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[1] Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:
[2] Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.
[3] By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.
[4] By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.
[5] A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.
[6] Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.
[7] Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.
[8] He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.
[9] The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.
[10] If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.
[11] Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.
[12] If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, end he shall render to a man according to his works.
[13] Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:
[14] So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.
[15] Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.
[16] For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.
[17] When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:
[18] Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.
[19] Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:
[20] For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.
[21] My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.
[22] For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?
[23] These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.
[24] They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.
[25] They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.
[26] He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.
[27] Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.
[28] Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.
[29] Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.
[30] I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:
[31] And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.
[32] Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.
[33] Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:
[34] And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.
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