1 He that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that communicateth with the proud, shall put on pride.
1 He ¹that toucheth pitch, shall be defiled with it: and he that hath fellowship with the proud, shall put on pride.
2 He shall take a burden upon him that communicateth with one more honourable than himself. And be not companion with one richer than thyself.
2 He shall take a burden upon him that hath fellowship with one more honorable than himself. And have no fellowship with one that is richer than thyself.
3 What society shall the cauldron have with the earthen pot? For when they shall knock one against the other, it shall be broken.
3 What agreement shall the earthen pot have with the kettle? For if they knock one against the other, it shall be broken.
4 The rich man hath done unjustly, and he will fume: but the poor man being hurt will hold his peace.
4 The rich man hath done wrong, and yet he will fume: but the poor is wronged and must hold his peace.
5 If thou give, he will take thee: and if thou have not, he will forsake thee.
5 If thou give, he will make use of thee: and if thou have nothing, he will forsake thee.
6 If thou have, he will live with thee, and will empty thee, and he will not be sorry for thee.
6 If thou have anything, he will live with thee, and will make thee bare, and he will not be sorry for thee.
7 If thou be necessary for him, he will supplant thee, and smiling will put thee in hope, telling thee good things, and will say: What wantest thou?
7 If he have need of thee he will deceive thee, and smiling upon thee will put thee in hope; he will speak thee fair, and will say: What wantest thou?
8 And he will confound thee in his meats, till he empty thee twice & thrice, and at the last he will mock thee: and afterward seeing he will forsake thee, and will shake his head at thee.
8 And he will shame thee by his meats, till he have drawn thee dry twice or thrice, and at last he will laugh at thee: and afterward when he seeth thee, he will forsake thee, and shake his head at thee.
9 Humble thyself to God, and expect his hands.
9 Humble thyself to God, and wait for his hands.
10 Take heed lest seduced into folly thou be humbled.
10 Beware that thou be not deceived into folly, and be humbled.
11 Be not humble in thy wisdom, lest humbled thou be seduced into folly.
11 Be not lowly in thy wisdom, lest being humbled thou be deceived into folly.
12 Being called of the mightier, depart: for by this he will call thee the more.
12 If thou be invited by one that is mightier, withdraw thyself: for so he will invite thee the more.
13 Be not importune, lest thou be rejected: & be not far from him, lest thou go into oblivion.
13 Be not troublesome to him, lest thou be put back: and keep not far from him, lest thou be forgotten.
14 Stay not to speak fellow-like with him: neither credit his many words. For by much talk he will prove thee, and smiling will examine thee of thy secrets.
14 Affect not to speak with him as an equal, and believe not his many words: for by much talk he will sift thee, and smiling will examine thee concerning thy secrets.
15 His cruel mind will keep thy words: and he will not spare for malice, and for bands.
15 His cruel mind will lay up thy words: and he will not spare to do thee hurt, and to cast thee into prison.
16 Take heed to thyself, and attend diligently to thine hearing: because thou walkest with thy subversion.
16 Take heed to thyself, and zattend diligently to what thou hearest: for thou walkest in danger of thy ruin.
17 But hearing those things see as it were in sleep, and thou shalt watch.
17 When thou hearest those things, see as it were in sleep, and thou shalt awake.
18 Love God all thy life, and invocate him for thy salvation.
18 Love God all thy life, and call upon him for thy salvation.
19 Every beast loveth the like to it-self: so also every man the nearest to himself.
19 Every beast loveth its like: so also every man him that is nearest to himself.
20 All flesh will march with the like to it-self, & every man will associate himself to his like.
20 All flesh shall consort with the like to itself, and every man shall associate himself to his like.
21 If the wolf shall at any time communicate with the lamb, so the sinner with the just.
21 If the wolf shall at any time have fellowship with the lamb, so the sinner with the just.
22 What fellowship hath an holy man with a dog, or what part hath the rich with the poor?
22 ²What fellowship hath a holy man with a dog, or what part hath the rich with the poor?
23 The wild ass in the desert is the lion's prey: so the poor are also the pastures of the rich.
23 The wild ass is the lion’s prey in the desert: so also the poor are devoured by the rich.
24 And as humility is abomination to the proud: so also the poor man is the execration of the rich.
24 And as humility is an abomination to the proud: so also the rich man abhorreth the poor.
25 The rich man being moved is confirmed by his friends: but the humble when he is fallen, shall be thrust out even of his familiars.
25 When a rich man is shaken, he is kept up by his friends: but when a poor man is fallen down, he is thrust away even by his acquaintance.
26 To the rich deceived there are many recoverers: he hath spoken proud words, and they have justified him.
26 When a rich man hath been deceived, he hath many helpers: he hath spoken proud things, and they have justified him.
27 The humble was deceived, he moreover is rebuked also: he hath spoken wisely, and place was not given unto him.
27 The poor man was deceived, and he is rebuked also: he hath spoken wisely, and could have no place.
28 The rich man spake, and all held their peace, and they will carry his word even to the clouds.
28 The rich man spoke, and all held their peace, and what he said they extol even to the clouds.
29 The poor man spake and they say: Who is this? And if he stumble, they will overthrow him.
29 The poor man spoke, and they say: Who is this? And if he stumble, they will overthrow him.
30 Substance is good, to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is most wicked in the mouth of the impious.
30 Riches are good to him that hath no sin in his conscience: and poverty is very wicked in the mouth of the ungodly.
31 The heart of a man altereth his countenance, either into good, or into evil.
31 The heart of a man changeth his countenance, either for good, or for evil.
32 The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt hardly find, and with labour.
32 The token of a good heart, and a good countenance thou shalt hardly find, and with labor.