1 In three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God, and men:
1 With three things my spirit is pleased, which are approved before God and men:
2 The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbours, and man and wife well agreeing together.
2 The concord of brethren, and the love of neighbors, and man and wife that agree well together.
3 Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
3 Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life:
4 A poor man proud: & a rich man a liar: an old man a fool, and doting.
4 A poor man that is proud: a rich man that is a liar: an old man that is a fool, and doting.
5 The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?
5 The things that thou hast not gathered in thy youth, how shalt thou find them in thy old age?
6 How beautiful is judgement for a gray head, and for ancients to know counsel!
6 O how comely is judgment for a grey head, and for ancients to know counsel!
7 How beautiful is wisdom for the aged, & understanding glorious, and counsel!
7 O how comely is wisdom for the aged, and understanding and counsel to men of honor!
8 Much cunning is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
8 Much experience is the crown of old men, and the fear of God is their glory.
9 Nine things not to be imagined of the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will tell unto men with my tongue:
9 Nine things that are not to be imagined by the heart have I magnified, and the tenth I will utter to men with my tongue.
10 Aman that hath joy in his children; living and seeing the subversion of his enemies.
10 A man that hath joy of his children: and he that liveth and seeth the fall of his enemies.
11 Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman; & that hath not offended with his tongue; and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.
11 ¹Blessed is he that dwelleth with a wise woman, ²and that hath not slipped with his tongue, and that hath not served such as are unworthy of him.
12 Blessed is he that findeth a true friend; and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.
12 Blessed is he that findeth a true friend, and that declareth justice to an ear that heareth.
13 How great is he, that findeth wisdom and knowledge; but he is not above him that feareth our Lord.
13 How great is he that findeth wisdom and knowledge! But there is none above him that feareth the Lord.
14 The fear of God hath set it-self above all things:
14 The fear of God hath set itself above all things:
15 blessed is the man, to whom is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be resembled?
15 Blessed is the man, to whom it is given to have the fear of God: he that holdeth it, to whom shall he be likened?
16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.
16 The fear of God is the beginning of his love: and the beginning of faith is to be fast joined unto it.
17 The heaviness of the heart is all plague: & all malice, the wickedness of a woman.
17 The sadness of the heart is every plague: and the wickedness of a woman is all evil.
18 And he will see all plague, and not the plague of the heart:
18 And a man will choose any plague, but the plague of the heart:
19 & all wickedness, & not the wickedness of a woman:
19 And any wickedness, but the wickedness of a woman:
20 and all obduction and not the obduction of them that hate him:
20 And any affliction, but the affliction from them that hate him:
21 and all revenge, and not the revenge of the enemies.
21 And any revenge, but the revenge of enemies.
22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:
22 There is no head worse than the head of a serpent:
23 and there is no anger above the anger of a woman. It shall be more pleasant to abide with a lion and dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.
23 And there is no anger above the anger of a woman. ³It will be more agreeable to abide with a lion and a dragon, than to dwell with a wicked woman.
24 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and will shew it as a sack. In the midst of her neighbours,
24 The wickedness of a woman changeth her face: and she darkeneth her countenance as a bear: and showeth it like sackcloth. In the midst of her neighbors,
25 her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.
25 Her husband groaned, and hearing he sighed a little.
26 All malice is short to the malice of a woman, the lot of sinners fall upon her.
26 All malice is short to the malice of a woman, let the lot of sinners fall upon her.
27 As the going up a gravelly way in the feet of the aged, so a woman full of tongue to a quiet man.
27 As the climbing of a sandy way is to the feet of the aged, so is a wife full of tongue to a quiet man.
28 Look not upon a woman's beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.
28 Look not upon a woman’s beauty, and desire not a woman for beauty.
29 Awoman's anger, and impudency, and confusion is great.
29 ⁴A woman’s anger, and impudence, and confusion is great.
30 Awoman if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.
30 A woman, if she have superiority, is contrary to her husband.
31 An humbled heart, and heavy countenance, and plague of heart, is a wicked woman.
31 A wicked woman abateth the courage, and maketh a heavy countenance, and a wounded heart.
32 Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.
32 Feeble hands, and disjointed knees, a woman that doth not make her husband happy.
33 From woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we do all die.
33 ⁵From the woman came the beginning of sin, and by her we all die.
34 Give not issue to thy water, no not a little: nor to a wicked woman leave to go forth.
34 Give no issue to thy water, no, not a little: nor to a wicked woman liberty to gad abroad.
35 If she walk not at thine hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thine enemies.
35 If she walk not at thy hand, she will confound thee in the sight of thy enemies.
36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.
36 Cut her off from thy flesh, lest she always abuse thee.