Sirach

¹All wisdom comes from the Lord, and is with him forever. ²Who can count the sand of the seas, the drops of rain, and the days of eternity? ³Who will search out the height of the sky, the breadth of the earth, the deep, and wisdom? ⁴Wisdom has been created before all things, and the understanding of prudence from everlasting. ⁶To whom has the root of wisdom been revealed? Who has known her shrewd counsels? ⁸There is one wise, greatly to be feared, sitting upon his throne: the Lord. ⁹He created her. He saw and measured her. He poured her out upon all his works. ¹⁰She is with all flesh according to his gift. He gave her freely to those who love him. ¹¹The fear of the Lord is glory, exultation, gladness, and a crown of rejoicing. ¹²The fear of the Lord will delight the heart, and will give gladness, joy, and length of days. ¹³Whoever fears the Lord, it will go well with him at the last. He will be blessed in the day of his death. ¹⁴To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. It was created together with the faithful in the womb. ¹⁵She laid an eternal foundation with men. She will be trusted among their offspring. ¹⁶To fear the Lord is the fullness of wisdom. She inebriates men with her fruits. ¹⁷She will fill all her house with desirable things, and her storehouses with her produce. ¹⁸The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish. ¹⁹He both saw and measured her. He rained down skill and knowledge of understanding, and exalted the honor of those who hold her fast. ²⁰To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom. Her branches are length of days. ²²Unjust wrath can never be justified, for his wrath tips the scale to his downfall. ²³A man that is patient will resist for a season, and afterward gladness will spring up to him. ²⁴He will hide his words until the right moment, and the lips of many will tell of his understanding. ²⁵A wise saying is in the treasures of wisdom; but godliness is an abomination to a sinner. ²⁶If you desire wisdom, keep the commandments and the Lord will give her to you freely; ²⁷for the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction. Faith and humility are his good pleasure. ²⁸Don’t disobey the fear of the Lord. Don’t come to him with a double heart. ²⁹Don’t be a hypocrite in men’s sight. Keep watch over your lips. ³⁰Don’t exalt yourself, lest you fall and bring dishonor upon your soul. The Lord will reveal your secrets and will cast you down in the midst of the congregation, because you didn’t come to the fear of the Lord and your heart was full of deceit.

¹My son, if you come to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation. ²Set your heart aright, constantly endure, and don’t make haste in time of calamity. ³Cling to him, and don’t depart, that you may be increased at your latter end. ⁴Accept whatever is brought upon you, and be patient when you suffer humiliation. ⁵For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. ⁶Put your trust in him, and he will help you. Make your ways straight, and set your hope on him. ⁷All you who fear the Lord, wait for his mercy. Don’t turn aside, lest you fall. ⁸All you who fear the Lord, put your trust in him, and your reward will not fail. ⁹All you who fear the Lord, hope for good things, and for eternal gladness and mercy. ¹⁰Look at the generations of old, and see: Who ever put his trust in the Lord, and was ashamed? Or who remained in his fear, and was forsaken? Or who called upon him, and he neglected him? ¹¹For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. He forgives sins and saves in time of affliction. ¹²Woe to fearful hearts, to faint hands, and to the sinner who goes two ways! ¹³Woe to the faint heart! For it doesn’t believe. Therefore it won’t be defended. ¹⁴Woe to you who have lost your patience! And what will you all do when the Lord visits you? ¹⁵Those who fear the Lord will not disobey his words. Those who love him will keep his ways. ¹⁶Those who fear the Lord will seek his good pleasure. Those who love him will be filled with the law. ¹⁷Those who fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will humble their souls in his sight. ¹⁸We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men; for as his majesty is, so also is his mercy.

¹Hear me, your father, O my children, and do what you hear, that you all may be safe. ²For the Lord honors the father over the children, and has confirmed the judgment of the mother over her sons. ³He who honors his father will make atonement for sins. ⁴He who gives glory to his mother is as one who lays up treasure. ⁵Whoever honors his father will have joy in his own children. He will be heard in the day of his prayer. ⁶He who gives glory to his father will have length of days. He who listens to the Lord will bring rest to his mother, ⁷and will serve under his parents, as to masters. ⁸Honor your father in deed and word, that a blessing may come upon you from him. ⁹For the blessing of the father establishes the houses of children, but the curse of the mother roots out the foundations. ¹⁰Don’t glorify yourself in the dishonor of your father, for your father’s dishonor is no glory to you. ¹¹For the glory of a man is from the honor of his father, and a mother in dishonor is a reproach to her children. ¹²My son, help your father in his old age, and don’t grieve him as long as he lives. ¹³If he fails in understanding, have patience with him. Don’t dishonor him in your full strength. ¹⁴For the kindness to your father will not be forgotten. Instead of sins it will be added to build you up. ¹⁵In the day of your affliction it will be remembered for you, as fair weather upon ice, so your sins will also melt away. ¹⁶He who forsakes his father is as a blasphemer. He who provokes his mother is cursed by the Lord. ¹⁷My son, go on with your business in humility; so you will be loved by an acceptable man. ¹⁸The greater you are, humble yourself the more, and you will find favor before the Lord. ²⁰For the power of the Lord is great, and he is glorified by those who are lowly. ²¹Don’t seek things that are too hard for you, and don’t search out things that are above your strength. ²²Think about the things that have been commanded you, for you have no need of the things that are secret. ²³Don’t be overly busy in tasks that are beyond you, for more things are shown to you than men can understand. ²⁴For the conceit of many has led them astray. Evil opinion has caused their judgment to slip. ²⁵There is no light without eyes. There is no wisdom without knowledge. ²⁶A stubborn heart will do badly at the end. He who loves danger will perish in it. ²⁷A stubborn heart will be burdened with troubles. The sinner will heap sin upon sins. ²⁸The calamity of the proud has no healing, for a weed of wickedness has taken root in him. ²⁹The heart of the prudent will understand a proverb. A wise man desires the ear of a listener. ³⁰Water will quench a flaming fire; almsgiving will make atonement for sins. ³¹He who repays good turns is mindful of that which comes afterward. In the time of his falling he will find a support.

¹My son, don’t deprive the poor of his living. Don’t make the needy eyes wait long. ²Don’t make a hungry soul sorrowful, or provoke a man in his distress. ³Don’t add more trouble to a heart that is provoked. Don’t put off giving to him who is in need. ⁴Don’t reject a suppliant in his affliction. Don’t turn your face away from a poor man. ⁵Don’t turn your eye away from one who asks. Give no occasion to a man to curse you. ⁶For if he curses you in the bitterness of his soul, he who made him will hear his supplication. ⁷Endear yourself to the assembly. Bow your head to a great man. ⁸Incline your ear to a poor man. Answer him with peaceful words in humility. ⁹Deliver him who is wronged from the hand of him who wrongs him; Don’t be hesitant in giving judgment. ¹⁰Be as a father to the fatherless, and like a husband to their mother. So you will be as a son of the Most High, and he will love you more than your mother does. ¹¹Wisdom exalts her sons, and takes hold of those who seek her. ¹²He who loves her loves life. Those who seek her early will be filled with gladness. ¹³He who holds her fast will inherit glory. Where he enters, the Lord will bless. ¹⁴Those who serve her minister to the Holy One. The Lord loves those who love her. ¹⁵He who listens to her will judge the nations. He who heeds her will dwell securely. ¹⁶If he trusts her, he will inherit her, and his generations will possess her. ¹⁷For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways, and will bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgments. ¹⁸Then she will return him again to the straight way, and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets. ¹⁹If he goes astray, she will forsake him, and hand him over to his fall. ²⁰Watch for the opportunity, and beware of evil. Don’t be ashamed of your soul. ²¹For there is a shame that brings sin, and there is a shame that is glory and grace. ²²Don’t show partiality, discrediting your soul. Don’t revere any man to your falling. ²³Don’t refrain from speaking when it is for safety. Don’t hide your wisdom for the sake of seeming fair. ²⁴For wisdom will be known by speech, and instruction by the word of the tongue. ²⁵Don’t speak against the truth and be shamed for your ignorance. ²⁶Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins. Don’t fight the river’s current. ²⁷Don’t lay yourself down for a fool to tread upon. Don’t be partial to one who is mighty. ²⁸Strive for the truth to death, and the Lord God will fight for you. ²⁹Don’t be hasty with your tongue, or slack and negligent in your deeds. ³⁰Don’t be like a lion in your house, or suspicious of your servants. ³¹Don’t let your hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when you should repay.

¹Don’t set your heart upon your goods. Don’t say, “They are sufficient for me.” ²Don’t follow your own mind and your strength to walk in the desires of your heart. ³Don’t say, “Who will have dominion over me?” for the Lord will surely take vengeance on you. ⁴Don’t say, “I sinned, and what happened to me?” for the Lord is patient. ⁵Don’t be so confident of atonement that you add sin upon sins. ⁶Don’t say, “His compassion is great. He will be pacified for the multitude of my sins,” for mercy and wrath are with him, and his indignation will rest on sinners. ⁷Don’t wait to turn to the Lord. Don’t put off from day to day; for suddenly the wrath of the Lord will come on you, and you will perish in the time of vengeance. ⁸Don’t set your heart upon unrighteous gains, for you will profit nothing in the day of calamity. ⁹Don’t winnow with every wind. Don’t walk in every path. This is what the sinner who has a double tongue does. ¹⁰Be steadfast in your understanding. Let your speech be consistent. ¹¹Be swift to hear and answer with patience. ¹²If you have understanding, answer your neighbor; but if not, put your hand over your mouth. ¹³Glory and dishonor is in talk. A man’s tongue may be his downfall. ¹⁴Don’t be called a whisperer. Don’t lie in wait with your tongue; for shame is on the thief, and an evil condemnation is on him who has a double tongue. ¹⁵Don’t be ignorant in a great or small matter.

¹Don’t become an enemy instead of a friend; for an evil name will inherit shame and reproach. So it is with the sinner who has a double tongue. ²Don’t exalt yourself in the counsel of your soul, that your soul not be torn in pieces like a bull. ³You will eat up your leaves, destroy your fruit, and leave yourself like a dry tree. ⁴A wicked soul will destroy him who has it, and will make him a laughing stock to his enemies. ⁵Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends. A gracious tongue will multiply courtesies. ⁶Let those that are at peace with you be many, but your advisers one of a thousand. ⁷If you want to gain a friend, get him in a time of testing, and don’t be in a hurry to trust him. ⁸For there is a friend just for an occasion. He won’t continue in the day of your affliction. ⁹And there is a friend who turns into an enemy. He will discover strife to your reproach. ¹⁰And there is a friend who is a companion at the table, but he won’t continue in the day of your affliction. ¹¹In your prosperity he will be as yourself, and will be bold over your servants. ¹²If you are brought low, he will be against you, and will hide himself from your face. ¹³Separate yourself from your enemies, and beware of your friends. ¹⁴A faithful friend is a strong defense. He who has found him has found a treasure. ¹⁵There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend. His excellency is beyond price. ¹⁶A faithful friend is a life-saving medicine. Those who fear the Lord will find him. ¹⁷He who fears the Lord directs his friendship properly; for as he is, so is his neighbor also. ¹⁸My son, gather instruction from your youth up. Even when you have gray hair you will find wisdom. ¹⁹Come to her as one who plows and sows and wait for her good fruit; for your toil will be little in her cultivation, and you will soon eat of her fruit. ²⁰How exceedingly harsh she is to the unlearned! He who is without understanding will not remain in her. ²¹She will rest upon him as a mighty stone of trial. He won’t hesitate to cast her from him. ²²For wisdom is according to her name. She isn’t manifest to many. ²³Give ear, my son, and accept my judgment. Don’t refuse my counsel. ²⁴Bring your feet into her fetters, and your neck into her chain. ²⁵Put your shoulder under her and bear her. Don’t be grieved with her bonds. ²⁶Come to her with all your soul. Keep her ways with your whole power. ²⁷Search and seek, and she will be made known to you. When you get hold of her, don’t let her go. ²⁸For at the last you will find her rest; and she will be turned for you into gladness. ²⁹Her fetters will be to you for a covering of strength, and her chains for a robe of glory. ³⁰For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a purple cord. ³¹You shall put her on as a robe of glory, and shall put her on as a crown of rejoicing. ³²My son, if you are willing, you will be instructed. If you will yield your soul, you will be prudent. ³³If you love to hear, you will receive. If you incline your ear, you will be wise. ³⁴Stand in the multitude of the elders. Attach yourself to whomever is wise. ³⁵Be willing to listen to every godly discourse. Don’t let the proverbs of understanding escape you. ³⁶If you see a man of understanding, get to him early. Let your foot wear out the steps of his doors. ³⁷Let your mind dwell on the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually on his commandments. He will establish your heart and your desire for wisdom will be given to you.

¹Do no evil, so no evil will overtake you. ²Depart from wrong, and it will turn away from you. ³My son, don’t sow upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and you won’t reap them sevenfold. ⁴Don’t seek preeminence from the Lord, nor the seat of honor from the king. ⁵Don’t justify yourself in the presence of the Lord, and don’t display your wisdom before the king. ⁶Don’t seek to be a judge, lest you not be able to take away iniquities, lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness. ⁷Don’t sin against the multitude of the city. Don’t disgrace yourself in the crowd. ⁸Don’t commit a sin twice, for even in one you will not be unpunished. ⁹Don’t say, “He will look upon the multitude of my gifts. When I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.” ¹⁰Don’t be faint-hearted in your prayer. Don’t neglect to give alms. ¹¹Don’t laugh a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul, for there is one who humbles and exalts. ¹²Don’t devise a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend. ¹³Refuse to utter a lie, for that habit results in no good. ¹⁴Don’t babble in the assembly of elders. Don’t repeat your words in your prayer. ¹⁵Don’t hate hard labor or farm work, which the Most High has created. ¹⁶Don’t number yourself among the multitude of sinners. Remember that wrath will not wait. ¹⁷Humble your soul greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm. ¹⁸Don’t exchange a friend for something, neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir. ¹⁹Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold. ²⁰Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hireling who gives you his life. ²¹Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of liberty. ²²Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you. ²³Do you have children? Correct them, and make them obedient from their youth. ²⁴Do you have daughters? Take care of their bodies, and don’t be overly indulgent toward them. ²⁵Give your daughter in marriage, and you will have accomplished a great matter. Give her to a man of understanding. ²⁶Do you have a wife who pleases you? Don’t cast her out. But don’t trust yourself to one who is hateful. ²⁷Honor your father with your whole heart, and don’t forget the birth pangs of your mother. ²⁸Remember that you were born of them. What will you repay them for the things that they have done for you? ²⁹Fear the Lord with all your soul; and revere his priests. ³⁰With all your strength love him who made you. Don’t forsake his ministers. ³¹Fear the Lord and honor the priest. Give him his portion, even as it is commanded you: the first fruits, the trespass offering, the gift of the shoulders, the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of holy things. ³²Also stretch out your hand to the poor man, that your blessing may be complete. ³³A gift has grace in the sight of every living man. Don’t withhold grace for a dead man. ³⁴Don’t avoid those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn. ³⁵Don’t be slow to visit a sick man, for by such things you will gain love. ³⁶In all your words, remember eternity, and you will never sin.

¹Don’t contend with a mighty man, lest perhaps you fall into his hands. ²Don’t strive with a rich man, lest perhaps he overpower you; for gold has destroyed many, and turned away the hearts of kings. ³Don’t argue with a loudmouthed man. Don’t heap wood upon his fire. ⁴Don’t make fun of a rude man, lest your ancestors be dishonored. ⁵Don’t reproach a man when he turns from sin. Remember that we are all worthy of punishment. ⁶Don’t dishonor a man in his old age, for some of us are also growing old. ⁷Don’t rejoice over anyone’s death. Remember that we all die. ⁸Don’t neglect the discourse of the wise. Be conversant with their proverbs; for from them you will learn discipline and how to serve great men. ⁹Don’t miss the discourse of the aged, for they also learned from their parents, because from them you will learn understanding, and to give an answer in time of need. ¹⁰Don’t kindle the coals of a sinner, lest you be burned with the flame of his fire. ¹¹Don’t rise up from the presence of an insolent man, lest he lie in wait as an ambush for your mouth. ¹²Don’t lend to a man who is stronger than you; and if you lend, count it as a loss. ¹³Don’t be surety beyond your means. If you give surety, think as one who will have to pay. ¹⁴Don’t go to law with a judge; for according to his honor they will give judgment for him. ¹⁵Don’t travel with a reckless man, lest he be burdensome to you; for he will do as he pleases, and you will perish with his folly. ¹⁶Don’t fight with a wrathful man. Don’t travel with him through the desert, for blood is as nothing in his sight. Where there is no help, he will overthrow you. ¹⁷Don’t consult with a fool, for he will not be able to keep a secret. ¹⁸Do no secret thing before a stranger, for you don’t know what it will cause. ¹⁹Don’t open your heart to every man. Don’t let him return you a favor.

¹Don’t be jealous over the wife of your bosom, and don’t teach her an evil lesson against yourself. ²Don’t give your soul to a woman and let her trample down your strength. ³Don’t go to meet a woman who plays the prostitute, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. ⁴Don’t associate with a woman who is a singer, lest perhaps you be caught by her tricks. ⁵Don’t gaze at a virgin, lest perhaps you stumble and incur penalties for her. ⁶Don’t give your soul to prostitutes, that you not lose your inheritance. ⁷Don’t look around in the streets of the city. Don’t wander in its deserted places. ⁸Turn your eye away from a beautiful woman, and don’t gaze at another’s beauty. Many have been led astray by the beauty of a woman; and with this, passion is kindled like a fire. ⁹Don’t dine at all with a woman who has a husband, or revel with her at wine, lest perhaps your soul turn away to her, and with your spirit you slide into destruction. ¹⁰Don’t forsake an old friend; for a new one is not comparable to him. A new friend is like new wine: if it becomes old, you will drink it with gladness. ¹¹Don’t envy the success of a sinner; for you don’t know what his end will be. ¹²Don’t delight in the delights of the ungodly. Remember they will not go unpunished to the grave. ¹³Keep yourself far from the man who has power to kill, and you will not be troubled by the fear of death. If you come to him, commit no fault, lest he take away your life. Know surely that you go about in the midst of snares, and walk upon the battlements of a city. ¹⁴As well as you can, aim to know your neighbors, and take counsel with the wise. ¹⁵Let your conversation be with men of understanding. Let all your discourse be in the law of the Most High. ¹⁶Let righteous people be companions at your table. Let your glorying be in the fear of the Lord. ¹⁷A work is commended because of the skill of the artisan; so he who rules the people will be considered wise for his speech. ¹⁸A loudmouthed man is dangerous in his city. He who is reckless in his speech will be hated.

¹A wise judge will instruct his people. The government of a man of understanding will be well ordered. ²As is the judge of his people, so are his officials. As the city’s ruler is, so are all those who dwell in it. ³An undisciplined king will destroy his people. A city will be established through the understanding of the powerful. ⁴The government of the earth is in the Lord’s hand. In due time, he will raise up over it the right person at the right time. ⁵A man’s prosperity is in the Lord’s hand. He will lay his honor upon the person of the scribe. ⁶Don’t be angry with your neighbor for every wrong. Do nothing by works of violence. ⁷Pride is hateful before the Lord and men. Arrogance is abhorrent in the judgment of both. ⁸Sovereignty is transferred from nation to nation because of injustice, violence, and greed for money. ⁹Why are dirt and ashes proud? Because in life, my body decays. ¹⁰A long disease mocks the physician. The king of today will die tomorrow. ¹¹For when a man is dead, he will inherit maggots, vermin, and worms. ¹²It is the beginning of pride when a man departs from the Lord. His heart has departed from him who made him. ¹³For the beginning of pride is sin. He who keeps it will pour out abomination. For this cause the Lord brought upon them strange calamities and utterly overthrew them. ¹⁴The Lord cast down the thrones of rulers and set the lowly in their place. ¹⁵The Lord plucked up the roots of nations and planted the lowly in their place. ¹⁶The Lord overthrew the lands of nations and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth. ¹⁷He took some of them away and destroyed them, and made their memory to cease from the earth. ¹⁸Pride has not been created for men, nor wrathful anger for the offspring of women. ¹⁹Whose offspring has honor? Human offspring who fear the Lord. Whose offspring has no honor? Human offspring who break the commandments. ²⁰In the midst of kindred he who rules them has honor. Those who fear the Lord have honor in his eyes. ²²The rich man, the honorable, and the poor all glory in the fear of the Lord. ²³It is not right to dishonor a poor man who has understanding. It is not fitting to glorify a man who is a sinner. ²⁴The prince, the judge, and the mighty man will be honored. There is not one of them greater than he who fears the Lord. ²⁵Free men will minister to a wise servant. A man who has knowledge will not complain. ²⁶Don’t flaunt your wisdom in doing your work. Don’t boast in the time of your distress. ²⁷Better is he who labors and abounds in all things, than he who boasts and lacks bread. ²⁸My son, glorify your soul in humility, and ascribe to yourself honor according to your worthiness. ²⁹Who will justify him who sins against his own soul? Who will honor him who dishonors his own life? ³⁰A poor man is honored for his knowledge. A rich man is honored for his riches. ³¹But he who is honored in poverty, how much more in riches? He who is dishonored in riches, how much more in poverty?

¹The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, and make him sit in the midst of great men. ²Don’t commend a man for his good looks. Don’t abhor a man for his outward appearance. ³The bee is little among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of confections. ⁴Don’t boast about the clothes you wear, and don’t exalt yourself in the day of honor; for the Lord’s works are wonderful, and his works are hidden among men. ⁵Many kings have sat down upon the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown. ⁶Many mighty men have been greatly disgraced. Men of renown have been delivered into other men’s hands. ⁷Don’t blame before you investigate. Understand first, and then rebuke. ⁸Don’t answer before you have heard. Don’t interrupt while someone else is speaking. ⁹Don’t argue about a matter that doesn’t concern you. Don’t sit with sinners when they judge. ¹⁰My son, don’t be busy about many matters; for if you meddle much, you will not be unpunished. If you pursue, you will not overtake, and you will not escape by fleeing. ¹¹There is one who toils, labors, and hurries, and is even more behind. ¹²There is one who is sluggish, and needs help, lacking in strength, and who abounds in poverty, but the Lord’s eyes looked upon him for good, and he raised him up from his low condition, ¹³and lifted up his head so that many marveled at him. ¹⁴Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the Lord. ¹⁷The Lord’s gift remains with the godly. His good pleasure will prosper forever. ¹⁸One grows rich by his diligence and self-denial, and this is the portion of his reward: ¹⁹when he says, “I have found rest, and now I will eat of my goods!” he doesn’t know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies. ²⁰Be steadfast in your covenant and be doing it, and grow old in your work. ²¹Don’t marvel at the works of a sinner, but trust the Lord and stay in your labor; for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to swiftly and suddenly make a poor man rich. ²²The Lord’s blessing is in the reward of the godly. He makes his blessing flourish in an hour that comes swiftly. ²³Don’t say, “What use is there of me? What further good things can be mine?” ²⁴Don’t say, “I have enough. What harm could happen to me now?” ²⁵In the day of good things, bad things are forgotten. In the day of bad things, a man will not remember things that are good. ²⁶For it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord to reward a man in the day of death according to his ways. ²⁷The affliction of an hour causes delights to be forgotten. In the end, a man’s deeds are revealed. ²⁸Call no man happy before his death. A man will be known in his children. ²⁹Don’t bring every man into your house, for many are the tricks of a deceitful man. ³⁰Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of a proud man. Like a spy, he looks for your weakness. ³¹For he lies in wait to turn things that are good into evil, and assigns blame in things that are praiseworthy. ³²From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals is kindled, and a sinful man lies in wait to shed blood. ³³Take heed of an evil-doer, for he plans wicked things, lest perhaps he ruin your reputation forever. ³⁴Receive a stranger into your house, and he will distract you with arguments and estrange you from your own family.

¹If you do good, know to whom you do it, and your good deeds will have thanks. ²Do good to a godly man, and you will find a reward— if not from him, then from the Most High. ³No good will come to him who continues to do evil, nor to him who gives no alms. ⁴Give to the godly man, and don’t help the sinner. ⁵Do good to one who is lowly. Don’t give to an ungodly man. Keep back his bread, and don’t give it to him, lest he subdue you with it; for you would receive twice as much evil for all the good you would have done to him. ⁶For the Most High also hates sinners, and will repay vengeance to the ungodly. ⁷Give to the good man, and don’t help the sinner. ⁸A man’s friend won’t be fully tried in prosperity. His enemy won’t be hidden in adversity. ⁹In a man’s prosperity, his enemies are grieved. In his adversity, even his friend leaves. ¹⁰Never trust your enemy, for his wickedness is like corrosion in copper. ¹¹Though he humbles himself and walks bowed down, still be careful and beware of him. You will be to him as one who has wiped a mirror, to be sure it doesn’t completely tarnish. ¹²Don’t set him next to you, lest he overthrow you and stand in your place. Don’t let him sit on your right hand, lest he seek to take your seat, and at the last you acknowledge my words, and be pricked with my sayings. ¹³Who will pity a charmer that is bitten by a snake, or any who come near wild beasts? ¹⁴Even so, who will pity him who goes to a sinner, and is associated with him in his sins? ¹⁵For a while he will stay with you, and if you falter, he will not stay. ¹⁶The enemy will speak sweetly with his lips, and in his heart plan to throw you into a pit. The enemy may weep with his eyes, but if he finds opportunity, he will want more blood. ¹⁷If adversity meets you, you will find him there before you. Pretending to help you, he will trip you. ¹⁸He will shake his head, clap his hands, whisper much, and change his countenance.

¹He who touches pitch will be defiled. He who has fellowship with a proud man will become like him. ²Don’t take up a burden above your strength. Have no fellowship with one who is mightier and richer than yourself. What fellowship would the earthen pot have with the kettle? The kettle will strike, and the pot will be dashed in pieces. ³The rich man does a wrong and threatens. The poor is wronged and apologizes. ⁴If you are profitable, he will exploit you. If you are in need, he will forsake you. ⁵If you own something, he will live with you. He will drain your resources and will not be sorry. ⁶Does he need you? Then he will deceive you, smile at you, and give you hope. He will speak kindly to you and say, “What do you need?” ⁷He will shame you by his delicacies until he has made you bare twice or thrice, and in the end he will laugh you to scorn. Afterward he will see you, will forsake you, and shake his head at you. ⁸Beware that you are not deceived and brought low in your enjoyment. ⁹If a mighty man invites you, be reserved, and he will invite you more. ¹⁰Don’t press him, lest you be thrust back. Don’t stand far off, lest you be forgotten. ¹¹Don’t try to speak with him as an equal, and don’t believe his many words; for he will test you with much talk, and will examine you in a smiling manner. ¹²He who doesn’t keep secrets to himself is unmerciful. He won’t hesitate to harm and to bind. ¹³Keep them to yourself and be careful, for you walk in danger of falling. ¹⁵Every living creature loves its own kind, and every man loves his neighbor. ¹⁶All flesh associates with their own kind. A man will stick to people like himself. ¹⁷What fellowship would the wolf have with the lamb? So is the sinner to the godly. ¹⁸What peace is there between a hyena and a dog? What peace is there between a rich man and the poor? ¹⁹Wild donkeys are the prey of lions in the wilderness; likewise poor men are feeding grounds for the rich. ²⁰Lowliness is an abomination to a proud man; likewise a poor man is an abomination to the rich. ²¹When a rich man is shaken, he is supported by his friends, but when the humble is down, he is pushed away even by his friends. ²²When a rich man falls, there are many helpers. He speaks things not to be spoken, and men justify him. A humble man falls, and men rebuke him. He utters wisdom, and is not listened to. ²³A rich man speaks, and all keep silence. They extol what he says to the clouds. A poor man speaks, and they say, “Who is this?” If he stumbles, they will help to overthrow him. ²⁴Riches are good if they have no sin. Poverty is evil only in the opinion of the ungodly. ²⁵The heart of a man changes his countenance, whether it is for good or for evil. ²⁶A cheerful countenance is a sign of a prosperous heart. Devising proverbs takes strenuous thinking.

¹Blessed is the man who has not slipped with his mouth, and doesn’t suffer from sorrow for sins. ²Blessed is he whose soul does not condemn him, and who has not given up hope. ³Riches are not appropriate for a stingy person. What would a miser do with money? ⁴He who gathers by denying himself gathers for others. Others will revel in his goods. ⁵If one is mean to himself, to whom will he be good? He won’t enjoy his possessions. ⁶There is none more evil than he who is grudging to himself. This is a punishment for his wickedness. ⁷Even if he does good, he does it in forgetfulness. In the end, he reveals his wickedness. ⁸A miser is evil. He turns away and disregards souls. ⁹A covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with his portion. Wicked injustice dries up his soul. ¹⁰A miser begrudges bread, and it is lacking at his table. ¹¹My son, according to what you have, treat yourself well, and bring worthy offerings to the Lord. ¹²Remember that death will not wait, and that the covenant of Hades hasn’t been shown to you. ¹³Do good to your friends before you die. According to your ability, reach out and give to them. ¹⁴Don’t deprive yourself of a good day. Don’t let your share of a desired good pass you by. ¹⁵Won’t you leave your labors to another, and your toils be divided by lot? ¹⁶Give, take, and treat yourself well, because there is no seeking of luxury in Hades. ¹⁷All flesh grows old like a garment, for the covenant from the beginning is, “You must die!” ¹⁸Like the leaves flourishing on a thick tree, some it sheds, and some grow, so also are the generations of flesh and blood: one comes to an end and another is born. ¹⁹Every work rots and falls away, and its builder will depart with it. ²⁰Blessed is the man who meditates on wisdom, and who reasons by his understanding. ²¹He who considers her ways in his heart will also have knowledge of her secrets. ²²Go after her like a hunter, and lie in wait in her paths. ²³He who peers in at her windows will also listen at her doors. ²⁴He who lodges close to her house will also fasten a nail in her walls. ²⁵He will pitch his tent near at hand to her, and will lodge in a lodging where good things are. ²⁶He will set his children under her shelter, and will rest under her branches. ²⁷By her he will be covered from heat, and will lodge in her glory.

¹He who fears the Lord will do this. He who has possession of the law will obtain her. ²She will meet him like a mother, and receive him like a wife married in her virginity. ³She will feed him with bread of understanding and give him water of wisdom to drink. ⁴He will be stayed upon her, and will not be moved. He will rely upon her, and will not be confounded. ⁵She will exalt him above his neighbors. She will open his mouth in the midst of the congregation. ⁶He will inherit joy, a crown of gladness, and an everlasting name. ⁷Foolish men will not obtain her. Sinners will not see her. ⁸She is far from pride. Liars will not remember her. ⁹Praise is not attractive in the mouth of a sinner; for it was not sent to him from the Lord. ¹⁰For praise will be spoken in wisdom; The Lord will prosper it. ¹¹Don’t say, “It is through the Lord that I fell away;” for you shall not do the things that he hates. ¹²Don’t say, “It is he that caused me to err;” for he has no need of a sinful man. ¹³The Lord hates every abomination; and those who fear him don’t love them. ¹⁴He himself made man from the beginning and left him in the hand of his own counsel. ¹⁵If you choose, you can keep the commandments. To be faithful is a matter of your choice. ¹⁶He has set fire and water before you. You will stretch forth your hand to whichever you desire. ¹⁷Before man is life and death. Whichever he likes, it will be given to him. ¹⁸For the wisdom of the Lord is great. He is mighty in power, and sees all things. ¹⁹His eyes are upon those who fear him. He knows every act of man. ²⁰He has not commanded any man to be ungodly. He has not given any man license to sin.

¹Don’t desire a multitude of unprofitable children, neither delight in ungodly sons. ²If they multiply, don’t delight in them unless the fear of the Lord is in them. ³Don’t trust in their life. Don’t rely on their numbers; for one can be better than a thousand, and to die childless than to have ungodly children. ⁴For from one who has understanding, a city will be populated, but a race of wicked men will be made desolate. ⁵I have seen many such things with my eyes. My ear has heard mightier things than these. ⁶In a congregation of sinners, a fire will be kindled. In a disobedient nation, wrath is kindled. ⁷He was not pacified toward the giants of old time, who revolted in their strength. ⁸He didn’t spare Lot’s neighbors, whom he abhorred for their pride. ⁹He didn’t pity the people of perdition who were taken away in their sins, ¹⁰or in like manner, the six hundred thousand footmen who were gathered together in the hardness of their hearts. ¹¹Even if there is one stiff-necked person, it is a marvel if he will be unpunished; for mercy and wrath are both with him who is mighty to forgive, and he pours out wrath. ¹²As his mercy is great, so is his correction also. He judges a man according to his works. ¹³The sinner will not escape with plunder. The perseverance of the godly will not be frustrated. ¹⁴He will make room for every work of mercy. Each man will receive according to his works. ¹⁷Don’t say, “I will be hidden from the Lord,” and “Who will remember me from on high?” I will not be known among so many people, for what is my soul in a boundless creation? ¹⁸Behold, heaven, the heaven of heavens, the deep, and the earth, will be moved when he visits. ¹⁹The mountains and the foundations of the earth together are shaken with trembling when he looks at them. ²⁰No heart will think about these things. Who could comprehend his ways? ²¹Like a tempest which no man can see, so, the majority of his works are hidden. ²²Who will declare his works of righteousness? Who will wait for them? For his covenant is afar off. ²³He who is lacking in understanding thinks about these things. An unwise and erring man thinks foolishly. ²⁴My son, listen to me, learn knowledge, and heed my words with your heart. ²⁵I will impart instruction with precision, and declare knowledge exactly. ²⁶In the judgment of the Lord are his works from the beginning. From the making of them he determined their boundaries. ²⁷He arranged his works for all time, and their beginnings to their generations. They aren’t hungry or weary, and they don’t cease from their works. ²⁸No one pushes aside his neighbor. They will never disobey his word. ²⁹After this also the Lord looked at the earth and filled it with his blessings. ³⁰All manner of living things covered its surface, and they return into it.

¹The Lord created mankind out of earth, and turned them back to it again. ²He gave them days by number, and a set time, and gave them authority over the things that are on it. ³He endowed them with strength proper to them, and made them according to his own image. ⁴He put the fear of man upon all flesh, and gave him dominion over beasts and birds. ⁶He gave them counsel, tongue, eyes, ears, and heart to have understanding. ⁷He filled them with the knowledge of wisdom, and showed them good and evil. ⁸He set his eye upon their hearts, to show them the majesty of his works. ¹⁰And they will praise his holy name, that they may declare the majesty of his works. ¹¹He added to them knowledge, and gave them a law of life for a heritage. ¹²He made an everlasting covenant with them, and showed them his decrees. ¹³Their eyes saw the majesty of his glory. Their ears heard the glory of his voice. ¹⁴He said to them, “Beware of all unrighteousness.” So he gave them commandment, each man concerning his neighbor. ¹⁵Their ways are ever before him. They will not be hidden from his eyes. ¹⁷For every nation he appointed a ruler, but Israel is the Lord’s portion. ¹⁹All their works are as clear as the sun before him. His eyes are continually upon their ways. ²⁰Their iniquities are not hidden from him. All their sins are before the Lord. ²²With him the alms of a man is as a signet. He will keep a man’s kindness as the pupil of the eye. ²³Afterwards he will rise up and repay them, and give their repayment upon their head. ²⁴However to those who repent he grants a return. He comforts those who are losing hope. ²⁵Return to the Lord, and forsake sins. Make your prayer before his face offend less. ²⁶Turn again to the Most High, and turn away from iniquity. Greatly hate the abominable thing. ²⁷Who will give praise to the Most High in Hades, in place of the living who return thanks? ²⁸Thanksgiving perishes from the dead, as from one who doesn’t exist. He who is in life and health will praise the Lord. ²⁹How great is the mercy of the Lord, and his forgiveness to those who turn to him! ³⁰For humans are not capable of everything, because the son of man is not immortal. ³¹What is brighter than the sun? Yet even this can be eclipsed. So flesh and blood devise evil. ³²He looks upon the power of the height of heaven, while all men are earth and ashes.

¹He who lives forever created the whole universe. ²The Lord alone is just. ⁴He has given power to declare his works to no one. Who could trace out his mighty deeds? ⁵Who could measure the strength of his majesty? Who could also proclaim his mercies? ⁶As for the wondrous works of the Lord, it is not possible to take from them nor add to them, neither is it possible to explore them. ⁷When a man has finished, then he is just at the beginning. When he stops, then he will be perplexed. ⁸What is mankind, and what purpose do they serve? What is their good, and what is their evil? ⁹The number of man’s days at the most are a hundred years. ¹⁰As a drop of water from the sea, and a pebble from the sand, so are a few years in the day of eternity. ¹¹For this cause the Lord was patient over them, and poured out his mercy upon them. ¹²He saw and perceived their end, that it is evil. Therefore he multiplied his forgiveness. ¹³The mercy of a man is on his neighbor; but the mercy of the Lord is on all flesh: reproving, chastening, teaching, and bringing back, as a shepherd does his flock. ¹⁴He has mercy on those who accept chastening, and that diligently seek after his judgments. ¹⁵My son, don’t add reproach to your good deeds, and no harsh words in any of your giving. ¹⁶Doesn’t the dew relieve the scorching heat? So a word is better than a gift. ¹⁷Behold, isn’t a word better than a gift? Both are with a gracious person. ¹⁸A fool is ungracious and abusive. The gift of a grudging person consumes the eyes. ¹⁹Learn before you speak. Take care of your health before you get sick. ²⁰Before judgment, examine yourself, and in the hour of scrutiny you will find forgiveness. ²¹Humble yourself before you get sick. In the time of sins, repent. ²²Let nothing hinder you to pay your vow in due time. Don’t wait until death to be released. ²³Before you make a vow, prepare yourself. Don’t be like a man who tests the Lord. ²⁴Think about the wrath coming in the days of the end, and the time of vengeance, when he turns away his face. ²⁵In the days of fullness remember the time of hunger. Remember poverty and lack in the days of wealth. ²⁶From morning until evening, the time changes. All things are speedy before the Lord. ²⁷A wise man is cautious in everything. In days of sinning, he will beware of offense. ²⁸Every man of understanding knows wisdom. He will give thanks to him who found her. ²⁹They who were of understanding in sayings also became wise themselves, and poured out apt proverbs. ³⁰Don’t go after your lusts. Restrain your appetites. ³¹If you give fully to your soul the delight of her desire, she will make you the laughing stock of your enemies. ³²Don’t make merry in much luxury, and don’t be tied to its expense. ³³Don’t be made a beggar by banqueting with borrowed money when you have nothing in your purse.

¹A worker who is a drunkard will not become rich. He who despises small things will fall little by little. ²Wine and women will make men of understanding go astray. He who joins with prostitutes is reckless. ³Decay and worms will have him as their heritage. A reckless soul will be taken away. ⁴He who is hasty to trust is shallow-hearted. He who sins offends against his own soul. ⁵He who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned. ⁶He who hates gossip has less wickedness. ⁷Never repeat what is told you, and you won’t lose anything. ⁸Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it. Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it. ⁹For if he has heard you and observed you, when the time comes, he will hate you. ¹⁰Have you heard something? Let it die with you. Be brave: it will not make you burst! ¹¹A fool will travail in pain with a word, as a woman in labor with a child. ¹²As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh, so is gossip in a fool. ¹³Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it. If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more. ¹⁴Question your neighbor; it may be he didn’t say it. If he has said it, it may be that he may not say it again. ¹⁵Question a friend; for many times there is slander. Don’t trust every word. ¹⁶There is one who slips, and not from the heart. Who is he who hasn’t sinned with his tongue? ¹⁷Reprove your neighbor before you threaten him; and give place to the law of the Most High. ²⁰All wisdom is the fear of the Lord. In all wisdom is the doing of the law. ²²The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom. The prudence of sinners is not counsel. ²³There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination. There is a fool lacking in wisdom. ²⁴Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God, than one who has much intelligence and transgresses the law. ²⁵There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust. And there is one who perverts favor to gain a judgment. ²⁶There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning; but inwardly he is full of deceit, ²⁷bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear. Where he isn’t known, he will take advantage of you. ²⁸And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning, if he finds opportunity, he will do mischief. ²⁹A man will be known by his appearance. One who has understanding will be known by his face when you meet him. ³⁰A man’s attire, grinning laughter, and the way he walks show what he is.

¹There is a reproof that is not timely; and there is a person who is wise enough to keep silent. ²How good is it to reprove, rather than to be angry. He who confesses will be kept back from harm. ⁴As is the lust of a eunuch to deflower a virgin, so is he who executes judgments with violence. ⁵There is one who keeps silent and is found wise; and there is one who is hated for his much talk. ⁶There is one who keeps silent, for he has no answer to make; And there is one who keeps silent, knowing when to speak. ⁷A wise man will be silent until his time has come, but the braggart and fool will miss his time. ⁸He who uses many words will be abhorred. He who takes authority for himself will be hated in it. ⁹There is a prosperity that a man finds in misfortunes; and there is a gain that turns to loss. ¹⁰There is a gift that will not profit you; and there is a gift that pays back double. ¹¹There are losses because of glory; and there is one who has lifted up his head from a low estate. ¹²There is one who buys much for a little, and pays for it again sevenfold. ¹³He who is wise in words will make himself beloved; but the pleasantries of fools will be wasted. ¹⁴The gift of a fool will not profit you, for he looks for repayment many times instead of one. ¹⁵He will give little and insult much. He will open his mouth like a crier. Today he will lend, and tomorrow he will ask for it back. Such a one is a hateful man. ¹⁶The fool will say, “I have no friend, and I have no thanks for my good deeds. Those who eat my bread have an evil tongue.” ¹⁷How often, and of how many, will he be laughed to scorn! ¹⁸A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue. So the fall of the wicked will come speedily. ¹⁹A man without grace is a tale out of season. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. ²⁰A parable from a fool’s mouth will be rejected; for he won’t tell it at the proper time. ²¹There is one who is hindered from sinning through lack. When he rests, he will not be troubled. ²²There is one who destroys his soul through bashfulness. By a foolish countenance, he will destroy it. ²³There is one who for bashfulness makes promises to his friend; and he makes him his enemy for nothing. ²⁴A lie is an ugly blot on a person. It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant. ²⁵A thief is better than a man who is continually lying, but they both will inherit destruction. ²⁶The destination of a liar is dishonor. His shame is with him continually. ²⁷He who is wise in words will advance himself. And one who is prudent will please great men. ²⁸He who tills his land will raise his harvest high. He who pleases great men will get pardon for iniquity. ²⁹Favors and gifts blind the eyes of the wise, and as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs. ³⁰Wisdom that is hidden, and treasure that is out of sight— what profit is in either of them? ³¹Better is a man who hides his folly than a man who hides his wisdom.

¹My son, have you sinned? Do it no more; and ask forgiveness for your past sins. ²Flee from sin as from the face of a snake; for if you go near, it will bite you. Its teeth are like lion’s teeth, slaying people’s souls. ³All iniquity is as a two-edged sword. Its stroke has no healing. ⁴Terror and violence will waste away riches. So the house of an arrogant man will be laid waste. ⁵Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of God, and his judgment comes speedily. ⁶One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner. He who fears the Lord will repent in his heart. ⁷He who is mighty in tongue is known far away; but the man of understanding knows when he slips. ⁸He who builds his house with other men’s money is like one who gathers stones for his own tomb. ⁹The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow with a flame of fire at the end of them. ¹⁰The way of sinners is paved with stones; and at the end of it is the pit of Hades. ¹¹He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent. The fulfilment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom. ¹²He who is not clever will not be instructed. There is a cleverness which makes bitterness abound. ¹³The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood, and his counsel as a fountain of life. ¹⁴The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel. He will hold no knowledge. ¹⁵If a man of knowledge hears a wise word, he will commend it and add to it. The wanton man hears it, and it displeases him, so he throws it away behind his back. ¹⁶The chatter of a fool is like a burden in the way, but grace will be found on the lips of the wise. ¹⁷The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation. They will ponder his words in their heart. ¹⁸As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool. The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense. ¹⁹Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man, and as manacles on the right hand. ²⁰A fool lifts up his voice with laughter, but a clever man smiles quietly. ²¹Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold, and as a bracelet upon his right arm. ²²The foot of a fool rushes into a house, but a man of experience will be ashamed of entering. ²³A foolish man peers into the door of a house, but a man who is instructed will stand outside. ²⁴It is rude for someone to listen at a door, but a prudent person will be grieved with the disgrace. ²⁵The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things, but the words of prudent men will be weighed in the balance. ²⁶The heart of fools is in their mouth, but the mouth of wise men is their heart. ²⁷When the ungodly curses an adversary, he curses his own soul. ²⁸A whisperer defiles his own soul, and will be hated wherever he travels.

¹A slothful man is compared to a stone that is defiled. Everyone will hiss at him in his disgrace. ²A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill. Anyone who picks it up will shake it out of his hand. ³An undisciplined child is a disgrace to his father, and a foolish daughter is born to his loss. ⁴A prudent daughter will inherit a husband of her own. She who brings shame is the grief of her father. ⁵She who is arrogant brings shame on father and husband. She will be despised by both of them. ⁶Ill-timed conversation is like music in mourning, but stripes and correction are wisdom in every season. ⁷He who teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together, even like one who wakes a sleeper out of a deep sleep. ⁸He who teaches a fool is as one who teaches a man who slumbers. In the end he will say, “What is it?” ¹¹Weep for the dead, for he lacks light. Weep for a fool, for he lacks understanding. Weep more sweetly for the dead, because he has found rest, but the life of the fool is worse than death. ¹²Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but for a fool and an ungodly man, it lasts all the days of his life. ¹³Don’t talk much with a foolish man, and don’t go to one who has no understanding. Beware of him, lest you have trouble and be defiled in his onslaught. Turn away from him, and you will find rest, and you won’t be wearied in his madness. ¹⁴What would be heavier than lead? What is its name, but “Fool”? ¹⁵Sand, salt, and a mass of iron is easier to bear than a man without understanding. ¹⁶Timber girded and bound into a building will not be released with shaking. So a heart established in due season on well advised counsel will not be afraid. ¹⁷A heart settled upon a thoughtful understanding is as an ornament of plaster on a polished wall. ¹⁸Fences set on a high place will not stand against the wind; so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool will not stand against any fear. ¹⁹He who pricks the eye will make tears fall. He who pricks the heart makes it show feeling. ²⁰Whoever casts a stone at birds scares them away. He who insults a friend will dissolve friendship. ²¹If you have drawn a sword against a friend, don’t despair, for there may be a way back. ²²If you have opened your mouth against a friend, don’t be afraid, for there may be reconciliation, unless it is for insulting, arrogance, disclosing of a secret, or a treacherous blow— for these things any friend will flee. ²³Gain trust with your neighbor in his poverty, that in his prosperity you may have gladness. Stay steadfast to him in the time of his affliction, that you may be heir with him in his inheritance. ²⁴Before fire is the vapor and smoke of a furnace, so insults precede bloodshed. ²⁵I won’t be ashamed to shelter a friend. I won’t hide myself from his face. ²⁶If any evil happens to me because of him, everyone who hears it will beware of him. ²⁷Who will set a watch over my mouth, and a seal of shrewdness upon my lips, that I may not fall from it, and that my tongue may not destroy me?

¹O Lord, Father and Master of my life, don’t abandon me to their counsel. Don’t let me fall because of them. ²Who will set scourges over my thought, and a discipline of wisdom over my heart, that they spare me not for my errors, and not overlook their sins? ³Otherwise my errors might be multiplied, and my sins abound, I fall before my adversaries, and my enemy rejoice over me. ⁴O Lord, Father and God of my life, don’t give me a haughty eyes, ⁵and turn away evil desire from me. ⁶Let neither gluttony nor lust overtake me. Don’t give me over to a shameless mind. ⁷Listen, my children, to the discipline of the mouth. He who keeps it will not be caught. ⁸The sinner will be overpowered through his lips. By them, the insulter and the arrogant will stumble. ⁹Don’t accustom your mouth to an oath, and don’t be accustomed to naming the Holy One, ¹⁰for as a servant who is continually scourged will not lack bruises, so he also who swears and continually utters the Name will not be cleansed from sin. ¹¹A man of many oaths will be filled with iniquity. The scourge will not depart from his house. If he offends, his sin will be upon him. If he disregards it, he has sinned doubly. If he has sworn falsely, he will not be justified, for his house will be filled with calamities. ¹²There is a manner of speech that is clothed with death. Let it not be found in the heritage of Jacob, for all these things will be far from the godly, and they will not wallow in sins. ¹³Don’t accustom your mouth to gross rudeness, for it involves sinful speech. ¹⁴Remember your father and your mother, for you sit in the midst of great men, that you be not forgetful before them, and become a fool by your bad habit; so you may wish that you had not been born, and curse the day of your birth. ¹⁵A man who is accustomed to abusive language won’t be corrected all the days of his life. ¹⁶Two sorts of people multiply sins, and the third will bring wrath: a hot passion, like a burning fire, will not be quenched until it is consumed; a fornicator in the body of his flesh will never cease until he has burned out the fire. ¹⁷All bread is sweet to a fornicator. He will not cease until he dies. ¹⁸A man who goes astray from his own marriage bed says in his heart, “Who sees me? Darkness is around me, and the walls hide me. No one sees me. Of whom am I afraid? The Most High will not remember my sins.” ¹⁹The eyes of men are his terror. He doesn’t know that the eyes of the Lord are ten thousand times brighter than the sun, seeing all the ways of men, and looking into secret places. ²⁰All things were known to him before they were created, and also after they were completed. ²¹This man will be punished in the streets of the city. He will be seized where he least expects it. ²²So also is a wife who leaves her husband, and produces an heir by another man. ²³For first, she was disobedient in the law of the Most High. Second, she trespassed against her own husband. Third, she played the adulteress in fornication, and had children by another man. ²⁴She shall be brought out into the congregation. Her punishment will extend to her children. ²⁵Her children will not take root. Her branches will bear no fruit. ²⁶She will leave her memory for a curse. Her reproach won’t be blotted out. ²⁷And those who are left behind will know that there is nothing better than the fear of the Lord, and nothing sweeter than to heed the commandments of the Lord.

¹Wisdom will praise her own soul, and will proclaim her glory in the midst of her people. ²She will open her mouth in the congregation of the Most High, and proclaim her glory in the presence of his power. ³“I came out of the mouth of the Most High, and covered the earth as a mist. ⁴I lived in high places, and my throne is in the pillar of the cloud. ⁵Alone I surrounded the circuit of heaven, and walked in the depth of the abyss. ⁶In the waves of the sea, and in all the earth, and in every people and nation, I obtained a possession. ⁷With all these I sought rest. In whose inheritance shall I lodge? ⁸Then the Creator of all things gave me a command. He who created me made my tent to rest, and said, ‘Let your dwelling be in Jacob, and your inheritance in Israel.’ ⁹He created me from the beginning, before the ages. For all ages, I will not cease to exist. ¹⁰In the holy tabernacle, I ministered before him. So I was established in Zion. ¹¹In the beloved city, likewise he gave me rest. In Jerusalem was my domain. ¹²I took root in a people that was honored, even in the portion of the Lord’s own inheritance. ¹³I was exalted like a cedar in Lebanon, And like a cypress tree on the mountains of Hermon. ¹⁴I was exalted like a palm tree on the sea shore, like rose bushes in Jericho, and like a fair olive tree in the plain. I was exalted like a plane tree. ¹⁵Like cinnamon and aspalathus, I have given a scent to perfumes. Like choice myrrh, I spread abroad a pleasant fragrance, like galbanum, onycha, stacte, and as the smell of frankincense in the tabernacle. ¹⁶Like the terebinth, I stretched out my branches. My branches are glorious and graceful. ¹⁷Like the vine, I put forth grace. My flowers are the fruit of glory and riches. ¹⁹“Come to me, all you who desire me, and be filled with my fruits. ²⁰For my memory is sweeter than honey, and my inheritance than the honeycomb. ²¹Those who eat me will be hungry for more. Those who drink me will be thirsty for more. ²²He who obeys me will not be ashamed. Those who work with me will not sin.” ²³All these things are the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law which Moses commanded us for an inheritance for the assemblies of Jacob. ²⁵It is he who makes wisdom abundant, as Pishon, and as Tigris in the days of first fruits. ²⁶He makes understanding full as the Euphrates, and as the Jordan in the days of harvest, ²⁷who makes instruction shine forth as the light, as Gihon in the days of vintage. ²⁸The first man didn’t know her perfectly. In like manner, the last has not explored her. ²⁹For her thoughts are filled from the sea, and her counsels from the great deep. ³⁰I came out as a canal stream from a river, and as an irrigation ditch into a garden. ³¹I said, “I will water my garden, and will drench my garden bed.” Behold, my stream became a river, and my river became a sea. ³²I will yet bring instruction to light as the morning, and will make these things clear from far away. ³³I will continue to pour out teaching like prophecy, and leave it to all generations. ³⁴See that I have not labored for myself only, but for all those who diligently seek wisdom.

¹I enjoy three things, and they are beautiful before the Lord and men: the agreement of kindred, the friendship of neighbors, and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement. ²But my soul hates three sorts of people, and I am greatly offended at their life: a poor man who is arrogant, a rich man who is a liar, and an old fool who is an adulterer. ³If you gathered nothing in your youth, how could you find anything in your old age? ⁴How beautiful a thing is judgment in the gray-haired, and for elders to know good counsel! ⁵How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, and understanding and counsel to men who are in honor! ⁶Much experience is the crown of the aged. Their glory is the fear of the Lord. ⁷There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy, and the tenth I will utter with my tongue: a man who has joy with his children, and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies. ⁸Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding, he who has not slipped with his tongue, and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him. ⁹Happy is he who has found prudence, and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen. ¹⁰How great is he who has found wisdom! Yet there is none greater than one who fears the Lord. ¹¹The fear of the Lord surpasses all things. To whom shall he who holds it be likened? ¹³Any wound but a wound of the heart! Any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman! ¹⁴Any calamity but a calamity from those who hate me! Any vengeance but the vengeance of enemies! ¹⁵There is no venom worse than a snake’s venom. There is no wrath worse than an enemy’s wrath. ¹⁶I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than keep house with a wicked woman. ¹⁷The wickedness of a woman changes her appearance, and darkens her countenance like that of a bear. ¹⁸Her husband will sit among his neighbors, and when he hears it, he sighs bitterly. ¹⁹All malice is small compared to the malice of a woman. Let the portion of a sinner fall on her. ²⁰As walking up a sandy hill is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of words to a quiet man. ²¹Don’t be ensnared by a woman’s beauty. Don’t desire a woman for her beauty. ²²There is anger, impudence, and great reproach if a woman supports her husband. ²³A wicked woman is abasement of heart, sadness of countenance, and a wounded heart. A woman who won’t make her husband happy is like hands that hang down, and weak knees. ²⁴The beginning of sin came from a woman. Because of her, we all die. ²⁵Don’t give water an outlet, and don’t give a wicked woman freedom of speech. ²⁶If she doesn’t go as you direct, cut her away from your flesh.

¹Happy is the husband of a good wife. The number of his days will be doubled. ²A faithful wife gives joy to her husband. He will fulfill his years in peace. ³A good wife is a great gift. She will be given to those who fear the Lord. ⁴Whether a man is rich or poor, a good heart makes a cheerful face at all times. ⁵Of three things my heart was afraid, and concerning the fourth kind I made supplication: The slander of a city, the assembly of a mob, and a false accusation. All these are more grievous than death. ⁶A grief of heart and sorrow is a woman who is jealous of another woman. Her tongue-lashing makes it known to all. ⁷A wicked woman is like a chafing yoke. He who takes hold of her is like one who grasps a scorpion. ⁸A drunken woman causes great wrath. She will not cover her own shame. ⁹The fornication of a woman is in the lifting up of her eyes; it will be known by her eyelids. ¹⁰Keep strict watch on a headstrong daughter, lest she find liberty for herself, and use it. ¹¹Watch out for an impudent eye, and don’t be surprised if it sins against you. ¹²She will open her mouth like a thirsty traveller, and drink from every water that is near. She will sit down at every post, and open her quiver to any arrow. ¹³The grace of a wife will delight her husband. Her knowledge will strengthen his bones. ¹⁴A silent woman is a gift of the Lord. There is nothing worth so much as a well-instructed soul. ¹⁵A modest woman is grace upon grace. There are no scales that can weigh the value of a self-controlled soul. ¹⁶As the sun when it arises in the highest places of the Lord, so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-organized home. ¹⁷As the lamp that shines upon the holy lampstand, so is the beauty of the face on a well-proportioned body. ¹⁸As the golden pillars are upon a base of silver, so are beautiful feet with the breasts of one who is steadfast. ²⁸For two things my heart is grieved, and for the third anger comes upon me: a warrior who suffers for poverty, men of understanding who are counted as garbage, and one who turns back from righteousness to sin— the Lord will prepare him for the sword! ²⁹It is difficult for a merchant to keep himself from wrong doing, and for a retailer to be acquitted of sin.

¹Many have sinned for profit. He who seeks to multiply wealth will turn his eye away. ²As a nail will stick fast between the joinings of stones, so sin will thrust itself in between buying and selling. ³Unless a person holds on diligently to the fear of the Lord, his house will be overthrown quickly. ⁴In the shaking of a sieve, the refuse remains, so does the filth of man in his thoughts. ⁵The furnace tests the potter’s vessels; so the test of a person is in his thoughts. ⁶The fruit of a tree discloses its cultivation, so is the utterance of the thought of a person’s heart. ⁷Praise no man before you hear his thoughts, for this is how people are tested. ⁸If you follow righteousness, you will obtain it, and put it on like a long robe of glory. ⁹Birds will return to their own kind, so truth will return to those who practice it. ¹⁰The lion lies in wait for prey. So does sin for those who do evil. ¹¹The discourse of a godly man is always wise, but the fool changes like the moon. ¹²Limit your time among people void of understanding, but persevere among the thoughtful. ¹³The talk of fools is offensive. Their laughter is wantonly sinful. ¹⁴Their talk with much swearing makes hair stand upright. Their strife makes others plug their ears. ¹⁵The strife of the proud leads to bloodshed. Their abuse of each other is a grievous thing to hear. ¹⁶He who reveals secrets destroys trust, and will not find a close friend. ¹⁷Love a friend, and keep faith with him; but if you reveal his secrets, you shall not follow him; ¹⁸for as a man has destroyed his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor. ¹⁹As a bird which you have released out of your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again. ²⁰Don’t pursue him, for he has gone far away, and has escaped like a gazelle out of the snare. ²¹For a wound may be bound up, and after abuse there may be reconciliation; but he who reveals secrets is without hope. ²²One who winks the eye contrives evil things; and those who know him will keep their distance. ²³When you are present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire your words; but afterward he will twist his speech and set a trap in your words. ²⁴I have hated many things, but nothing like him. The Lord will hate him. ²⁵One who casts a stone straight up casts it on his own head. A deceitful blow opens wounds. ²⁶He who digs a pit will fall into it. He who sets a snare will be caught in it. ²⁷He who does evil things, they will roll back upon him, and he will not know where they came from. ²⁸Mockery and reproach are from the arrogant. Vengeance lies in wait for them like a lion. ²⁹Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare. Anguish will consume them before they die. ³⁰Wrath and anger, these also are abominations. A sinner will possess them.

¹He who takes vengeance will find vengeance from the Lord, and he will surely make his sins firm. ²Forgive your neighbor the hurt that he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray. ³Does anyone harbor anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? ⁴Upon a man like himself he has no mercy, and does he make supplication for his own sins? ⁵He himself, being flesh, nourishes wrath. Who will make atonement for his sins? ⁶Remember your last end, and stop enmity. Remember corruption and death, and be true to the commandments. ⁷Remember the commandments, and don’t be angry with your neighbor. Remember the covenant of the Highest, and overlook ignorance. ⁸Abstain from strife, and you will diminish your sins, for a passionate man will kindle strife. ⁹A man who is a sinner will trouble friends and sow discord among those who are at peace. ¹⁰As is the fuel of the fire, so it will burn; and as the stoutness of the strife is, so it will burn. As is the strength of the man, so will be his wrath; and as is his wealth, so he will exalt his anger. ¹¹A contention begun in haste kindles a fire; and hasty fighting sheds blood. ¹²If you blow on a spark, it will burn; and if you spit upon it, it will be quenched. Both of these come out of your mouth. ¹³Curse the whisperer and double-tongued, for he has destroyed many who were at peace. ¹⁴A slanderer has shaken many, and dispersed them from nation to nation. It has pulled down strong cities and overthrown the houses of great men. ¹⁵A slanderer has cast out brave women and deprived them of their labors. ¹⁶He who listens to it will not find rest, nor will he live quietly. ¹⁷The stroke of a whip makes a mark in the flesh, but the stroke of a tongue will break bones. ¹⁸Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, yet not so many as those who have fallen because of the tongue. ¹⁹Happy is he who is sheltered from it, who has not passed through its wrath, who has not drawn its yoke, and has not been bound with its bands. ²⁰For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its bands are bands of brass. ²¹Its death is an evil death, and Hades is better than it. ²²It will not have rule over godly men. They will not be burned in its flame. ²³Those who forsake the Lord will fall into it. It will burn among them, and won’t be quenched. It will be sent against them like a lion. It will destroy them like a leopard. ²⁴As you hedge your possession about with thorns, and secure your silver and your gold, ²⁵so make a balance and a weight for your words, and make a door and a bar for your mouth. ²⁶Take heed lest you slip with it, lest you fall before one who lies in wait.

¹He who shows mercy will lend to his neighbor. He who strengthens him with his hand keeps the commandments. ²Lend to your neighbor in time of his need. Repay your neighbor on time. ³Confirm your word, and keep faith with him; and at all seasons you will find what you need. ⁴Many have considered a loan to be a windfall, and have given trouble to those who helped them. ⁵Until he has received, he will kiss a man’s hands. For his neighbor’s money he will speak submissively. Then when payment is due, he will prolong the time, return excuses, and complain about the season. ⁶If he prevails, the creditor will hardly receive half; and he will count it as a windfall. If not, he has deprived him of his money, and he has gotten him for an enemy without cause. He will pay him with cursing and railing. Instead of honor, he will pay him disgrace. ⁷Many on account of fraud have turned away. They are afraid of being defrauded for nothing. ⁸However be patient with a man in poor estate. Don’t keep him waiting for your alms. ⁹Help a poor man for the commandment’s sake. According to his need don’t send him empty away. ¹⁰Lose your money for a brother and a friend. Don’t let it rust under a stone and be lost. ¹¹Allocate your treasure according to the commandments of the Most High and it will profit you more than gold. ¹²Store up almsgiving in your store-chambers and it will deliver you out of all affliction. ¹³It will fight for you against your enemy better than a mighty shield and a ponderous spear. ¹⁴A good man will be surety for his neighbor. He who has lost shame will fail him. ¹⁵Don’t forget the kindness of your guarantor, for he has given his life for you. ¹⁶A sinner will waste the property of his guarantor. ¹⁷He who is thankless will fail him who delivered him. ¹⁸Being surety has undone many who were prospering and shaken them as a wave of the sea. It has driven mighty men from their homes. They wandered among foreign nations. ¹⁹A sinner who falls into suretiship and undertakes contracts for work will fall into lawsuits. ²⁰Help your neighbor according to your power, and be careful not to fall yourself. ²¹The essentials of life are water, bread, a garment, and a house for privacy. ²²Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs than sumptuous fare in another man’s house. ²³With little or with much, be well satisfied. ²⁴It is a miserable life to go from house to house. Where you are a guest, you dare not open your mouth. ²⁵You will entertain, serve drinks, and have no thanks. In addition to this, you will hear bitter words. ²⁶“Come here, you sojourner, set a table, and if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.” ²⁷“Leave, you sojourner, for an honored guest is here. My brother has come to be my guest. I need my house.” ²⁸These things are grievous to a man of understanding: The scolding about lodging and the insults of creditors.

¹He who loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him, that he may have joy from him in the end. ²He who chastises his son will have profit from him, and will brag about him among his acquaintances. ³He who teaches his son will provoke his enemy to jealousy. Before friends, he will rejoice in him. ⁴His father dies, and is as though he had not died; for he has left one behind him like himself. ⁵In his life, he saw his son and rejoiced. When he died, it was without regret. ⁶He left behind him an avenger against his enemies, and one to repay kindness to his friends. ⁷He who makes too much of his son will bind up his wounds. His heart will be troubled at every cry. ⁸An unbroken horse becomes stubborn. An unrestrained son becomes headstrong. ⁹Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid. Play with him, and he will grieve you. ¹⁰Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him, and you gnash your teeth in the end. ¹¹Give him no liberty in his youth, and don’t ignore his follies. ¹²Bow down his neck in his youth, and beat him on the sides while he is a child, lest he become stubborn, and be disobedient to you, and there be sorrow to your soul. ¹³Chastise your son, and give him work, lest his shameless behavior be an offense to you. ¹⁴Better is a poor man who is healthy and fit, than a rich man who is afflicted in his body. ¹⁵Health and fitness are better than all gold, and a strong body better than wealth without measure. ¹⁶There is no wealth better than health of body. There is no gladness above the joy of the heart. ¹⁷Death is better than a bitter life, and eternal rest than a continual sickness. ¹⁸Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed are like food offerings laid upon a grave. ¹⁹What does an offering profit an idol? For it can’t eat or smell. So is he who is punished by the Lord, ²⁰seeing with his eyes and groaning, like a eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning. ²¹Don’t give your soul to sorrow. Don’t afflict yourself deliberately. ²²Gladness of heart is the life of a man. Cheerfulness of a man lengthens his days. ²³Love your own soul, and comfort your heart. Remove sorrow far from you, for sorrow has destroyed many, and there is no profit in it. ²⁴Envy and wrath shorten life. Anxiety brings old age before its time. ²⁵Those who are cheerful and merry will benefit from their food.

¹Wakefulness that comes from riches consumes the flesh, and anxiety about it takes away sleep. ²Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber. In a severe disease, sleep will be broken. ³A rich man toils in gathering money together. When he rests, he is filled with his good things. ⁴A poor man toils in lack of substance. When he rests, he becomes needy. ⁵He who loves gold won’t be justified. He who follows destruction will himself have his fill of it. ⁶Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold. Their destruction meets them face to face. ⁷It is a stumbling block to those who sacrifice to it. Every fool will be taken by it. ⁸Blessed is the rich person who is found blameless, and who doesn’t go after gold. ⁹Who is he, that we may call him blessed? For he has done wonderful things among his people. ¹⁰Who has been tried by it, and found perfect? Then let him boast. Who has had the power to transgress, and has not transgressed? And to do evil, and has not done it? ¹¹His prosperity will be made sure. The congregation will proclaim his alms. ¹²Do you sit at a great table? Don’t be greedy there. Don’t say, “There is a lot of food on it!” ¹³Remember that a greedy eye is a wicked thing. What has been created more greedy than an eye? Therefore it sheds tears from every face. ¹⁴Don’t stretch your hand wherever it looks. Don’t thrust yourself with it into the dish. ¹⁵Consider your neighbor’s feelings by your own. Be discreet in every point. ¹⁶Eat like a human being those things which are set before you. Don’t eat greedily, lest you be hated. ¹⁷Be first to stop for manners’ sake. Don’t be insatiable, lest you offend. ¹⁸And if you sit among many, Don’t reach out your hand before them. ¹⁹How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little. He doesn’t breathe heavily in his bed. ²⁰Healthy sleep comes from moderate eating. He rises early, and his wits are with him. The pain of wakefulness, colic, and griping are with an insatiable man. ²¹And if you have been forced to eat, rise up in the middle of it, and you shall have rest. ²²Hear me, my son, and don’t despise me, and in the end you will appreciate my words. In all your works be skillful, and no disease will come to you. ²³People bless him who is liberal with his food. The testimony of his excellence will be believed. ²⁴The city will murmur at him who is a stingy with his food. The testimony of his stinginess will be accurate. ²⁵Don’t show yourself valiant in wine, for wine has destroyed many. ²⁶The furnace tests the temper of steel by dipping; so does wine test hearts in the quarreling of the proud. ²⁷Wine is as good as life to men, if you drink it in moderation. What life is there to a man who is without wine? It has been created to make men glad. ²⁸Wine drunk in season and in moderation is joy of heart and gladness of soul: ²⁹Wine drunk excessively is bitterness of soul, with provocation and conflict. ³⁰Drunkenness increases the rage of a fool to his hurt. It diminishes strength and adds wounds. ³¹Don’t rebuke your neighbor at a banquet of wine. Don’t despise him in his mirth. Don’t speak a word of reproach to him. Don’t distress him by making demands of him.

¹Have they made you ruler of a feast? Don’t be lifted up. Be among them as one of them. Take care of them first, and then sit down. ²And when you have done all your duties, take your place, that you may be gladdened on their account, and receive a wreath for your good service. ³Speak, you who are older, for it’s your right, but with sound knowledge; and don’t interrupt the music. ⁴Don’t pour out talk where there is a performance of music. Don’t display your wisdom at the wrong time. ⁵As a ruby signet in a setting of gold, so is a music concert at a wine banquet. ⁶As an emerald signet in a work of gold, so is musical melody with pleasant wine. ⁷Speak, young man, if you are obliged to, but no more than twice, and only if asked. ⁸Sum up your speech, many things in few words. Be as one who knows and yet holds his tongue. ⁹When among great men, don’t behave as their equal. When another is speaking, don’t babble. ¹⁰Lightning speeds before thunder. Approval goes before one who is modest. ¹¹Rise up in good time, and don’t be last. Go home quickly and don’t loiter ¹²Amuse yourself there and do what is in your heart. Don’t sin by proud speech. ¹³For these things bless your Maker, who gives you to drink freely of his good things. ¹⁴He who fears the Lord will receive discipline. Those who seek him early will find favor. ¹⁵He who seeks the law shall be filled with it, but the hypocrite will stumble at it. ¹⁶Those who fear the Lord will find true judgment, and will kindle righteous acts like a light. ¹⁷A sinful man shuns reproof, and will find a judgment according to his will. ¹⁸A sensible person won’t neglect a thought. An insolent and proud man won’t crouch in fear, even after he has done a thing by himself without counsel. ¹⁹Do nothing without counsel, but when you have acted, don’t regret it. ²⁰Don’t go in a way of conflict. Don’t stumble in stony places. ²¹Don’t be overconfident on a smooth road. ²²Beware of your own children. ²³In every work guard your own soul, for this is the keeping of the commandments. ²⁴He who believes the law gives heed to the commandment. He who trusts in the Lord will suffer no loss.

¹No evil will happen to him who fears the Lord, but in trials once and again he will deliver him. ²A wise man will not hate the law, but he who is a hypocrite about it is like a boat in a storm. ³A man of understanding will put his trust in the law. And the law is faithful to him, as when one asks a divine oracle. ⁴Prepare your speech, and so you will be heard. Bind up instruction, and make your answer. ⁵The heart of a fool is like a cartwheel. His thoughts are like a rolling axle. ⁶A stallion horse is like a mocking friend. He neighs under every one who sits upon him. ⁷Why does one day excel another, when all the light of every day in the year is from the sun? ⁸They were distinguished by the Lord’s knowledge, and he varied seasons and feasts. ⁹Some of them he exalted and hallowed, and some of them he has made ordinary days. ¹⁰And all men are from the ground. Adam was created from dust. ¹¹In the abundance of his knowledge the Lord distinguished them, and made their ways different. ¹²Some of them he blessed and exalted, and some of them he made holy and brought near to himself. Some of them he cursed and brought low, and overthrew them from their place. ¹³As the clay of the potter in his hand, all his ways are according to his good pleasure, so men are in the hand of him who made them, to give to them according to his judgment. ¹⁴Good is the opposite of evil, and life is the opposite of death; so the sinner is the opposite of the godly. ¹⁵Look upon all the works of the Most High like this, they come in pairs, one against another. ¹⁶I was the last on watch, like one who gleans after the grape gatherers. ¹⁷By the Lord’s blessing I arrived before them, and filled my winepress like one who gathers grapes. ¹⁸Consider that I labored not for myself alone, but for all those who seek instruction. ¹⁹Hear me, you great men of the people, and listen with your ears, you rulers of the congregation. ²⁰To son and wife, to brother and friend, don’t give power over yourself while you live, and don’t give your goods to another, lest you regret it and must ask for them. ²¹While you still live and breath is in you, don’t give yourself over to anybody. ²²For it is better that your children should ask from you than that you should look to the hand of your children. ²³Excel in all your works. Don’t bring a stain on your honor. ²⁴In the day that you end the days of your life, in the time of death, distribute your inheritance. ²⁵Fodder, a stick, and burdens are for a donkey. Bread, discipline, and work are for a servant. ²⁶Set your slave to work, and you will find rest. Leave his hands idle, and he will seek liberty. ²⁷Yoke and whip will bow the neck. For an evil slave there are racks and tortures. ²⁸Send him to labor, that he not be idle, for idleness teaches much mischief. ²⁹Set him to work, as is fit for him. If he doesn’t obey, make his fetters heavy. ³⁰Don’t be excessive toward any. Do nothing unjust. ³¹If you have a slave, treat him like yourself, because you have bought him with blood. ³²If you have a slave, treat him like yourself. For like your own soul, you will need him. If you treat him ill, and he departs and runs away, ³³which way will you go to seek him?

¹Vain and false hopes are for a man void of understanding. Dreams give wings to fools. ²As one who grasps at a shadow and follows after the wind, so is he who sets his mind on dreams. ³The vision of dreams is a reflection, the likeness of a face near a face. ⁴From an unclean thing what can be cleansed? From that which is false what can be true? ⁵Divinations, and soothsayings, and dreams, are vain. The heart has fantasies like a woman in labor. ⁶If they are not sent in a visitation from the Most High, don’t give your heart to them. ⁷For dreams have led many astray. They have failed by putting their hope in them. ⁸Without lying the law will be fulfilled. Wisdom is complete in a faithful mouth. ⁹A well-instructed man knows many things. He who has much experience will declare understanding. ¹⁰He who has no experience knows few things. But he who has traveled increases cleverness. ¹¹I have seen many things in my travels. My understanding is more than my words. ¹²I was often in danger even to death. I was preserved because of these experiences. ¹³The spirit of those who fear the Lord will live, for their hope is in him who saves them. ¹⁴Whoever fears the Lord won’t be afraid, and won’t be a coward, for he is his hope. ¹⁵Blessed is the soul of him who fears the Lord. To whom does he give heed? Who is his support? ¹⁶The eyes of the Lord are on those who love him, a mighty protection and strong support, a cover from the hot blast, a shade from the noonday sun, a guard from stumbling, and a help from falling. ¹⁷He raises up the soul, and enlightens the eyes. He gives health, life, and blessing. ¹⁸He who sacrifices a thing wrongfully gotten, his offering is made in mockery. The mockeries of wicked men are not acceptable. ¹⁹The Most High has no pleasure in the offerings of the ungodly, Neither is he pacified for sins by the multitude of sacrifices. ²⁰Like one who kills a son before his father’s eyes is he who brings a sacrifice from the goods of the poor. ²¹The bread of the needy is the life of the poor. He who deprives him of it is a man of blood. ²²Like one who murders his neighbor is he who takes away his living. Like a shedder of blood is he who deprives a hireling of his hire. ²³When one builds, and another pulls down, what profit do they have but toil? ²⁴When one prays, and another curses, whose voice will the Lord listen to? ²⁵He who washes himself after touching a dead body, and touches it again, what does he gain by his washing? ²⁶Even so a man fasting for his sins, and going again, and doing the same, who will listen to his prayer? What profit does he have in his humiliation?

¹He who keeps the law multiplies offerings. He who heeds the commandments sacrifices a peace offering. ²He who returns a kindness offers fine flour. He who gives alms sacrifices a thank offering. ³To depart from wickedness pleases the Lord. To depart from unrighteousness is an atoning sacrifice. ⁴See that you don’t appear in the presence of the Lord empty. ⁵For all these things are done because of the commandment. ⁶The offering of the righteous enriches the altar. The sweet fragrance of it is before the Most High. ⁷The sacrifice of a righteous man is acceptable. It won’t be forgotten. ⁸Glorify the Lord with generosity. Don’t reduce the first fruits of your hands. ⁹In every gift show a cheerful countenance, And dedicate your tithe with gladness. ¹⁰Give to the Most High according as he has given. As your hand has found, give generously. ¹¹For the Lord repays, and he will repay you sevenfold. ¹²Don’t plan to bribe him with gifts, for he will not receive them. Don’t set your mind on an unrighteous sacrifice, For the Lord is the judge, and with him is no respect of persons. ¹³He won’t accept any person against a poor man. He will listen to the prayer of him who is wronged. ¹⁴He will in no way despise the supplication of the fatherless or the widow, when she pours out her tale. ¹⁵Don’t the tears of the widow run down her cheek? Isn’t her cry against him who has caused them to fall? ¹⁶He who serves God according to his good pleasure will be accepted. His supplication will reach to the clouds. ¹⁷The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds. until it comes near, he will not be comforted. He won’t depart until the Most High visits and he judges righteously and executes judgment. ¹⁸And the Lord will not be slack, neither will he be patient toward them, until he has crushed the loins of the unmerciful. He will repay vengeance to the heathen until he has taken away the multitude of the arrogant and broken in pieces the sceptres of the unrighteous, ¹⁹until he has rendered to every man according to his deeds, and repaid the works of men according to their plans, until he has judged the cause of his people, and he will make them rejoice in his mercy. ²⁰Mercy is as welcome in the time of his affliction, as clouds of rain in the time of drought.

¹Have mercy upon us, O Lord the God of all, and look at us with favor; ²and send your fear upon all the nations. ³Lift up your hand against the foreign nations and let them see your mighty power. ⁴As you showed your holiness in us before them, so be magnified in them before us. ⁵Let them know you, as we also have known you, that there is no God but only you, O God. ⁶Show new signs, and work various wonders. Glorify your hand and your right arm. ⁷Raise up indignation and pour out wrath. Take away the adversary and destroy the enemy. ⁸Hasten the time and remember your oath. Let them declare your mighty works. ⁹Let him who escapes be devoured by raging fire. May those who harm your people find destruction. ¹⁰Crush the heads of the rulers of the enemies who say, “There is no one but ourselves.” ¹¹Gather all the tribes of Jacob together, and take them for your inheritance, as from the beginning. ¹²O Lord, have mercy upon the people that is called by your name, and upon Israel, whom you likened to a firstborn. ¹³Have compassion upon the city of your sanctuary, Jerusalem, the place of your rest. ¹⁴Fill Zion. Exalt your oracles and fill your people with your glory. ¹⁵Give testimony to those who were your creatures in the beginning, and fulfill the prophecies that have been spoken in your name. ¹⁶Reward those who wait for you, and men will put their trust in your prophets. ¹⁷Listen, O Lord, to the prayer of your servants, according to the blessing of Aaron concerning your people; and all those who are on the earth will know that you are the Lord, the eternal God. ¹⁸The belly will eat any food, but one food is better than another. ¹⁹The mouth tastes meats taken in hunting, so does an understanding heart detect false speech. ²⁰A contrary heart will cause heaviness. A man of experience will pay him back. ²¹A woman will receive any man, but one daughter is better than another. ²²The beauty of a woman cheers the countenance. A man desires nothing more. ²³If kindness and humility are on her tongue, her husband is not like other sons of men. ²⁴He who gets a wife gets his richest treasure, a help meet for him and a pillar of support. ²⁵Where no hedge is, the property will be plundered. He who has no wife will mourn as he wanders. ²⁶For who would trust a nimble robber who skips from city to city? Even so, who would trust a man who has no nest, and lodges wherever he finds himself at nightfall?

¹Every friend will say, “I also am his friend”; but there is a friend which is only a friend in name. ²Isn’t there a grief in it even to death when a companion and friend is turned into an enemy? ³O wicked imagination, why were you formed to cover the dry land with deceit? ⁴There is a companion who rejoices in the gladness of a friend, but in time of affliction will be against him. ⁵There is a companion who for the belly’s sake labors with his friend, yet in the face of battle will carry his buckler. ⁶Don’t forget a friend in your soul. Don’t be unmindful of him in your riches. ⁷Every counselor extols counsel, but some give counsel in their own interest. ⁸Let your soul beware of a counselor, and know in advance what is his interest (for he will take counsel for himself), lest he cast the lot against you, ⁹and say to you, “Your way is good.” Then he will stand near you, to see what will happen to you. ¹⁰Don’t take counsel with one who looks askance at you. Hide your counsel from those who are jealous of you. ¹¹Don’t consult with a woman about her rival, with a coward about war, with a merchant about business, with a buyer about selling, with an envious man about thankfulness, with an unmerciful man about kindliness, with a sluggard about any kind of work, with a hireling in your house about finishing his work, or with an idle servant about much business. Pay no attention to these in any matter of counsel. ¹²But rather be continually with a godly man, whom you know to be a keeper of the commandments, who in his soul is as your own soul, and who will grieve with you, if you fail. ¹³Make the counsel of your heart stand, for there is no one more faithful to you than it. ¹⁴For a man’s soul is sometimes inclined to inform him better than seven watchmen who sit on high on a watch-tower. ¹⁵Above all this ask the Most High that he may direct your way in truth. ¹⁶Let reason be the beginning of every work. Let counsel go before every action. ¹⁷As a token of the changing of the heart, ¹⁸four kinds of things rise up: good and evil, life and death. That which rules over them continually is the tongue. ¹⁹There is one who is clever and the instructor of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul. ²⁰There is one who is subtle in words, and is hated. He will be destitute of all food. ²¹For grace was not given to him from the Lord, because he is deprived of all wisdom. ²²There is one who is wise to his own soul; and the fruits of his understanding are trustworthy in the mouth. ²³A wise man will instruct his own people. The fruits of his understanding are trustworthy. ²⁴A wise man will be filled with blessing. All those who see him will call him happy. ²⁵The life of a man is counted by days. The days of Israel are innumerable. ²⁶The wise man will inherit confidence among his people. His name will live forever. ²⁷My son, test your soul in your life. See what is evil for it, and don’t give in to it. ²⁸For not all things are profitable for all men. Not every soul has pleasure in everything. ²⁹Don’t be insatiable in any luxury. Don’t be greedy in the things that you eat. ³⁰For overeating brings disease, and gluttony causes nausea. ³¹Because of gluttony, many have perished, but he who takes heed shall prolong his life.

¹Honor a physician according to your need with the honors due to him, for truly the Lord has created him. ²For healing comes from the Most High, and he shall receive a gift from the king. ³The skill of the physician will lift up his head. He will be admired in the sight of great men. ⁴The Lord created medicines out of the earth. A prudent man will not despise them. ⁵Wasn’t water made sweet with wood, that its power might be known? ⁶He gave men skill that he might be glorified in his marvelous works. ⁷With them he heals and takes away pain. ⁸With these, the pharmacist makes a mixture. God’s works won’t be brought to an end. From him, peace is upon the face of the earth. ⁹My son, in your sickness don’t be negligent, but pray to the Lord, and he will heal you. ¹⁰Put away wrong doing, and direct your hands in righteousness. Cleanse your heart from all sin. ¹¹Give a sweet savor and a memorial of fine flour, and pour oil on your offering, according to your means. ¹²Then give place to the physician, for truly the Lord has created him. Don’t let him leave you, for you need him. ¹³There is a time when recovery is in their hands. ¹⁴For they also shall ask the Lord to prosper them in diagnosis and in healing for the maintenance of life. ¹⁵He who sins before his Maker, let him fall into the hands of the physician. ¹⁶My son, let your tears fall over the dead, and as one who suffers grievously, begin lamentation. Wind up his body with due honor. Don’t neglect his burial. ¹⁷Make bitter weeping and make passionate wailing. Let your mourning be according to his merit, for one day or two, lest you be spoken evil of; and so be comforted for your sorrow. ¹⁸For from sorrow comes death. Sorrow of heart saps one’s strength. ¹⁹In calamity, sorrow also remains. A poor man’s life is grievous to the heart. ²⁰Don’t give your heart to sorrow. Put it away, remembering the end. ²¹Don’t forget it, for there is no returning again. You do him no good, and you would harm yourself. ²²Remember his end, for so also will yours be: yesterday for him, and today for you. ²³When the dead is at rest, let his remembrance rest. Be comforted for him when his spirit departs from him. ²⁴The wisdom of the scribe comes by the opportunity of leisure. He who has little business can become wise. ²⁵How could he become wise who holds the plow, who glories in the shaft of the goad, who drives oxen and is occupied in their labors, and who mostly talks about bulls? ²⁶He will set his heart upon turning his furrows. His lack of sleep is to give his heifers their fodder. ²⁷So is every craftsman and master artisan who passes his time by night as by day, those who cut engravings of signets. His diligence is to make great variety. He sets his heart to preserve likeness in his portraiture, and is careful to finish his work. ²⁸So too is the smith sitting by the anvil and considering the unwrought iron. The smoke of the fire will waste his flesh. He toils in the heat of the furnace. The noise of the hammer deafens his ear. His eyes are upon the pattern of the object. He will set his heart upon perfecting his works. He will be careful to adorn them perfectly. ²⁹So is the potter sitting at his work and turning the wheel around with his feet, who is always anxiously set at his work. He produces his handiwork in quantity. ³⁰He will fashion the clay with his arm and will bend its strength in front of his feet. He will apply his heart to finish the glazing. He will be careful to clean the kiln. ³¹All these put their trust in their hands. Each becomes skillful in his own work. ³²Without these no city would be inhabited. Men wouldn’t reside as foreigners or walk up and down there. ³³They won’t be sought for in the council of the people. They won’t mount on high in the assembly. They won’t sit on the seat of the judge. They won’t understand the covenant of judgment. Neither will they declare instruction and judgment. They won’t be found where parables are. ³⁴But they will maintain the fabric of the age. Their prayer is in the handiwork of their craft.

¹Not so he who has applied his soul and meditates in the law of the Most High. He will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients and will be occupied with prophecies. ²He will keep the sayings of the men of renown and will enter in amidst the subtleties of parables. ³He will seek out the hidden meaning of proverbs and be conversant in the dark sayings of parables. ⁴He will serve among great men and appear before him who rules. He will travel through the land of foreign nations, for he has learned what is good and evil among men. ⁵He will apply his heart to return early to the Lord who made him, and will make supplication before the Most High, and will open his mouth in prayer, and will ask for pardon for his sins. ⁶If the great Lord wills, he will be filled with the spirit of understanding; he will pour forth the words of his wisdom and in prayer give thanks to the Lord. ⁷He will direct his counsel and knowledge, and he will meditate in his secrets. ⁸He will show the instruction which he has been taught and will glory in the law of the covenant of the Lord. ⁹Many will commend his understanding. So long as the world endures, it won’t be blotted out. His memory won’t depart. His name will live from generation to generation. ¹⁰Nations will declare his wisdom. The congregation will proclaim his praise. ¹¹If he continues, he will leave a greater name than a thousand. If he finally rests, it is enough for him. ¹²Yet more I will utter, which I have thought about. I am filled like the full moon. ¹³Listen to me, you holy children, and bud forth like a rose growing by a brook of water. ¹⁴Give a sweet fragrance like frankincense. Put forth flowers like a lily. Scatter a sweet smell and sing a song of praise. Bless the Lord for all his works! ¹⁵Magnify his name and give utterance to his praise with the songs on your lips and with harps! Say this when you utter his praise: ¹⁶All the works of the Lord are exceedingly good, and every command will be done in its time. ¹⁷No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for at the proper time they will all be sought out. At his word, the waters stood as a heap, as did the reservoirs of water at the word of his mouth. ¹⁸At his command all his good pleasure is fulfilled. There is no one who can hinder his salvation. ¹⁹The works of all flesh are before him. It’s impossible to be hidden from his eyes. ²⁰He sees from everlasting to everlasting. There is nothing too wonderful for him. ²¹No one can say, “What is this?” “Why is that?” for all things are created for their own uses. ²²His blessing covered the dry land as a river and saturated it as a flood. ²³As he has made the waters salty, so the heathen will inherit his wrath. ²⁴His ways are plain to the holy. They are stumbling blocks to the wicked. ²⁵Good things are created from the beginning for the good. So are evil things for sinners. ²⁶The main things necessary for the life of man are water, fire, iron, salt, wheat flour, and honey, milk, the blood of the grape, oil, and clothing. ²⁷All these things are for good to the godly, but for sinners, they will be turned into evils. ²⁸There are winds that are created for vengeance, and in their fury they lay on their scourges heavily. In the time of reckoning, they pour out their strength, and will appease the wrath of him who made them. ²⁹Fire, hail, famine, and death— all these are created for vengeance— ³⁰wild beasts’ teeth, scorpions, adders, and a sword punishing the ungodly to destruction. ³¹They will rejoice in his commandment, and will be made ready upon earth when needed. In their seasons, they won’t disobey his command. ³²Therefore from the beginning I was convinced, and I thought it through and left it in writing: ³³All the works of the Lord are good. He will supply every need in its time. ³⁴No one can say, “This is worse than that,” for they will all be well approved in their time. ³⁵Now with all your hearts and voices, sing praises and bless the Lord’s name!

¹Great travail is created for every man. A heavy yoke is upon the sons of Adam, from the day of their coming forth from their mother’s womb, until the day for their burial in the mother of all things. ²The expectation of things to come, and the day of death, trouble their thoughts, and cause fear in their hearts. ³From him who sits on a throne of glory, even to him who is humbled in earth and ashes, ⁴from him who wears purple and a crown, even to him who is clothed in burlap, ⁵there is wrath, jealousy, trouble, unrest, fear of death, anger, and strife. In the time of rest upon his bed, his night sleep changes his knowledge. ⁶He gets little or no rest, and afterward in his sleep, as in a day of keeping watch, he is troubled in the vision of his heart, as one who has escaped from the front of battle. ⁷In the very time of his deliverance, he awakens, and marvels that the fear is nothing. ⁸To all creatures, human and animal, and upon sinners sevenfold more, ⁹come death, bloodshed, strife, sword, calamities, famine, suffering, and plague. ¹⁰All these things were created for the wicked, and because of them the flood came. ¹¹All things that are of the earth turn to the earth again. All things that are of the waters return into the sea. ¹²All bribery and injustice will be blotted out. Good faith will stand forever. ¹³The goods of the unjust will be dried up like a river, and like a great thunder in rain will go off in noise. ¹⁴In opening his hands, a man will be made glad; so lawbreakers will utterly fail. ¹⁵The children of the ungodly won’t grow many branches, and are as unhealthy roots on a sheer rock. ¹⁶The reeds by every water or river bank will be plucked up before all grass. ¹⁷Kindness is like a garden of blessings. Almsgiving endures forever. ¹⁸The life of one who labors and is content will be made sweet. He who finds a treasure is better than both. ¹⁹Children and the building of a city establish a name. A blameless wife is better than both. ²⁰Wine and music rejoice the heart. The love of wisdom is better than both. ²¹The pipe and the lute make pleasant melody. A pleasant tongue is better than both. ²²Your eye desires grace and beauty, but the green shoots of grain more than both. ²³A friend and a companion is always welcome, and a wife with her husband is better than both. ²⁴Relatives and helpers are for a time of affliction, but almsgiving rescues better than both. ²⁵Gold and silver will make the foot stand sure, and counsel is esteemed better than both. ²⁶Riches and strength will lift up the heart. The fear of the Lord is better than both. There is nothing lacking in the fear of the Lord. In it, there is no need to seek help. ²⁷The fear of the Lord is like a garden of blessing and covers a man more than any glory. ²⁸My son, don’t lead a beggar’s life. It is better to die than to beg. ²⁹A man who looks to the table of another, his life is not to be considered a life. He will pollute his soul with another person’s food, but a wise and well-instructed person will beware of that. ³⁰Begging will be sweet in the mouth of the shameless, but it kindles a fire in his belly.

¹O death, how bitter is the memory of you to a man who is at peace in his possessions, to the man who has nothing to distract him and has prosperity in all things, and who still has strength to enjoy food! ²O death, your sentence is acceptable to a man who is needy and who fails in strength, who is in extreme old age, is distracted about all things, is perverse, and has lost patience! ³Don’t be afraid of the sentence of death. Remember those who have been before you and who come after. This is the sentence from the Lord over all flesh. ⁴And why do you refuse when it is the good pleasure of the Most High? Whether life lasts ten, or a hundred, or a thousand years, there is no inquiry about life in Hades. ⁵The children of sinners are abominable children and they frequent the dwellings of the ungodly. ⁶The inheritance of sinners’ children will perish and with their posterity will be a perpetual disgrace. ⁷Children will complain of an ungodly father, because they suffer disgrace because of him. ⁸Woe to you, ungodly men, who have forsaken the law of the Most High God! ⁹If you are born, you will be born to a curse. If you die, a curse will be your portion. ¹⁰All things that are of the earth will go back to the earth; so the ungodly will go from a curse to perdition. ¹¹The mourning of men is about their bodies; but the evil name of sinners will be blotted out. ¹²Have regard for your name, for it continues with you longer than a thousand great treasures of gold. ¹³A good life has its number of days, but a good name continues forever. ¹⁴My children, follow instruction in peace. But wisdom that is hidden and a treasure that is not seen, what benefit is in them both? ¹⁵Better is a man who hides his foolishness than a man who hides his wisdom. ¹⁶Therefore show respect for my words; for it is not good to retain every kind of shame. Not everything is approved by all in good faith. ¹⁷Be ashamed of sexual immorality before father and mother, of a lie before a prince and a mighty man, ¹⁸of an offense before a judge and ruler, of iniquity before the congregation and the people, of unjust dealing before a partner and friend, ¹⁹and of theft in the place where you sojourn. Be ashamed in regard of the truth of God and his covenant, of leaning on your elbow at dinner, of contemptuous behavior in the matter of giving and taking, ²⁰of silence before those who greet you, of looking at a woman who is a prostitute, ²¹of turning away your face from a kinsman, of taking away a portion or a gift, of gazing at a woman who has a husband, ²²of meddling with his maid—and don’t come near her bed, of abusive speech to friends—and after you have given, don’t insult, ²³of repeating and speaking what you have heard, and of revealing of secrets. ²⁴So you will be ashamed of the right things and find favor in the sight of every man.

¹Don’t be ashamed of these things, and don’t sin to save face: ²of the law of the Most High and his covenant, of judgment to do justice to the ungodly, ³of reckoning with a partner and with travellers, of a gift from the inheritance of friends, ⁴of exactness of scales and weights, of getting much or little, ⁵of bargaining dealing with merchants, of frequent correction of children, and of making the back of an evil slave to bleed. ⁶A seal is good where an evil wife is. Where there are many hands, lock things up. ⁷Whatever you hand over, let it be by number and weight. In giving and receiving, let all be in writing. ⁸Don’t be ashamed to instruct the unwise and foolish, and one of extreme old age who contends with those who are young. So you will be well instructed indeed and approved in the sight of every living man. ⁹A daughter is a secret cause of wakefulness to a father. Care for her takes away sleep— in her youth, lest she pass the flower of her age; when she is married, lest she should be hated; ¹⁰in her virginity, lest she should be defiled and be with child in her father’s house; when she has a husband, lest she should transgress; and when she is married, lest she should be barren. ¹¹Keep a strict watch over a headstrong daughter, lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies, a byword in the city and notorious among the people, and shame you in public. ¹²Don’t gaze at every beautiful body. Don’t sit in the midst of women. ¹³For from garments comes a moth, and from a woman comes a woman’s wickedness. ¹⁴Better is the wickedness of a man than a pleasant woman, a woman who puts you to shame and disgrace. ¹⁵I will make mention now of the works of the Lord, and will declare the things that I have seen. The Lord’s works are in his words. ¹⁶The sun that gives light looks at all things. The Lord’s work is full of his glory. ¹⁷The Lord has not given power to the saints to declare all his marvelous works, which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, that the universe might be established in his glory. ¹⁸He searches out the deep and the heart. He has understanding of their secrets. For the Most High knows all knowledge. He sees the signs of the world. ¹⁹He declares the things that are past and the things that shall be, and reveals the traces of hidden things. ²⁰No thought escapes him. There is not a word hidden from him. ²¹He has ordered the mighty works of his wisdom. He is from everlasting to everlasting. Nothing has been added to them, nor diminished from them. He had no need of any counselor. ²²How desirable are all his works! One may see this even in a spark. ²³All these things live and remain forever in all manner of uses. They are all obedient. ²⁴All things are in pairs, one opposite the other. He has made nothing imperfect. ²⁵One thing establishes the good things of another. Who could ever see enough of his glory?

¹The pride of the heavenly heights is the clear sky, the appearance of heaven, in the spectacle of its glory. ²The sun, when it appears, bringing tidings as it rises, is a marvelous instrument, the work of the Most High. ³At noon, it dries up the land. Who can stand against its burning heat? ⁴A man tending a furnace is in burning heat, but the sun three times more, burning up the mountains, breathing out fiery vapors, and sending out bright beams, it blinds the eyes. ⁵Great is the Lord who made it. At his word, he hastens on its course. ⁶The moon marks the changing seasons, declares times, and is a sign for the world. ⁷From the moon is the sign of feast days, a light that wanes when it completes its course. ⁸The month is called after its name, increasing wonderfully in its changing— an instrument of the army on high, shining in the structure of heaven, ⁹the beauty of heaven, the glory of the stars, an ornament giving light in the highest places of the Lord. ¹⁰At the word of the Holy One, they will stand in due order. They won’t faint in their watches. ¹¹Look at the rainbow, and praise him who made it. It is exceedingly beautiful in its brightness. ¹²It encircles the sky with its glorious circle. The hands of the Most High have stretched it out. ¹³By his commandment, he makes the snow fall and swiftly sends the lightnings of his judgment. ¹⁴Therefore the storehouses are opened, and clouds fly out like birds. ¹⁵By his mighty power, he makes the clouds strong and the hailstones are broken in pieces. ¹⁶At his appearing, the mountains will be shaken. At his will, the south wind will blow. ¹⁷The voice of his thunder rebukes the earth. So does the northern storm and the whirlwind. Like birds flying down, he sprinkles the snow. It falls down like the lighting of locusts. ¹⁸The eye is dazzled at the beauty of its whiteness. The heart is amazed as it falls. ¹⁹He also pours out frost on the earth like salt. When it is freezes, it has points like thorns. ²⁰The cold north wind blows and ice freezes on the water. It settles on every pool of water. The water puts it on like it was a breastplate. ²¹It will devour the mountains, burn up the wilderness, and consume the green grass like fire. ²²A mist coming speedily heals all things. A dew coming after heat brings cheerfulness. ²³By his counsel, he has calmed the deep and planted islands in it. ²⁴Those who sail on the sea tell of its dangers. We marvel when we hear it with our ears. ²⁵There are also those strange and wondrous works in it— variety of all that has life and the huge creatures of the sea. ²⁶Because of him, his messengers succeed. By his word, all things hold together. ²⁷We may say many things, but couldn’t say enough. The summary of our words is, “He is everything!” ²⁸How could we have strength to glorify him? For he is himself the greater than all his works. ²⁹The Lord is awesome and exceedingly great! His power is marvelous! ³⁰Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can! For even yet, he will surpass that. When you exalt him, summon your full strength. Don’t be weary, because you can’t praise him enough. ³¹Who has seen him, that he may describe him? Who can magnify him as he is? ³²Many things greater than these are hidden, for we have seen just a few of his works. ³³For the Lord made all things. He gave wisdom to the godly.

¹Let us now praise famous men, our ancestors in their generations. ²The Lord created great glory in them— his mighty power from the beginning. ³Some ruled in their kingdoms and were men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding. Some have spoken in prophecies, ⁴leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their understanding, giving instruction for the people. Their words in their instruction were wise. ⁵Some composed musical tunes, and set forth verses in writing, ⁶rich men endowed with ability, living peaceably in their homes. ⁷All these were honored in their generations, and were outstanding in their days. ⁸Some of them have left a name behind them, so that others declare their praises. ⁹But of others, there is no memory. They perished as though they had not been. They become as though they had not been born, they and their children after them. ¹⁰But these were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds have not been forgotten. ¹¹A good inheritance remains with their offspring. Their children are within the covenant. ¹²Their offspring stand fast, with their children, for their sakes. ¹³Their offspring will remain forever. Their glory won’t be blotted out. ¹⁴Their bodies were buried in peace. Their name lives to all generations. ¹⁵People will declare their wisdom. The congregation proclaims their praise. ¹⁶Enoch pleased the Lord, and was taken up, an example of repentance to all generations. ¹⁷Noah was found perfect and righteous. In the season of wrath, he kept the race alive. Therefore a remnant was left on the earth when the flood came. ¹⁸Everlasting covenants were made with him, that all flesh should no more be blotted out by a flood. ¹⁹Abraham was a great father of a multitude of nations. There was none found like him in glory, ²⁰who kept the law of the Most High, and was taken into covenant with him. In his flesh he established the covenant. When he was tested, he was found faithful. ²¹Therefore he assured him by an oath that the nations would be blessed through his offspring, that he would multiply him like the dust of the earth, exalt his offspring like the stars, and cause them to inherit from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates River to the utmost parts of the earth. ²²In Isaac also, he established the same assurance for Abraham his father’s sake, the blessing of all men, and the covenant. ²³He made it rest upon the head of Jacob. He acknowledged him in his blessings, gave to him by inheritance, and divided his portions. He distributed them among twelve tribes.

¹He brought out of him a man of mercy, who found favor in the sight of all people, a man loved by God and men, even Moses, whose memory is blessed. ²He made him equal to the glory of the saints, and magnified him in the fears of his enemies. ³By his words he caused the wonders to cease. God glorified him in the sight of kings. He gave him commandments for his people and showed him part of his glory. ⁴He sanctified him in his faithfulness and meekness. He chose him out of all people. ⁵He made him to hear his voice, led him into the thick darkness, and gave him commandments face to face, even the law of life and knowledge, that he might teach Jacob the covenant, and Israel his judgments. ⁶He exalted Aaron, a holy man like Moses, even his brother, of the tribe of Levi. ⁷He established an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him the priesthood of the people. He blessed him with stateliness, and dressed him in a glorious robe. ⁸He clothed him in perfect splendor, and strengthened him with symbols of authority: the linen trousers, the long robe, and the ephod. ⁹He encircled him with pomegranates; with many golden bells around him, to make a sound as he went, to make a sound that might be heard in the temple, for a reminder for the children of his people; ¹⁰with a holy garment, with gold, blue, and purple, the work of the embroiderer; with an oracle of judgment—Urim and Thummim; ¹¹with twisted scarlet, the work of the craftsman; with precious stones engraved like a signet, in a setting of gold, the work of the jeweller, for a reminder engraved in writing, after the number of the tribes of Israel; ¹²with a crown of gold upon the mitre, having engraved on it, as on a signet, “HOLINESS”, an ornament of honor, the work of an expert, the desires of the eyes, goodly and beautiful. ¹³Before him there never have been anything like it. No stranger put them on, but only his sons and his offspring perpetually. ¹⁴His sacrifices shall be wholly burned, twice every day continually. ¹⁵Moses consecrated him, and anointed him with holy oil. It was an everlasting covenant with him and to his offspring, all the days of heaven, to minister to the Lord, to serve as a priest, and to bless his people in his name. ¹⁶He chose him out of all living to offer sacrifice to the Lord— incense, and a sweet fragrance, for a memorial, to make atonement for your people. ¹⁷He gave to him in his commandments, authority in the covenants of judgments, to teach Jacob the testimonies, and to enlighten Israel in his law. ¹⁸Strangers conspired against him and envied him in the wilderness: Dathan and Abiram with their company, and the congregation of Korah, with wrath and anger. ¹⁹The Lord saw it, and it displeased him. In the wrath of his anger, they were destroyed. He did wonders upon them, to consume them with flaming fire. ²⁰He added glory to Aaron, and gave him a heritage. He divided to him the first fruits of the increase, and prepared bread of first fruits in abundance. ²¹For they eat the sacrifices of the Lord, which he gave to him and to his offspring. ²²However, in the land of the people, he has no inheritance, and he has no portion among the people, for the Lord himself is your portion and inheritance. ²³Phinehas the son of Eleazar is the third in glory, in that he was zealous in the fear of the Lord, and stood fast when the people turned away, and he made atonement for Israel. ²⁴Therefore, a covenant of peace was established for him, that he should be leader of the sanctuary and of his people, that he and his offspring should have the dignity of the priesthood forever. ²⁵Also he made a covenant with David the son of Jesse, of the tribe of Judah. The inheritance of the king is his alone from son to son. So the inheritance of Aaron is also to his seed. ²⁶May God give you wisdom in your heart to judge his people in righteousness, that their good things may not be abolished, and that their glory may endure for all their generations.

¹Joshua the son of Nun was valiant in war, and was the successor of Moses in prophecies. He was made great according to his name for the saving of God’s elect, to take vengeance on the enemies that rose up against them, that he might give Israel their inheritance. ²How he was glorified in the lifting up his hands, and in stretching out his sword against the cities! ³Who before him stood so firm? For the Lord himself brought his enemies to him. ⁴Didn’t the sun go back by his hand? Didn’t one day become as two? ⁵He called upon the Most High, the Mighty One, when his foes pressed in all around him, and the great Lord heard him. ⁶With hailstones of mighty power, he caused war to break violently upon the nation, and on the slope he destroyed those who resisted, so that the nations might know his armor, how he fought in the sight of the Lord; for he followed the Mighty One. ⁷Also in the time of Moses, he did a work of mercy— he and Caleb the son of Jephunneh— in that they withstood the adversary, hindered the people from sin, and stilled their wicked complaining. ⁸And of six hundred thousand people on foot, they two alone were preserved to bring them into their inheritance, into a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁹The Lord gave strength to Caleb, and it remained with him to his old age, so that he entered the hill country, and his offspring obtained it for an inheritance, ¹⁰that all the children of Israel might see that it is good to follow the Lord. ¹¹Also the judges, every one by his name, all whose hearts didn’t engage in immorality, and who didn’t turn away from the Lord— may their memory be blessed! ¹²May their bones flourish again out of their place. May the name of those who have been honored be renewed in their children. ¹³Samuel, the prophet of the Lord, loved by his Lord, established a kingdom and anointed princes over his people. ¹⁴By the law of the Lord he judged the congregation, and the Lord watched over Jacob. ¹⁵By his faithfulness he was proved to be a prophet. By his words he was known to be faithful in vision. ¹⁶When his enemies pressed on him on every side, he called upon the Lord, the Mighty One, with the offering of the suckling lamb. ¹⁷Then the Lord thundered from heaven. He made his voice heard with a mighty sound. ¹⁸He utterly destroyed the rulers of the Tyrians and all the princes of the Philistines. ¹⁹Before the time of his age-long sleep, he testified in the sight of the lord and his anointed, “I have not taken any man’s goods, so much as a sandal;” and no one accused him. ²⁰Even after he fell asleep, he prophesied, and showed the king his end, and lifted up his voice from the earth in prophecy, to blot out the wickedness of the people.

¹After him, Nathan rose up to prophesy in the days of David. ²As is the fat when it is separated from the peace offering, so was David separated from the children of Israel. ³He played with lions as with kids, and with bears as with lambs of the flock. ⁴In his youth didn’t he kill a giant, and take away reproach from the people when he lifted up his hand with a sling stone, and beat down the boasting Goliath? ⁵For he called upon the Most High Lord, and he gave him strength in his right hand to kill a man mighty in war, to exalt the horn of his people. ⁶So they glorified him for his tens of thousands, and praised him for the blessings of the Lord, in that a glorious diadem was given to him. ⁷For he destroyed the enemies on every side, and defeated the Philistines his adversaries. He broke their horn in pieces to this day. ⁸In every work of his he gave thanks to the Holy One Most High with words of glory. He sang praise with his whole heart, and loved him who made him. ⁹He set singers before the altar, to make sweet melody by their music. ¹⁰He gave beauty to the feasts, and set in order the seasons to completion while they praised his holy name, and the sanctuary resounded from early morning. ¹¹The Lord took away his sins, and exalted his horn forever. He gave him a covenant of kings, and a glorious throne in Israel. ¹²After him a wise son rose up, who because of him lived in security. ¹³Solomon reigned in days of peace. God gave him rest all around, that he might set up a house for his name, and prepare a sanctuary forever. ¹⁴How wise you were made in your youth, and filled as a river with understanding! ¹⁵Your influence covered the earth, and you filled it with parables and riddles. ¹⁶Your name reached to the far away islands, and you were loved for your peace. ¹⁷For your songs, proverbs, parables, and interpretations, the countries marveled at you. ¹⁸By the name of the Lord God, who is called the God of Israel, you gathered gold like tin, and multiplied silver like lead. ¹⁹You bowed your loins to women, and in your body you were brought into subjection. ²⁰You blemished your honor, and defiled your offspring, to bring wrath upon your children. I was grieved for your folly, ²¹because the sovereignty was divided, and a disobedient kingdom ruled out of Ephraim. ²²But the Lord will never forsake his mercy. He won’t destroy any of his works, nor blot out the posterity of his elect. He won’t take away the offspring of him who loved him. He gave a remnant to Jacob, and to David a root from his own family. ²³So Solomon rested with his fathers. Of his offspring, he left behind him Rehoboam, the foolishness of the people, and one who lacked understanding, who made the people revolt by his counsel. Also Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, and gave a way of sin to Ephraim. ²⁴Their sins were multiplied exceedingly, until they were removed from their land. ²⁵For they sought out all manner of wickedness, until vengeance came upon them.

¹Then Elijah arose, the prophet like fire. His word burned like a torch. ²He brought a famine upon them, and by his zeal made them few in number. ³By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens. He brought down fire three times. ⁴How you were glorified, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds! Whose glory is like yours? ⁵You raised up a dead man from death, from Hades, by the word of the Most High. ⁶You brought down kings to destruction, and honorable men from their sickbeds. ⁷You heard rebuke in Sinai, and judgments of vengeance in Horeb. ⁸You anointed kings for retribution, and prophets to succeed after you. ⁹You were taken up in a tempest of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses. ¹⁰You were recorded for reproofs in their seasons, to pacify anger, before it broke out into wrath, to turn the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. ¹¹Blessed are those who saw you, and those who have been beautified with love; for we also shall surely live. ¹²Elijah was wrapped in a whirlwind. Elisha was filled with his spirit. In his days he was not moved by the fear of any ruler, and no one brought him into subjection. ¹³Nothing was too hard for him. When he was buried, his body prophesied. ¹⁴As in his life he did wonders, so his works were also marvelous in death. ¹⁵For all this the people didn’t repent. They didn’t depart from their sins, until they were carried away as a plunder from their land, and were scattered through all the earth. The people were left very few in number, but with a ruler from the house of David. ¹⁶Some of them did that which was right, but some multiplied sins. ¹⁷Hezekiah fortified his city, and brought water into its midst. He tunneled through rock with iron, and built cisterns for water. ¹⁸In his days Sennacherib invaded, and sent Rabshakeh, and departed. He lifted up his hand against Zion, and boasted great things in his arrogance. ¹⁹Then their hearts and their hands were shaken, and they were in pain, as women in labor. ²⁰But they called upon the Lord who is merciful, spreading out their hands to him. The Holy One quickly heard them out of Heaven, and delivered them by the hand of Isaiah. ²¹He struck the camp of the Assyrians, and his angel utterly destroyed them. ²²For Hezekiah did that which was pleasing to the Lord, and was strong in the ways of his ancestor David, which Isaiah the prophet commanded, who was great and faithful in his vision. ²³In his days the sun went backward. He prolonged the life of the king. ²⁴He saw by an excellent spirit what would come to pass in the future; and he comforted those who mourned in Zion. ²⁵He showed the things that would happen through the end of time, and the hidden things before they came.

¹The memory of Josiah is like the composition of incense prepared by the work of the perfumer. It will be sweet as honey in every mouth, and like music at a banquet of wine. ²He did what was right in the reforming of the people, and took away the abominations of iniquity. ³He set his heart right toward the Lord. In lawless days, he made godliness prevail. ⁴Except David, Hezekiah, and Josiah, all were wicked, because they abandoned the law of the Most High. The kings of Judah came to an end. ⁵They gave their power to others, and their glory to a foreign nation. ⁶They set the chosen city of the sanctuary on fire and made her streets desolate, as it was written by the hand of Jeremiah. ⁷For they mistreated him; yet he was sanctified in the womb to be a prophet, to root out, to afflict, to destroy and likewise to build and to plant. ⁸Ezekiel saw the vision of glory, which God showed him on the chariot of the cherubim. ⁹For truly he remembered the enemies in rainstorm, and to do good to those who directed their ways aright. ¹⁰Also of the twelve prophets, may their bones flourish again out of their place. He comforted the people of Jacob, and delivered them by confident hope. ¹¹How shall we magnify Zerubbabel? He was like a signet ring on the right hand. ¹²So was Jesus the son of Josedek, who in their days built the house, and exalted a people holy to the Lord, prepared for everlasting glory. ¹³Also of Nehemiah the memory is great. He raised up for us fallen walls, set up the gates and bars, and rebuilt our houses. ¹⁴No man was created upon the earth like Enoch, for he was taken up from the earth. ¹⁵Nor was there a man born like Joseph, a leader of his kindred, a supporter of the people. Even his bones were cared for. ¹⁶Shem and Seth were honored among men, but above every living thing in the creation was Adam.

¹It was Simon, the son of Onias, the high priest, who in his life repaired the house, and in his days strengthened the temple. ²The foundation was built by him to the height of the double walls, the lofty retaining walls of the temple enclosure. ³In his days, a water cistern was dug, the brazen vessel like the sea in circumference. ⁴He planned to save his people from ruin, and fortified the city against siege. ⁵How glorious he was when the people gathered around him as he came out of the house of the veil! ⁶He was like the morning star among clouds, like the full moon, ⁷like the sun shining on the temple of the Most High, like the rainbow shining in clouds of glory, ⁸like roses in the days of first fruits, like lilies by a water spring, like the shoot of the frankincense tree in summer time, ⁹like fire and incense in the censer, like a vessel of beaten gold adorned with all kinds of precious stones, ¹⁰like an olive tree loaded with fruit, and like a cypress growing high among the clouds. ¹¹When he put on his glorious robe, and clothed himself in perfect splendor, ascending to the holy altar, he made the court of the sanctuary glorious. ¹²When he received the portions out of the priests’ hands, as he stood by the hearth of the altar, with his kindred like a garland around him, he was like a young cedar in Lebanon surrounded by the trunks of palm trees. ¹³All the sons of Aaron in their glory, held the Lord’s offering in their hands before all the congregation of Israel. ¹⁴Finishing the service at the altars, that he might arrange the offering of the Most High, the Almighty, ¹⁵he stretched out his hand to the cup of libation, and poured out the cup of the grape. He poured it out at the foot of the altar, a sweet smelling fragrance to the Most High, the King of all. ¹⁶Then the sons of Aaron shouted. They sounded the trumpets of beaten work. They made a great fanfare to be heard, for a reminder before the Most High. ¹⁷Then all the people together hurried, and fell down to the ground on their faces to worship their Lord, the Almighty, God Most High. ¹⁸The singers also praised him with their voices. There was a sweet melody in the whole house. ¹⁹And the people implored the Lord Most High, in prayer before him who is merciful, until the worship of the Lord was finished, and so they accomplished his service. ²⁰Then he went down, and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the children of Israel, to give blessing to the Lord with his lips, and to glory in his name. ²¹He bowed himself down in worship the second time, to declare the blessing from the Most High. ²²Now bless the God of all, who everywhere does great things, who exalts our days from the womb, and deals with us according to his mercy. ²³May he grant us joyfulness of heart, and that peace may be in our days in Israel for the days of eternity, ²⁴to entrust his mercy with us, and let him deliver us in his time! ²⁵With two nations my soul is vexed, and the third is no nation: ²⁶Those who sit on the mountain of Samaria, the Philistines, and the foolish people who live in Shechem. ²⁷I have written in this book the instruction of understanding and knowledge, I Jesus, the son of Sirach Eleazar, of Jerusalem, who out of his heart poured forth wisdom. ²⁸Blessed is he who will exercise these things. He who lays them up in his heart will become wise. ²⁹For if he does them, he will be strong in all things, for the light of the Lord is his guide.

¹I will give thanks to you, O Lord, O King, and will praise you, O God my Savior. I give thanks to your name, ²for you have been my protector and helper, and delivered my body out of destruction, and out of the snare of a slanderous tongue, from lips that fabricate lies. You were my helper before those who stood by, ³and delivered me, according to the abundance of your mercy and of your name, from the gnashings of teeth ready to devour, out of the hand of those seeking my life, out of the many afflictions I endured, ⁴from the choking of a fire on every side, and out of the midst of fire that I hadn’t kindled, ⁵out of the depth of the belly of Hades, from an unclean tongue, and from lying words— ⁶the slander of an unrighteous tongue to the king. My soul drew near to death. My life was near to Hades. ⁷They surrounded me on every side. There was no one to help me. I was looking for human help, and there was none. ⁸Then I remembered your mercy, O Lord, and your working which has been from everlasting, how you deliver those who wait for you, and save them out of the hand of their enemies. ⁹I lifted up my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death. ¹⁰I called upon the Lord, the Father of my Lord, that he would not forsake me in the days of affliction, in the time when there was no help against the proud. ¹¹I will praise your name continually. I will sing praise with thanksgiving. My prayer was heard. ¹²You saved me from destruction and delivered me from the evil time. Therefore I will give thanks and praise to you, and bless the name of the Lord. ¹³When I was yet young, before I went abroad, I sought wisdom openly in my prayer. ¹⁴Before the temple I asked for her. I will seek her out even to the end. ¹⁵From the first flower to the ripening grape my heart delighted in her. My foot walked in uprightness. From my youth I followed her steps. ¹⁶I inclined my ear a little, and received her, and found for myself much instruction. ¹⁷I profited in her. I will give glory to him who gives me wisdom. ¹⁸For I determined to practice her. I was zealous for that which is good. I will never be put to shame. ¹⁹My soul has wrestled with her. In my conduct I was exact. I spread out my hands to the sky above, and bewailed my ignorances of her. ²⁰I directed my soul to her. In purity I found her. I got myself a heart joined with her from the beginning. Therefore I won’t be forsaken. ²¹My belly also was troubled to seek her. Therefore I have gained a good possession. ²²The Lord gave me a tongue for my reward. I will praise him with it. ²³Draw near to me, all you who are uneducated, and live in the house of instruction. ²⁴Why therefore are you all lacking in these things, and your souls are very thirsty? ²⁵I opened my mouth and spoke, “Get her for yourselves without money.” ²⁶Put your neck under the yoke, and let your soul receive instruction. She is near to find. ²⁷See with your eyes how I labored just a little and found for myself much rest. ²⁸Get instruction with a great sum of silver, and gain much gold by her. ²⁹May your soul rejoice in his mercy, and may you all not be put to shame in praising him. ³⁰Work your work before the time comes, and in his time he will give you your reward.