1A workman 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 fall away.
And he who joins with prostitutes will be more reckless.
3Moths 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 will offend against his own soul.
5He who makes merry in his heart will be condemned:
6 He who hates talk has less wickedness.
7Never repeat what is told you,
and you won’t be lacking.
8Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it.
Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it.
9For he has heard you and observed you,
and when the time comes, he will hate you.
10Have you heard a word? Let it die with you.
Be of good courage: it will not burst you.
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 a word in a fool’s belly.
13Reprove a friend; it may be he didn’t do it.
If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more.
14Reprove 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.
15Reprove 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. 18-19
20All wisdom is the fear of the Lord.
In all wisdom is the doing of the law. 21
22The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom.
The prudence of sinners is not counsel.
23There is a wickedness, and it is abomination.
There is a fool lacking in wisdom.
24Better is one who has small understanding, and fears,
than one who has much prudence, and transgresses the law.
25There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust.
And there is one who perverts favor to gain a judgement.
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 making as if he were deaf of one ear.
Where he isn’t known, he will be beforehand with you.
28And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning,
if he find opportunity, he will do mischief.
29A man will be known by his look,
One who has understanding will be known by his face, when you meet him.
30A man’s attire, grinning laughter,
and gait show what he is.