1 Be not for a friend made an enemy to thy neighbour: for the evil man shall inherit reproach and contumely, and every sinner envious and double tongued.
1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy to thy neighbor: for an evil man shall inherit reproach and shame, so shall every sinner that is envious and double tongued.
2 Extol not thyself in the cogitation of thy soul as it were a bull: lest perhaps thy strength be quashed,
2 ¹Extol not thyself in the thoughts of thy soul like a bull: lest thy strength be quashed by folly,
3 and it eat thy leaves, and destroy thy fruits, and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
3 And it eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruit, and thou be left as a dry tree in the wilderness.
4 For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and it giveth him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the impious.
4 For a wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and maketh him to be a joy to his enemies, and shall lead him into the lot of the wicked.
5 A sweet word multiplieth friends, & appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
5 A sweet word multiplieth friends, and appeaseth enemies, and a gracious tongue in a good man aboundeth.
6 Let there be many at peace with thee, and let one of a thousand be thy counseller.
6 Be in peace with many, but let one of a thousand be thy counselor.
7 If thou possess a friend, in tentation possess him, and not easily credit him.
7 If thou wouldst get a friend, try him before thou takest him, and do not credit him easily.
8 For he is a friend according to his own time, and will not abide in the day of tribulation
8 For there is a friend for his own occasion, and he will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9 And there is a friend that is turned to enmity: and there is a friend that will disclose hatred, and reproaches.
9 And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and there is a friend that will disclose hatred and strife and reproaches.
10 And there is a friend companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of necessity.
10 And there is a friend a companion at the table, and he will not abide in the day of distress.
11 Afriend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as an equal, and in them of thy household shall deal confidently:
11 A friend if he continue steadfast, shall be to thee as thyself, and shall act with confidence among them of thy household.
12 if he humble himself against thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have friendship of one accord for good.
12 If he humble himself before thee, and hide himself from thy face, thou shalt have unanimous friendship for good.
13 Be separated from thine enemies, & take heed of thy friends.
13 Separate thyself from thy enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
14 Afaithful friend, is a strong protection: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
14 A faithful friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found him, hath found a treasure.
15 To a faithful friend there is no comparison, and there is no poise of gold and silver able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
15 Nothing can be compared to a faithful friend, and no weight of gold and silver is able to countervail the goodness of his fidelity.
16 Afaithful friend, is the medicine of life & immortality: & they that fear our Lord, shall find him.
16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life and immortality: and they that fear the Lord, shall find him.
17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
17 He that feareth God, shall likewise have good friendship: because according to him shall his friend be.
18 Son, from thy youth receive doctrine, and even to thy hoar hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
18 My son, from thy youth up receive instruction, and even to thy grey hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
19 As he that ploweth, and that soweth, go to her, and expect her good fruits.
19 Come to her as one that plougheth, and soweth, and wait for her good fruits:
20 For in her work thou shalt labour a little, and shalt quickly eat of her generation.
20 For in working about her thou shalt labor a little, and shalt quickly eat of her fruits.
21 How exceeding sharp is wisdom to the unlearned men, and the unwise will not continue in her.
21 How very unpleasant is wisdom to the unlearned, and the unwise will not continue with her.
22 As the virtue of a stone she shall be a probation in them, and they will not stay to cast her forth.
22 She shall be to them as a mighty stone of trial, and they will cast her from them before it be long.
23 For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest to many, but to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.
23 For the wisdom of doctrine is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many, but with them to whom she is known, she continueth even to the sight of God.
24 Hear my son, and take counsel of understanding, and cast not away my counsel.
24 Give ear, my son, and take wise counsel, and cast not away my advice.
25 Thrust thy foot into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains.
25 Put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chains:
26 Put under thy shoulder, and carry her, and be not weary of her bands.
26 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bands.
27 With all thy mind go to her, and with all thy strength keep her ways.
27 Come to her with all thy mind, and keep her ways with all thy power.
28 Search her out, and she shall be made manifest to thee, and having obtained her, forsake her not:
28 Search for her, and she shall be made known to thee, and when thou hast gotten her, let her not go:
29 For in the later end, thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned unto delectation.
29 For in the latter end thou shalt find rest in her, and she shall be turned to thy joy.
30 And her fetters shall be to thee for a protection of strength, and foundation of power, & her chains for a stole of glory:
30 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and a firm foundation, and her chain a robe of glory:
31 For the beauty of life is in her, and her bands are a healthful binding.
31 For in her is the beauty of life, and her bands are a healthful binding.
32 Thou shalt put on her a stole of glory, and as a crown of gratulation thou shalt set her upon thee.
32 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and thou shalt set her upon thee as a crown of joy.
33 Son, if thou attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
33 My son, if thou wilt attend to me, thou shalt learn: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be wise.
34 If thou wilt incline thine ear, thou shalt receive doctrine: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
34 If thou wilt incline thy ear, thou shalt receive instruction: and if thou love to hear, thou shalt be wise.
35 Stand in the multitude of wise ancients, and be joined to their wisdom from thy heart, that thou mayst hear all the narration of God, and the praise may not escape thee.
35 ²Stand in the multitude of ancients that are wise, and join thyself from thy heart to their wisdom, that thou mayst hear every discourse of God, and the sayings of praise may not escape thee.
36 And if thou see a wise man, watch after him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
36 And if thou see a man of understanding, go to him early in the morning, and let thy foot wear the steps of his doors.
37 Have thy cogitation in the precepts of God, and in his commandments most of all be daily conversant: and he will give thee heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given thee.
37 ³Let thy thoughts be upon the precepts of God, and meditate continually on his commandments: and he will give thee a heart, and the desire of wisdom shall be given to thee.