1 To him that feareth our Lord evils shall not happen, but in tentation God will keep him, and deliver him from evils.
1 No evils shall happen to him that feareth the Lord, but in temptation God will keep him and deliver him from evils.
2 Awise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be shaken as a ship in a storm.
2 A wise man hateth not the commandments and justices, and he shall not be dashed in pieces as a ship in a storm.
3 Aman of understanding believeth the law of God, and the law is sure to him.
3 A man of understanding is faithful to the law of God, and the law is faithful to him.
4 He that repeateth an interrogation, shall better prepare his answer, and so shall be heard, and shall keep discipline.
4 He that cleareth up a question, shall prepare what to say, and so having prayed he shall be heard, and shall keep discipline, and then he shall answer.
5 The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: & his cogitation as a turning axletree.
5 ¹The heart of a fool is as a wheel of a cart: and his thoughts are like a rolling axletree.
6 Astallion horse neigheth under every one that sitteth upon him, so a friend that is a scorner.
6 A friend that is a mocker, is like a stallion horse: he neigheth under everyone that sitteth upon him.
7 Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one year another year of the sun?
7 Why doth one day excel another, and one light another, and one year another year, when all come of the sun?
8 By the knowledge of our Lord they were separated, the sun being made, and keeping the precept.
8 By the knowledge of the Lord they were distinguished, the sun being made, and keeping his commandment.
9 And he changed times, and the festival days thereof, and in the same they celebrated the festival days at an hour.
9 And he ordered the seasons, and holidays of them, and in them they celebrated festivals at an hour.
10 Of them God exalted and magnified, and of them he put into the number of days. And all men are of the ground, and of the earth, from whence Adam was created.
10 Some of them God made high and great days, and some of them he put in the number of ordinary days. And all men are from the ground, ²and out of the earth, from whence Adam was created.
11 In the multitude of the discipline of our Lord he separated them, and changed their ways.
11 With much knowledge the Lord hath divided them and diversified their ways.
12 Of them he blessed, and exalted: and of them he sanctified, and applied to himself: and of them he cursed and humbled, and converted them from their separation.
12 Some of them hath he blessed, and exalted: and some of them hath he sanctified, and set near himself: and some of them hath he cursed and brought low, and turned them from their station.
13 As potter's clay is in his hand, to fashion and dispose it.
13 ³As the potter’s clay is in his hand, to fashion and order it:
14 All his ways according to his disposition: so man in the hand of him, and he will render to him according to his judgement.
14 All his ways are according to his ordering: so man is in the hand of him that made him, and he will render to him according to his judgment.
15 Against evil is good, and against death life: so also against a just man a sinner. And so look upon all the works of the Highest. Two against two, and one against one.
15 Good is set against evil, and life against death: so also is the sinner against a just man. And so look upon all the works of the most High. Two and two, and one against another.
16 And I awaked last, and as he that gathereth berries after the grape gatherers.
16 And I awaked last of all, and as one that gathereth after the grape gatherers.
17 In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as he that gathereth grapes, have I filled the wine press.
17 In the blessing of God I also have hoped: and as one that gathereth grapes, have I filled the winepress.
18 See that I have not laboured for myself only, but for all that seek out discipline.
18 ⁴See that I have not labored for myself only, but for all that seek discipline.
19 Hear me ye great men, and all peoples, and ye rulers of the Church harken with your ears.
19 Hear me, ye great men, and all ye people, and hearken with your ears, ye rulers of the church.
20 To son and wife, brother and friend, give not power over thee in thy life: and give not thy possession to another: lest perhaps thou repent thee, and thou entreat for them.
20 Give not to son or wife, brother or friend, power over thee while thou livest; and give not thy estate to another, lest thou repent, and thou entreat for the same.
21 Whilst thou art yet alive and takest breath, all flesh shall not change thee.
21 As long as thou livest, and hast breath in thee, let no man change thee.
22 For it is better that thy children ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.
22 For it is better that thy children should ask of thee, than that thou look toward the hands of thy children.
23 In all thy works be exquisite.
23 In all thy works keep the pre-eminence.
24 Give no stain to thy glory. In the day of the consummation of the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease distribute thine inheritance.
24 Let no stain sully thy glory. In the time when thou shalt end the days of thy life, and in the time of thy decease, distribute thy inheritance.
25 Fodder, and wand, and burden for an ass: bread, and discipline, and work for a servant.
25 Fodder, and a wand, and a burden are for an ass: bread, and correction, and work for a slave.
26 He worketh in discipline, and seeketh to rest: release him his hands, and he seeketh liberty.
26 He worketh under correction, and seeketh to rest: let his hands be idle, and he seeketh liberty.
27 The yoke and the rein bend a stiff neck, and continual works do bow a servant.
27 The yoke and the thong bend a stiff neck, and continual labors bow a slave.
28 For a malicious servant torment & fetters, send him into work, that he be not idle.
28 Torture and fetters are for a malicious slave: send him to work, that he be not idle:
29 For idleness hath taught much naughtiness.
29 For idleness hath taught much evil.
30 Set him to work: for so it becometh him. And if he be not obedient, bow him with fetters, and exceed not over all flesh: but without judgement do no grievous thing.
30 Set him to work: for so it is fit for him. And if he be not obedient, bring him down with fetters, but be not excessive towards anyone, and do no grievous thing without judgment.
31 If thou have a faithful servant, let him be unto thee as thy soul: as a brother so entreat him: because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten him.
31 ⁵If thou have a faithful servant, let him be to thee as thy own soul: treat him as a brother: because in the blood of thy soul thou hast gotten him.
32 If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:
32 If thou hurt him unjustly, he will run away:
33 if rising up he depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and what way to seek him.
33 And if he rise up and depart, thou knowest not whom to ask, and in what way to seek him.