5 My son, attend unto my wisdom and bow thine ear to my understanding,

² that thou mayest have regard for discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

³ For the lips of a strange woman drip as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil;

⁴ but her end is as bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

⁶ Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are wandering, that thou canst not know them.

⁷ Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

⁸ Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house,

⁹ lest thou give thine honor unto others, and thy years unto the cruel,

¹⁰ lest strangers be filled with thy wealth and thy labors be in the house of a stranger,

¹¹ and thou mourn at the last when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

¹² and thou sayest, “How have I hated instruction and my heart despised reproof;

¹³ and have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

¹⁴ I was almost in total evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.”

¹⁵ Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

¹⁶ Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

¹⁷ Let them be only thine own, and not for strangers with thee.

¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed, and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

¹⁹ Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times, and be thou ravished always with her love.

²⁰ And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

²¹ For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his doings.

²² His own iniquities shall entrap the wicked himself, and he shall be held by the cords of his sins.

²³ He shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly shall he go astray.

16 The preparation of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

² All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weigheth his spirit.

³ Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

⁴ The Lord hath made all things for Himself, yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.

⁵ Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though they join hands, they shall not go unpunished.

⁶ By mercy and truth iniquity is purged, and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

⁷ When man’s ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better is a little with righteousness, than great revenues without righteousness.

⁹ A man’s heart deviseth his way, but the Lord directeth his steps.

¹⁰ A divine sentence is in the lips of the king; his mouth transgresseth not in judgment.

¹¹ A just weight and balance are the Lord’S; all the weights of the bag are His work.

¹² It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is established by righteousness.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of kings, and they love him that speaketh right.

¹⁴ The wrath of a king is as a messenger of death, but a wise man will pacify it.

¹⁵ In the light of the king’s countenance there is life, and his favor is as a cloud of latter rain.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is rather to be chosen than silver!

¹⁷ The highway of the upright is to depart from evil; he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.

¹⁸ Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

¹⁹ Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

²⁰ He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good, and whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he.

²¹ The wise in heart shall be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.

²² Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it, but the instruction of fools is folly.

²³ The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are as a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and health to the bones.

²⁵ There are ways which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

²⁶ He that laboreth, laboreth for himself, for his mouth craveth it of him.

²⁷ A froward man diggeth up evil, and on his lips there is a burning fire.

²⁸ A froward man soweth strife, and a whisperer separateth closest friends.

²⁹ A violent man enticeth his neighbor and leadeth him into the way that is not good.

³⁰ He shutteth his eyes to devise froward things; moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.

³¹ The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.

³² He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

³³ The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.

17 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith than a house full of feasting with strife.

² A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

³ The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord trieth the hearts.

⁴ A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips, and a liar giveth ear to a wicked tongue.

⁵ Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker, and he that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.

⁶ Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children are their fathers.

⁷ Excellent speech becometh not a fool, much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸ A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹ He that covereth a transgression seeketh love, but he that repeateth a matter separateth good friends.

¹⁰ A reproof entereth deeper into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.

¹¹ An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

¹² Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³ Whoso returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like the letting out of water: therefore break off contention before it is meddled with.

¹⁵ He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just, both alike are an abomination to the Lord.

¹⁶ Why should there be in the hands of a fool the price to purchase wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to acquire it?

¹⁷ A friend is loving at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man void of understanding shaketh hands in pledge, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

¹⁹ He loveth transgression that loveth strife, and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰ He that hath a froward heart findeth no good, and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into iniquity.

²¹ He that begetteth a fool doeth so to his sorrow, and the father of a fool hath no joy.

²² A merry heart doeth good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

²³ A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

²⁴ Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

²⁶ Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for their equity.

²⁷ He that hath knowledge spareth his words, and a man of understanding is of excelling spirit.

²⁸ Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise, and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

18 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

² A fool hath no delight in understanding, unless his heart may discover itself.

³ When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt; and with ignominy, reproach.

⁴ The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

⁵ It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

⁶ A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for blows.

⁷ A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

⁸ The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

⁹ He that is slothful in his work is a brother to him that is a great waster.

¹⁰ The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runneth into it and is safe.

¹¹ The rich man’s wealth is his stronghold, and as a high wall in his own conceit.

¹² Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, and before honor is humility.

¹³ He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

¹⁴ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit, who can bear?

¹⁵ The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge, and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

¹⁶ A man’s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men.

¹⁷ He that first states his own cause seemeth just, but then his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.

¹⁸ Casting lots causeth contentions to cease, and parteth the strife of the mighty.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to be won back than a stronghold city, and his contentions are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the harvest of his lips shall he be filled.

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

²² Whosoever findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth the favor of the Lord.

²³ The poor useth entreaties, but the rich answereth roughly.

²⁴ A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

19 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool.

² Even as a soul without knowledge is not good, so he that maketh haste with his feet sinneth.

³ The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and his heart fretteth against the Lord.

⁴ Wealth maketh many friends, but the poor is separated from his neighbor.

⁵ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.

⁶ Many will entreat the favor of the prince, and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.

⁷ All the brethren of the poor hate him—how much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth them with words, yet they are not forthcoming to him.

⁸ He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul; he that keepeth understanding shall find good.

⁹ A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

¹⁰ Delight is not seemly for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.

¹¹ The discretion of a man deferreth his anger, and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.

¹² The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion, but his favor is as dew upon the grass.

¹³ A foolish son is the calamity of his father, and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.

¹⁴ House and riches are the inheritance from fathers, and a prudent wife is from the Lord.

¹⁵ Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep, and an idle soul shall suffer hunger.

¹⁶ He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul, but he that despiseth His ways shall die.

¹⁷ He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given, He will repay him again.

¹⁸ Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare him for his crying.

¹⁹ A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment; for if thou rescue him, yet thou must do it again.

²⁰ Hear counsel and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.

²¹ There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.

²² What is desired of a man is his kindness, and a poor man is better than a liar.

²³ The fear of the Lord tendeth to life, and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

²⁴ A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

²⁵ Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware; reprove one that hath understanding, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶ He that afflicteth his father and chaseth away his mother is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach.

²⁷ Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth thee to err from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ An ungodly witness scorneth judgment, and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.