1 Every friend will say: I also have joined friendship: but there is a friend, in name only a friend. Doth there not sorrow remain even to death?
1 Every friend will say: I also am his friend: but there is a friend, that is only a friend in name. Is not this a grief even to death?
2 But a companion and friend will be turned to enmity.
2 But a companion and a friend shall be turned to an enemy.
3 O most wicked presumption, whence wast thou created to cover the dry land with malice, and with the deceitfulness thereof?
3 O wicked presumption, whence camest thou to cover the earth with thy malice, and deceitfulness?
4 Acompanion is pleasant with his friend in delectations, and in the time of tribulation he will be an adversary.
4 There is a companion who rejoiceth with his friend in his joys, but in the time of trouble, he will be against him.
5 Acompanion is sorry with his friend for his belly's sake, and he will take a shield against the enemy.
5 There is a companion who condoleth with his friend for his belly’s sake, and he will take up a shield against the enemy.
6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
6 Forget not thy friend in thy mind, and be not unmindful of him in thy riches.
7 Consult not with him which betrayeth, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
7 Consult not with him that layeth a snare for thee, and hide thy counsel from them that envy thee.
8 Every counseller uttereth counsel, but there is a counseller in himself.
8 Every counselor giveth out counsel, but there is one that is a counselor for himself.
9 From such a counseller keep thy soul. First know what his necessity is: for he will devise to his own mind:
9 Beware of a counselor. And know before what need he hath: for he will devise to his own mind:
10 lest perhaps he thrust a sharp stake into the ground and say to thee:
10 Lest he thrust a stake into the ground, and say to thee:
11 Thy way is good; and stand over against thee to see what will befall thee.
11 Thy way is good; and then stand on the other side to see what shall befall thee.
12 With an irreligious man treat not of holiness, & with the unjust of justice, and with a woman of the thing whereof she is jealous: with a fearful man of war, with a merchant of traffic, with a buyer of selling, with an envious man of giving thanks,
12 Treat not with a man without religion concerning holiness, nor with an unjust man concerning justice, nor with a woman touching her of whom she is jealous, nor with a coward concerning war, nor with a merchant about traffic, nor with a buyer of selling, nor with an envious man of giving thanks,
13 with the impious of piety, with the unhonest of honesty, with the field labourer of all work,
13 Nor with the ungodly of piety, nor with the dishonest of honesty, nor with the field laborer of every work,
14 with him that worketh by the year of the ending of the year, with a slothful servant of much working: attend not to these in all counsel.
14 Nor with him that worketh by the year of the finishing of the year, nor with an idle servant of much business: give no heed to these in any matter of counsel.
15 But be continual with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
15 But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
16 whose soul is according to thine own soul: and who when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
16 Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
17 And establish with thyself an heart of good counsel: for there is none other thing more worth to thee than it.
17 And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
18 The soul of a holy man uttereth sometime true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch.
18 The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch.
19 And in all these beseech the Highest, that he direct thy way in truth.
19 But above all these things pray to the most High, that he may direct thy way in truth.
20 Before all works let a true word go before thee, and stable counsel before every act.
20 In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.
21 Awicked word shall change the heart: out of which, rise four parts, good, and evil, life, and death: and the tongue is a continual ruler of them. There is a subtile man teacher of many, & to his own soul he is unprofitable.
21 A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
22 Acunning man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.
22 A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul.
23 He that speaketh sophistically, is odious: in every thing he shall be defrauded.
23 He that speaketh sophistically, is hateful: he shall be destitute of everything.
24 Grace is not given him of our Lord: for he is defrauded of all wisdom.
24 Grace is not given him from the Lord: for he is deprived of all wisdom.
25 There is a wise man, wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is laudable.
25 There is a wise man that is wise to his own soul: and the fruit of his understanding is commendable.
26 Awise man teacheth his people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.
26 A wise man instructeth his own people, and the fruits of his understanding are faithful.
27 Awise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see will praise him.
27 A wise man shall be filled with blessings, and they that see shall praise him.
28 The life of a man is in the number of days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
28 The life of a man is in the number of his days: but the days of Israel are innumerable.
29 Awise man in the people shall inherit honour, and his name shall live for ever.
29 A wise man shall inherit honor among his people, and his name shall live forever.
30 Son in thy life prove thy soul: & if it be wicked, give it not power:
30 My son, prove thy soul in thy life: and if it be wicked, give it no power:
31 for all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.
31 For all things are not expedient for all, and every kind pleaseth not every soul.
32 Be not greedy in all feasting, and pour not out thyself upon all meat:
32 Be not greedy in any feasting, and pour not out thyself upon any meat:
33 for in many meats there shall be infirmity, and greediness shall approach even to choler.
33 For in many meats there will be sickness, and greediness will turn to choler.
34 Because of surfeit many have died: but he that is abstinent, shall add life.
34 By surfeiting many have perished, but he that is temperate, shall prolong life.