1 Blessed is the man that hath not offended in a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the sorrow of sin.
1 Blessed ¹is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin.
2 Happy is he, that hath not had heaviness of his mind, and hath not fallen from his hope.
2 Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope.
3 Substance is without reason to the covetous man and niggard, and for the spiteful envious man to what purpose is gold?
3 Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?
4 He that heapeth together from his heart unjustly, gathereth for others, and in his goods another will keep riot.
4 He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.
5 He that is wicked to himself, to what other man will he be good? And he shall have no pleasure in his goods.
5 He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? And he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
6 He that envieth himself, nothing is worse than he, and this is the reward of his malice:
6 There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness:
7 and if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and not willing: and at the last he manifesteth his malice.
7 And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness.
8 The eye of the envious is wicked, and turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.
8 The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul.
9 The eye of the covetous man insatiable in a portion of iniquity, will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul withering it.
9 The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up.
10 An evil eye is towards evil things: & he shall have his fill of bread, needy & in heaviness shall he be at his table.
10 An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.
11 Son if thou have it, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy oblations.
11 My son, if thou have anything, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings.
12 Be mindful that death slacked not, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewed thee: for the covenant of this world shall die the death.
12 Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shown to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die.
13 Before death do good to thy friend, and according to thine ability stretching out thy hand, give to the poor.
13 ²Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor.
14 Be not defrauded of thy good day, and let not a little portion of a good gift over-pass thee.
14 Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee.
15 Shalt thou not leave to others thy sorrows, & labours in the division of the lot?
15 Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labors?
16 Give and take, and justify thy soul.
16 Give and take, and justify thy soul.
17 Before thy death work justice: for in hell there cannot meat be found.
17 Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food.
18 All flesh shall wax old as grass, and as the leaf fructifying on a green tree.
18 ³All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on a green tree.
19 Some grow, and some are shaken off: so the generation of flesh and blood, one is ended, and another is born.
19 Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born.
20 All corruptible work shall fail in the end: and he that worketh it shall go therewith.
20 Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.
21 And every excellent work shall be justified: and he that worketh it, shall be honoured therein.
21 And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honored therein.
22 Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in understanding shall consider the providence of God.
22 ⁴Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God.
23 He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, going after her as a searcher, and consisting in her ways:
23 He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways:
24 He that looketh through her windows, and heareth in her gates:
24 He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door.
25 He that resteth by her house, & in her walls fastening a stake will set up his cottage beside her hands: and good things shall rest in his cottage for ever.
25 He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging forever.
26 He shall set his children under her covering, and shall abide under her boughs:
26 He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches:
27 he shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.
27 He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.