10 For I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, that our forefathers were all under and protected by the cloud [in which God’s Presence went before them], and every one of them passed safely through the [Red] Sea,^(A)

² And each one of them [allowed himself also] to be baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea [they were thus brought under obligation to the Law, to Moses, and to the covenant, consecrated and set apart to the service of God];

³ And all [of them] ate the same spiritual (supernaturally given) food,^(B)

⁴ And they all drank the same spiritual (supernaturally given) drink. For they drank from a spiritual Rock which followed them [produced by the sole power of God Himself without natural instrumentality], and the Rock was Christ.^(C)

⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness.^(D)

⁶ Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did.^(E)

⁷ Do not be worshipers of false gods as some of them were, as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink [the sacrifices offered to the golden calf at Horeb] and rose to sport (to dance and give way to jesting and hilarity).^(F)

⁸ We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did—and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day!^(G)

⁹ We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents;^(H)

¹⁰ Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were ^[a]put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).^(I)

¹¹ Now these things befell them by way of a figure [as an example and warning to us]; they were written to admonish and fit us for right action by good instruction, we in whose days the ages have reached their climax (their consummation and concluding period).

¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is standing firm], take heed lest he fall [into sin].

¹³ For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not ^[b]adjusted and ^[c]adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to ^[d]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

13 A wise son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father’s instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.

² A good man eats good from the fruit of his mouth, but the desire of the treacherous is for violence.

³ He who guards his mouth keeps his life, but he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

⁴ The appetite of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the appetite of the diligent is abundantly supplied.^(A)

⁵ A [consistently] righteous man hates lying and deceit, but a wicked man is loathsome [his very breath spreads pollution] and he comes [surely] to shame.

⁶ Righteousness (rightness and justice in every area and relation) guards him who is upright in the way, but wickedness plunges into sin and overthrows the sinner.

⁷ One man considers himself rich, yet has nothing [to keep permanently]; another man considers himself poor, yet has great [and indestructible] riches.^(B)

⁸ A rich man can buy his way out of threatened death by paying a ransom, but the poor man does not even have to listen to threats [from the envious].

⁹ The light of the [uncompromisingly] righteous [is within him—it grows brighter and] rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked [furnishes only a derived, temporary light and] shall be put out shortly.

¹⁰ By pride and insolence comes only contention, but with the well-advised is skillful and godly Wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth [not earned but] won in haste or unjustly or from the production of things for vain or detrimental use [such riches] will dwindle away, but he who gathers little by little will increase [his riches].

¹² Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

¹³ Whoever despises the word and counsel [of God] brings destruction upon himself, but he who [reverently] fears and respects the commandment [of God] is rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the transgressor is hard [like the barren, dry soil or the impassable swamp].

¹⁶ Every prudent man deals with knowledge, but a [self-confident] fool exposes and flaunts his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into evil, but a faithful ambassador brings healing.

¹⁸ Poverty and shame come to him who refuses instruction and correction, but he who heeds reproof is honored.

¹⁹ Satisfied desire is sweet to a person; therefore it is hateful and exceedingly offensive to [self-confident] fools to give up evil [upon which they have set their hearts].

²⁰ He who walks [as a companion] with wise men is wise, but he who associates with [self-confident] fools is [a fool himself and] shall smart for it.^(C)

²¹ Evil pursues sinners, but the consistently upright and in right standing with God is recompensed with good.

²² A good man leaves an inheritance [of moral stability and goodness] to his children’s children, and the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up.

²³ Much food is in the tilled land of the poor, but there are those who are destroyed because of injustice.

²⁴ He who spares his rod [of discipline] hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines diligently and punishes him early.^(D)

²⁵ The [uncompromisingly] righteous eats to his own satisfaction, but the stomach of the wicked is in want.