DO not plot harm against your neighbour who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse a man for no reason when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways, for the Lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the house or home of the righteous. He mocks, proud mockers, but He gives grace to the humble. The wise inherits honour.
Wisdom is supreme, therefore, get wisdom. Though, it costs all you have get understanding. Go to the ant, you sluggard, consider its ways and be wise. It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hand to rest and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.
A scoundrel and villain, who goes about with a corrupt mouth, who winks with his eye, signals with his feet and motions with his fingers. Who plots evil with deceit in his heart, he always stirs up dissension.
Therefore, disaster will overtake him in an instant; He will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched. He who winks maliciously causes grief and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs. Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgement. Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin and the mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom.
If a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house. A man of knowledge uses words with strains and a man of understanding is even-tempered. Even a fool is though wise, if he keeps silent and discerning, if he holds his tongue.
A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great and everyone is the friend of the man. Humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honour and life. A generous man will himself be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.
Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.
Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers.
Buy the truth and do not sell it, get wisdom, discipline and understanding. The father of a righteous man has great joy.
By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power and a man of knowledge increases strength, for waging war, you need guidance and for victory many advisers.
Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly. In the end, it bites like snake and poison like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagines confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. “They bit me,” you will say, but I am not hurt. They beat me, but I don’t feel it. When will I wake-up so, I can find another drink”.
A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.
When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice. When the weaked rule, the people groan. A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father.
If a ruler listens to lies, all his officials become wicked. And angry man stirs up dissensions and a hot-tempered one commits many sin. Do you see a man who speaks in haste, there is more hope for a fool than for him. A man’s pride brings him low but a man of lowly spirit gains honour.
Four things on earth are small, yet they are extremely wise. Ants are creatures of little strength, yet, they store up their food in the summer. Conies are creatures of little power, yet, they make their home in the crags. Locust have no king, yet, they advance together in ranks, a lizard can be caught with the hand, yet it is found in kings palaces.
For as churning milk produces butter and as twisting the nose produces blood, so stirring up anger produces strife.
Without wood a fire goes, without gossip a quarrel dies down. As charcoal to embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels, they go down to a man’s inner most parts. Like a coating of glaze over earthen ware are fervent lips with evil heart. A malicious man disguises himself with his lips but, in his heart, he harbours deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him.
If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it, if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him. A lying tongue hates those it hurts and a flattering mouth works ruin.
Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both.
Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? Better is open rebuke than hidden love.
Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you, better a neighbour nearby, than, a brother far away.
Death and destruction are never satisfied and neither are the eyes of man.
As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. As water reflects a face, so a man’s heart, reflects a man. The crucible for silver land the furnace for gold but man is tested by the praise he receives.
As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife.
Do not move ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their defender is strong, he will take up their case against you.
He who sows wickedness reaps trouble and the rod of his fury will be destroyed. A generous man will himself be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor. Drive out the mocker and out goes strife, quarrels and insults are ended.
A wise king winnows out the wicked, he drives the threshing wheel over them. It is a trap for a man to dedicate something rashly and only later to consider his vows. Love and faithfulness keep a king safe, through love his throne is made secure.
The glory of young men, is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old.
Blessed is the woman who finds wisdom, the woman who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Peace and joy.
