1They have set thee a governor, do not thou be enhanced (or exalted); be thou among them as one of them. Have thou (the) care of them, and so behold thou; and when all thy care is filled, sit thou to meat [or (to) rest].

2That thou be glad for them, and take the ornament of grace; and get (a) crown, and (the) dignity of (the) congregation (or assembly).

3Speak thou, the greater man in birth; for why the word of him that loveth cunning, (or knowing, or knowl-edge) become thee first; and hinder thou not (the) music.

4Where hearing is not, shed [or pour] thou not out a word; and do not thou be enhanced uncovenably (or inopportunely) in thy wisdom.

5A gem of carbuncle in the ornament of gold; and comparison of musics in the feast of wine.

6As in the making [or (the) forging] of gold is a signet of smaragdus (or emerald), so the number of musics is in merry and measurable [or temper-ate] wine.

7Hear thou [(while) being] still, and good grace shall come to thee for reverence. Young man, speak thou scarcely in (or for) thy cause, (only) when need is. If thou art asked twice, the head have thine answer.

8In many things be thou as uncunning (or as unknowing), and hear thou [(while) being] still (al)to-gether, and asking [or seeking].

9And presume thou not to speak in the midst of great men; and where eld [or old] men be, speak thou not much.

10Lightning shall go before hail, and grace shall go before shamefastness, and good grace shall come to thee for reverence.

11And in the hour of rising, trifle thee not, that is, make thee no tarrying in arraying, either trifling of hairs, as women do; forsooth run thou before first into thine house, and there call thou thee to answer[or and there be thou called to], and there play thou.

12And do thy conceits [or thy conceivings], that is, perform thy good purpose conceived there, and not in sins, and in a proud word.

13On all these things, bless thou the Lord, that made thee, and filling thee greatly of (or with) all his goods.

14He that dreadeth God, shall take his teaching; and they that wake to him, shall find blessing.

15He that seeketh the law, shall be filled thereof; and he that doeth traitorously, shall be caused to stumble therein.

16They that dread God, shall find just doom; and shall kindle rightful-ness [or rightwisenesses] as (a) light.

17A sinful man, that is, obstinate in sin, shall eschew blaming [or shall shun correction]; and after his will (or according to his desire), he shall find comparison.

18A man of counsel shall not lose [or destroy] understanding; (but) a man alien and proud shall not dread dreading. Yea, after that he hath done with that dread without counsel, and he shall be reproved by his pursuings [or his followings].

19Son, do thou nothing without counsel; and after the deed thou shalt not repent.

20Go thou not in the way of falling, and offend (or stumble) thou not against (the) stones [or and thou shalt not offend (or stumble) against (the) stones].

21Betake thou not thee to a travail-ous way, lest thou set slander to thy soul (or thou cause thy own soul to stumble);

22and be thou ware of thy sons, and perceive thou [or take heed] of thy menials.

23In all thy work believe thou by (or in the) faith of thy soul; for why this is the keeping of (the) command-ments.

24He that believeth to (or in) God, taketh heed to the commandments; and he that trusteth in him, shall not be made less, either deceived.