1 Aworkman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.
1 A workman that is a drunkard shall not be rich: and he that contemneth small things, shall fall by little and little.
2 Wine and women make wisemen to apostatate, and shall reprove the prudent:
2 ¹Wine and women make wise men fall off, and shall rebuke the prudent:
3 and he that joineth himself to harlots, shall be naught. Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a greater example, and his life shall be taken out of the number.
3 And he that joineth himself to harlots, will be wicked. Rottenness and worms shall inherit him, and he shall be lifted up for a greater example, and his soul shall be taken away out of the number.
4 He that giveth credit quickly, is light of heart, and shall be lessened: and he shall moreover be counted one that sinneth against his own soul.
4 ²He that is hasty to give credit, is light of heart, and shall be lessened: and he that sinneth against his own soul, shall be despised.
5 He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be reprehended, and he that hateth chastisement shall be diminished of life: and he that hateth babbling, extinguisheth malice.
5 He that rejoiceth in iniquity, shall be censured, and he that hateth chastisement, shall have less life: and he that hateth babbling, extinguisheth evil.
6 He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is delighted in naughtiness, shall be reprehended.
6 He that sinneth against his own soul, shall repent: and he that is delighted with wickedness, shall be condemned.
7 Iterate not a wicked and hard word, and thou shalt not be lessened.
7 Rehearse not again a wicked and harsh word, and thou shalt not fare the worse.
8 To friend and foe tell not thy mind: and if thou have sin disclose it not.
8 Tell not thy mind to friend or foe: and if there be a sin with thee, disclose it not.
9 For he will hear thee, and will watch thee, and as it were defending the sin he will hate thee, and so will he be present with thee always.
9 For he will hearken to thee, and will watch thee, and as it were defending thy sin he will hate thee, and so will he be with thee always.
10 Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbour? Let it die together in thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
10 Hast thou heard a word against thy neighbor? Let it die within thee, trusting that it will not burst thee.
11 At the presence of a word the fool travaileth, as the groaning of the childbirth of an infant.
11 At the hearing of a word the fool is in travail, as a woman groaning in the bringing forth a child.
12 An arrow stickt in the thigh of flesh: so is a word in the heart of a fool.
12 As an arrow that sticketh in a man’s thigh: so is a word in the heart of a fool.
13 Rebuke a friend, lest perhaps he hath not understood, and say: I did it not: or if he did it, that he do it not again.
13 ³Reprove a friend, lest he may not have understood, and say: I did it not: or if he did it, that he may do it no more.
14 Rebuke thy neighbour, lest perhaps he said it not: and if he said it, lest perhaps he iterate it.
14 Reprove thy neighbor, for it may be he hath not said it: and if he hath said it, that he may not say it again.
15 Rebuke thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
15 Admonish thy friend: for there is often a fault committed.
16 And believe not every word. There is that offendeth with the tongue, but not from his heart.
16 And believe not every word. There is one, that slippeth with the tongue, but not from his heart.
17 For who is there that hath not offended in his tongue? Rebuke thy neighbour before thou threaten.
17 ⁴For who is there that hath not offended with his tongue? Admonish thy neighbor before thou threaten him.
18 And give place to the fear of the Highest: because the fear of God is all wisdom, and to fear God is in it, & the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.
18 And give place to the fear of the most High: for the fear of God is all wisdom, and therein is to fear God, and the disposition of the law is in all wisdom.
19 And the discipline of wickedness is not wisdom: and the cogitation of sinners is not prudence.
19 But the learning of wickedness is not wisdom: and the device of sinners is not prudence.
20 There is wickedness, and in it execration: and there is a fool that hath less wisdom.
20 There is a subtle wickedness, and the same is detestable: and there is a man that is foolish, wanting in wisdom.
21 Better is a man that hath less wisdom and lacketh understanding, in fear, than he that aboundeth in understanding and transgresseth the law of the Highest.
21 Better is a man that hath less wisdom, and wanteth understanding, with the fear of God, than he that aboundeth in understanding, and transgresseth the law of the most High.
22 There is an assured subtility, & the same wicked.
22 There is an exquisite subtilty, and the same is unjust.
23 And there is that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is that wickedly humbleth himself, and his inner parts be full of deceit:
23 And there is one that uttereth an exact word telling the truth. There is one that humbleth himself wickedly, and his interior is full of deceit:
24 and there is a just man that submitteth himself overmuch of great humility: and there is a just one that boweth his face, and feigneth himself not to see that which is unknown:
24 And there is one that submitteth himself exceedingly with a great lowliness: and there is one that casteth down his countenance, and maketh as if he did not see that which is unknown:
25 and if he be forbidden to sin for imbecility of power, if he shall find a time to do evil, he will do evil.
25 And if he be hindered from sinning for want of power, if he shall find opportunity to do evil, he will do it.
26 Aman is known by the sight, and a wiseman is known by the shew of his face.
26 A man is known by his look, and a wise man, when thou meetest him, is known by his countenance.
27 The clothing of the body, and the laughing of the teeth, and the going of the man tell of him.
27 The attire of the body, and the laughter of the teeth, and the gait of the man, show what he is.
28 There is a lying chastisement in the anger of a contumelious person: and there is a judgement, that is not allowed to be good: and there is that holdeth his peace, and he is wise.
28 There is a lying rebuke in the anger of an injurious man: and there is a judgment that is not allowed to be good: and there is one that holdeth his peace, he is wise.