1My son, hast thou sinned? do so no more,
But ask pardon for thy former sins.

2Flee from sin as from the face of a serpent:
For if thou comest too near it, it will bite thee:
The teeth thereof are as the teeth of a lion,
Slaying the souls of men.

3All iniquity is as a twoedged sword,
The wounds whereof cannot be healed.

4To terrify and do wrong will waste riches:
Thus the house of proud men shall be made desolate.

5A prayer out of a poor man’s mouth reacheth to the ears of God,
And his judgment cometh speedily.

6He that hateth to be reproved is in the way of sinners:
But he that feareth the Lord will repent from his heart.

7An eloquent man is known far and near;
But a man of understanding knoweth when he slippeth.

8He that buildeth his house with other men’s money
Is like one that gathereth himself stones for the tomb of his burial.

9The congregation of the wicked is like tow wrapped together:
And the end of them is a flame of fire to destroy them.

10The way of sinners is made plain with stones,
But at the end thereof is the pit of hell.

11He that keepeth the law of the Lord getteth the understanding thereof:
And the perfection of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

12He that is not wise will not be taught:
But there is a wisdom which multiplieth bitterness.

13The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood:
And his counsel is like a pure fountain of life.

14The inner parts of a fool are like a broken vessel,
And he will hold no knowledge as long as he liveth.

15If a skilful man hear a wise word,
He will commend it, and add unto it:
But as soon as one of no understanding heareth it, it displeaseth him,
And he casteth it behind his back.

16The talking of a fool is like a burden in the way:
But grace shall be found in the lips of the wise.

17They inquire at the mouth of the wise man in the congregation,
And they shall ponder his words in their heart.

18As is a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool:
And the knowledge of the unwise is as talk without sense.

19Doctrine unto fools is as fetters on the feet,
And like manacles on the right hand.

20A fool lifteth up his voice with laughter;
But a wise man doth scarce smile a little.

21Learning is unto a wise man as an ornament of gold,
And like a bracelet upon his right arm.

22A foolish man’s foot is soon in his neighbour’s house:
But a man of experience is ashamed of him.

23A fool will peep in at the door into the house:
But he that is well nurtured will stand without.

24It is the rudeness of a man to hearken at the door:
But a wise man will be grieved with disgrace.

25The lips of talkers will be telling such things as pertain not unto them:
But the words of such as have understanding are weighed in the balance.

26The heart of fools is in their mouth:
But the mouth of the wise is in their heart.

27When the ungodly curseth Satan,
He curseth his own soul.

28A whisperer defileth his own soul,
And is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.