Gaze not on a maid, less haply thou be trapped in her penalties.
Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine inheritance.
Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander
thou in the solitary places thereof.
Turn away thine eye from a comely woman, and gaze not on another’s
beauty: by the beauty of a woman many have been led astray; and
herewith love is kindled as a fire.
Sit not at all with a woman that hath a husband; and revel not with
her at the wine; lest haply thy soul turn aside unto her, and with thy
spirit thou slide into destruction.
* * * * *
Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him; as new
wine, so is a new friend; if it become old, thou shalt drink it with
gladness.
* * * * *
Envy not the glory of a sinner; for thou knowest not what shall be his
overthrow.
Delight not in the delights of the ungodly: remember they shall not go
unpunished unto the grave.
* * * * *
Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill, and thou shalt have
no suspicion of the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, commit no
fault, lest he take away thy life: know surely that thou goest about in
midst of snares, and walkest upon the battlements of a city.
* * * * *
As well as thou canst, guess at thy neighbours; and take counsel with
the wise.
Let thy converse be with men of understanding; and let all thy
discourse be in the law of the Most High.
Let just men be the companions of thy board; and let thy glorying be in
the fear of the Lord.
* * * * *
For the hand of the artificers a work shall be commended: and he that
ruleth the people shall be counted wise for his speech.
A man full of tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is headlong
in his speech shall be hated.
* * * * *
=10= A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a man
of understanding shall be well ordered.
As is the judge of his people, so are his ministers; and as is the
ruler of the city, such are all they that dwell therein.
An uninstructed king will destroy his people; and a city will be
established through the understanding of the powerful.
In the hand of the Lord is the authority of the earth; and in due time
he will raise up over it one that is profitable.
In the hand of the Lord is the prosperity of a man; and upon the person
of the scribe shall he lay his honour.
* * * * *
Be not wroth with thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing by
works of violence.
Pride is hateful before the Lord and before men; and in the judgement
of both will unrighteousness err.
Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation, because of
iniquities, and deeds of violence, and greed of money.
Why is earth and ashes proud? because in his life he hath cast away his
bowels.
It is a long disease; the physician mocketh: and he is a king to-day,
and to-morrow he shall die.
For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, and beasts,
and worms.
It is the beginning of pride when a man departeth from the Lord; and
his heart is departed from him that made him.
For the beginning of pride is sin; and he that keepeth it will pour
forth abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange
calamities, and overthrew them utterly.
The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers, and set the meek in their
stead.
The Lord plucked up the roots of nations, and planted the lowly in
their stead.
The Lord overthrew the lands of nations, and destroyed them unto the
foundations of the earth.
He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and made their memorial
to cease from the earth.
Pride hath not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the
offspring of women.
* * * * *
What manner of seed hath honour? the seed of man. What manner of seed
hath honour? they that fear the Lord. What manner of seed hath no
honour? the seed of man. What manner of seed hath no honour? they that
transgress the commandments.
In the midst of brethren he that ruleth them hath honour; and in the
eyes of the Lord they that fear him.
The rich man, and the honourable, and the poor, their glorying is the
fear of the Lord.
It is not right to dishonour a poor man that hath understanding; and it
is not fitting to glorify a man that is a sinner.
The great man, and the judge, and the mighty man, shall be glorified;
and there is not one of them greater than he that feareth the Lord.
Free men shall minister unto a wise servant; and a man that hath
knowledge will not murmur thereat.
* * * * *
Be not over wise in doing thy work; and glorify not thyself in the time
of thy distress.
Better is he that laboureth, and aboundeth in all things, than he that
glorifieth himself, and lacketh bread.
My son, glorify thy soul in meekness, and give it honour according to
the worthiness thereof.
Who will justify him that sinneth against his own soul? and who will
glorify him that dishonoureth his own life?
* * * * *
A poor man is glorified for his knowledge; and a rich man is glorified
for his riches.
But he that is glorified in poverty, how much more in riches? and he
that is inglorious in riches, how much more in poverty?
* * * * *
=11= The wisdom of the lowly shall lift up his head, and make him to
sit in the midst of great men.
Commend not a man for his beauty; and abhor not a man for his outward
appearance.
The bee is little among such as fly; and her fruit is the chief of
sweetmeats.
Glory not in the putting on of raiment, and exalt not thyself in the
day of honour; for the works of the Lord are wonderful, and his works
are hidden among men.
Many kings have sat down upon the ground; and one that was never
thought of hath worn a diadem.
Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced; and men of renown have
been delivered into other men’s hands.
* * * * *
Blame not before thou hast examined: understand first, and then rebuke.
Answer not before thou hast heard; and interrupt not in the midst of
speech.
Strive not in a matter that concerneth thee not; and where sinners
judge, sit not thou with them.
* * * * *
My son, be not busy about many matters: for if thou meddle much, thou
shalt not be unpunished; and if thou pursue, thou shalt not overtake;
and thou shalt not escape by fleeing.
There is one that toileth, and laboureth, and maketh haste, and is so
much the more behind.
There is one that is sluggish, and hath need of help, lacking in
strength, and that aboundeth in poverty; and the eyes of the Lord
looked upon him for good, and he set him up from his low estate,
And lifted up his head; and many marvelled at him.
* * * * *
Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the
Lord.
The gift of the Lord remaineth with the godly, and his good pleasure
shall prosper for ever.
There is that waxeth rich by his wariness and pinching, and this is the
portion of his reward:
When he saith, I have found rest, and now will I eat of my goods; yet
he knoweth not what time shall pass, and he shall leave them to others,
and die.
Be stedfast in thy covenant, and be conversant therein, and wax old in
thy work.
* * * * *
Marvel not at the works of a sinner; but trust the Lord, and abide in
thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord swiftly on
the sudden to make a poor man rich.
The blessing of the Lord is in the reward of the godly; and in an hour
that cometh swiftly he maketh his blessing to flourish.
Say not, What use is there of me? and what from henceforth shall my
good things be?
Say not, I have sufficient, and from henceforth what harm shall happen
unto me?
In the day of good things there is a forgetfulness of evil things; and
in the day of evil things a man will not remember things that are good.
For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to reward a man in the
day of death according to his ways.
The affliction of an hour causeth forgetfulness of delight; and in the
last end of a man is the revelation of his deeds.
Call no man blessed before his death; and a man shall be known in his
children.
* * * * *
Bring not every man into thine house; for many are the plots of the
deceitful man.
As a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man; and as
one that is a spy, he looketh upon thy falling.
For he lieth in wait to turn things that are good into evil; and in
things that are praiseworthy he will lay blame.
From a spark of fire a heap of many coals is kindled; and a sinful man
lieth in wait for blood.
Take heed of an evil-doer, for he contriveth wicked things; lest haply
he bring upon thee blame for ever.
Receive a stranger into thine house, and he will distract thee with
brawls, and estrange thee from thine own.
* * * * *
=13= He that toucheth pitch shall be defiled; and he that hath
fellowship with a proud man shall become like unto him.