1There is a reproof that is not comely;
And there is a man that keepeth silence, and he is wise.

2How good is it to reprove, rather than to be wroth;
And he that maketh confession shall be kept back from hurt.

3
⁹⁴

4As is the lust of an eunuch to deflower a virgin;
So is he that executeth judgements with violence.

5There is one that keepeth silence, and is found wise;
And there is one that is hated for his much talk.

6There is one that keepeth silence, for he hath no answer to make;
And there is that keepeth silence, as knowing his time.

7A wise man will be silent till his time come;
But the braggart and fool will overpass his time.

8He that useth many words shall be abhorred;
And he that taketh to himself authority therein shall be hated.

9There is a prosperity that a man findeth in misfortunes;
And there is a gain that turneth to loss.

10There is a gift that shall not profit thee;
And there is a gift whose recompense is double.

11There is an abasement because of glory;
And there is that hath lifted up his head from a low estate.

12There is that buyeth much for a little,
And payeth for it again sevenfold.

13He that is wise in words shall make himself beloved;
But the pleasantries of fools shall be wasted.

14The gift of a fool shall not profit thee; ⁹⁵
For his eyes are many instead of one.

15He will give little, and upbraid much;
And he will open his mouth like a crier:
To-day he will lend, and to-morrow he will ask it again:
Such an one is a hateful man.

16The fool will say, I have no friend,
And I have no thanks for my good deeds;
They that eat my bread are of evil tongue.

17How oft, and of how many, shall he be laughed to scorn! ⁹⁶

18A slip on a pavement is better than a slip with the tongue;
So the fall of the wicked shall come speedily.

19A man without grace is as a tale out of season:
It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.

20A ⁹⁷wise sentence from a fool’s mouth will be rejected;
For he will not speak it in its season.

21There is that is hindered from sinning through want;
And when he taketh rest, he shall not be troubled.

22There is that destroyeth his soul through bashfulness;
And by a foolish countenance he will destroy it.

23There is that for bashfulness promiseth to his friend;
And he maketh him his enemy for nothing.

24A lie is a foul blot in a man:
It will be continually in the mouth of the ignorant.

25A thief is better than a man that is continually lying:
But they both shall inherit destruction.

26The disposition of a liar is dishonour;
And his shame is with him continually.

27He that is wise in words shall advance himself;
And one that is prudent will please great men.

28He that tilleth his land shall raise his heap high;
And he that pleaseth great men shall get pardon for iniquity.

29Presents and gifts blind the eyes of the wise,
And as a muzzle on the mouth, turn away reproofs.

30Wisdom that is hid, and treasure that is out of sight,
What profit is in them both?

31Better is a man that hideth his folly
Than a man that hideth his wisdom.

32
⁹⁸