1Many have sinned for a small matter;
And he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.

2As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones;
So doth sin stick close between buying and selling.

3Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord,
His house shall soon be overthrown.

4As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth;
So the filth of man in his talk.

5The furnace proveth the potter’s vessels;
So the trial of man is in his reasoning.

6The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed;
So is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.

7Praise no man before thou hearest him speak;
For this is the trial of men.

8If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her,
And put her on, as a glorious long robe.

9The birds will resort unto their like;
So will truth return unto them that practise in her.

10As the lion lieth in wait for the prey;
So sin for them that work iniquity.

11The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom;
But a fool changeth as the moon.

12If thou be among the undiscreet, observe the time;
But be continually among men of understanding.

13The discourse of fools is irksome,
And their sport is in the wantonness of sin.

14The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright;
And their brawls make one stop his ears.

15The strife of the proud is bloodshedding,
And their revilings are grievous to the ear.

16Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit;
And shall never find friend to his mind.

17Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him:
But if thou bewrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.

18For as a man hath destroyed his enemy;
So hast thou lost the love of thy neighbour.

19As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand,
So hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again

20Follow after him no more, for he is too far off;
He is as a roe escaped out of the snare.

21As for a wound, it may be bound up;
And after reviling there may be reconcilement:
But he that bewrayeth secrets is without hope.

22He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil:
And he that knoweth him will depart from him.

23When thou art present, he will speak sweetly,
And will admire thy words:
But at the last he will writhe his mouth,
And slander thy sayings.

24I have hated many things, but nothing like him;
For the Lord will hate him.

25Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head;
And a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.

26Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein:
And he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.

27He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him,
And he shall not know whence it cometh.

28Mockery and reproach are from the proud;
But vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.

29They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare;
And anguish shall consume them before they die.

30Malice and wrath, even these are abominations;
And the sinful man shall have them both.