²⁷ Can a man scoop fire into his lap
    without his clothes being burned?
²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals
    without his feet being scorched?
²⁹ So is he who sleeps^(A) with another man’s wife;^(B)
    no one who touches her will go unpunished.

³⁰ People do not despise a thief if he steals
    to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.
³¹ Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,^(C)
    though it costs him all the wealth of his house.
³² But a man who commits adultery^(D) has no sense;^(E)
    whoever does so destroys himself.
³³ Blows and disgrace are his lot,
    and his shame will never^(F) be wiped away.

³⁴ For jealousy^(G) arouses a husband’s fury,^(H)
    and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.
³⁵ He will not accept any compensation;
    he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.^(I)

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
    I possess knowledge and discretion.^(E)
13 To fear the Lord^(F) is to hate evil;^(G)
    I hate^(H) pride and arrogance,
    evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
    I have insight, I have power.^(I)
15 By me kings reign
    and rulers^(J) issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,^(K)
    and nobles—all who rule on earth.^[a]
17 I love those who love me,^(L)
    and those who seek me find me.^(M)
18 With me are riches and honor,^(N)
    enduring wealth and prosperity.^(O)
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;^(P)
    what I yield surpasses choice silver.^(Q)
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,^(R)
    along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
    and making their treasuries full.^(S)

²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,^[b][c]
    before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

²⁶ before he made the world or its fields
    or any of the dust of the earth.^(A)

²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,^(A)
    when he marked out the horizon^(B) on the face of the deep,