²⁰ And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous.

²¹ I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know.

²² And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord.

²³ And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked?

²⁴ If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein?

²⁵ Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this judgment.

²⁶ And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.

²⁷ And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes.

²⁸ What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty.

²⁹ And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty.

³⁰ Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

³¹ Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.

³² I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.

³³ And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place.

¹⁷ The path of the just departeth from evils: he that keepeth his soul keepeth his way.

¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction: and the spirit is lifted up before a fall.

¹⁹ It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the proud.

²⁰ The learned in word shall find good things: and he that trusteth in the Lord is blessed.

²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and he that is sweet in words shall attain to greater things.

²² Knowledge is a fountain of life to him that possesseth it: the instruction of fools is foolishness.

²³ The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth: and shall add grace to his lips.

²⁴ Well ordered words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way that seemeth to a man right: and the ends thereof lead to death.

²⁶ The soul of him that laboureth, laboureth for himself, because his mouth hath obliged him to it.

²⁷ The wicked man diggeth evil, and in his lips is a burning fire.

²⁸ A perverse man stirreth up quarrels: and one full of words separateth princes.

²⁹ An unjust man allureth his friend: and leadeth him into a way that is not good.

³⁰ He that with fixed eyes deviseth wicked things, biting his lips, bringeth: evil to pass.

³¹ Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice.

³² The patient man is better than the valiant: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities.

³³ Lots are cast into the lap, but they are disposed of by the Lord.

17 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

² A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.

³ As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.

⁴ The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

⁵ He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.

⁶ Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

⁸ The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

⁹ He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

¹⁰ A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

¹¹ An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

¹² It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

¹³ He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

¹⁶ What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

¹⁷ He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.