Catholic Public Domain Version (CPDV)

1 When you sit down to eat with a leader, pay close attention to what has been set before your face,

2 and put a knife to your throat, if, in such a way, you could hold your soul in your own power.

3 Do not desire his foods, in which is the bread of deceit.

4 Do not be willing to labor so that you may be enriched. But set limits by your prudence.

5 Do not raise your eyes toward wealth that you are not able to have. For they will make themselves wings, like those of an eagle, and they will fly in the sky.

6 Do not eat with an envious man, and do not desire his foods.

7 For, like a seer and an interpreter of dreams, he presumes what he does not know. “Eat and drink,” he will say to you; and his mind is not with you.

8 The foods that you had eaten, you will vomit up. And you will lose the beauty in your words.

9 Do not speak into the ears of the unwise. They will despise the doctrine of your eloquence.

10 Do not touch the boundaries of little ones, and do not enter into the field of the fatherless.

11 For their close relative is strong, and he will judge their case against you.

12 Let your heart enter into doctrine, and let your ears enter into words of knowledge.

13 Do not be willing to take away discipline from a child. For if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

14 You will strike him with the rod, and so shall you deliver his soul from Hell.

15 My son, if your soul will become wise, my heart will be glad with you.

16 And my temperament will exult, when your lips will have spoken what is upright.

17 Let not your heart compete with sinners. But be in the fear of the Lord all day long.

18 For you will have hope in the end, and your expectation will not be taken away.

19 Listen, my son, and be wise, and direct your soul along the way.

20 Do not be willing to be in the feasts of great drinkers, nor in the carousings of those who gather to feed on flesh.

21 For those who waste time drinking, and who surrender themselves to symbols, will be consumed. And those who sleep will be clothed in rags.

22 Listen to your father, who conceived you. And do not despise your mother, when she is old.

23 Purchase truth, and do not sell wisdom, or doctrine, or understanding.

24 The father of the just exults in gladness; he who has conceived the wise will rejoice in him.

25 Let your father and your mother be joyful, and may she who conceived you exult.

26 My son, offer me your heart, and let your eyes keep to my ways.

27 For a loose woman is a deep pit, and a foreign woman is a constricted well.

28 She lies in wait along the way like a robber. And the incautious one whom she sees, she will put to death.

29 Who has woe? Whose father has woe? Who has quarrels? Who falls into pits? Who has wounds without cause? Who has watery eyes?

30 Is it not those who linger over wine, and who strive to be drinking from their cups?

31 Do not gaze into the wine when it turns gold, when its color shines in the glass. It enters pleasantly,

32 but in the end, it will bite like a snake, and it will spread poison like a king of snakes.

33 Your eyes will see women who are outsiders, and your heart will utter perversities.

34 And you will be like someone sleeping in the middle of the sea, and like a pilot, fast asleep, who has lost his hold on the helm.

35 And you will say: “They have beaten me, but I did not feel pain. They have dragged me, and I did not realize it. When will I awaken and find more wine?”

1 Do not imitate evil men, nor desire to be among them.

2 For their mind meditates on robberies, and their lips speak deceptions.

3 By wisdom shall a house be built, and by prudence shall it be strengthened.

4 By doctrine, the storerooms shall be filled with every substance that is precious and most beautiful.

5 A wise man is strong, and a well-taught man is robust and valiant.

6 For war is undertaken in an orderly manner, and safety shall be where there are many counsels.

7 Wisdom is beyond the foolish; at the gate he will not open his mouth.

8 Whoever intends to do evil shall be called foolish.

9 The intention of the foolish is sin. And the detractor is an abomination among men.

10 If you despair, being weary in the day of anguish, your strength will be diminished.

11 Rescue those who are led away to death. And do not cease from delivering those who are dragged away to a violent death.

12 If you would say: “I do not have sufficient strength.” He who inspects the heart, the same one understands, and nothing slips past the one who preserves your soul. And he shall repay a man according to his works.

13 My son, eat honey, because it is good, and the honeycomb, because it is so sweet to your throat.

14 So, too, is the doctrine of wisdom to your soul. When you have found it, you will have hope in the end, and your hope shall not perish.

15 Do not lie in wait, and do not seek impiety in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.

16 For the just one will fall seven times, and he shall rise again. But the impious will fall into evil.

17 When your enemy will fall, do not be glad, and do not let your heart exult in his ruin,

18 lest perhaps the Lord see, and it displease him, and he may take away his wrath from him.

19 Do not contend with the most wicked, and do not be a rival to the impious.

20 For the evil hold no hope in the future, and the lamp of the impious will be extinguished.

21 My son, fear the Lord, as well as the king. And do not mingle with detractors.

22 For their perdition shall up rise suddenly. And who knows what ruin will be for each of them?

23 Likewise, these things are for the wise. It is not good to base judgment on knowledge of character.

24 Those who say to the impious, “You are just,” shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall detest them.

25 Those who argue against the impious shall be praised, and a blessing shall come upon them.

26 He shall kiss the lips, who responds with upright words.

27 Prepare your outdoor work, and diligently cultivate your field, so that afterward, you may build your house.

28 Do not be a witness without cause against your neighbor. And do not mislead anyone with your lips.

29 Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me.” I will repay each one according to his work.

30 I passed by the field of a lazy man, and by the vineyard of a foolish man,

31 and behold, it was entirely filled with nettles, and thorns had covered its surface, and the stonewall was destroyed.

32 When I had seen this, I laid it up in my heart, and by this example, I received discipline.

33 You will sleep a little,” I said. “You will slumber briefly. You will fold your hands a little, so as to rest.

34 And destitution will overtake you like a runner, and begging will overtake you like an armed man.”

1 These, too, are parables of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, transferred.

2 It is to the glory of God to conceal a word, and it is to the glory of kings to investigate speech.

3 Heaven above, and earth below, and the heart of kings are each unsearchable.

4 Take away the tarnish from silver, and a most pure vessel will go forth.

5 Take away impiety from the face of the king, and his throne shall be made firm by justice.

6 Do not appear glorious before the king, and do not stand in the place of the great.

7 For it is better that it should be said to you, “Ascend to here,” than that you should be humbled before the prince.

8 The things that your eyes have seen, do not offer hastily in a quarrel, lest afterward you may not be able to make amends, when you have dishonored your friend.

9 Argue your case with your friend, and do not reveal the secret to an outsider,

10 lest perhaps he may insult you, when he has heard it, and he might not cease to reproach you. Grace and friendship free a man; preserve these for yourself, lest you fall under reproach.

11 Whoever speaks a word at an opportune time is like apples of gold on beds of silver.

12 Whoever reproves the wise and obedient ear is like an earring of gold with a shining pearl.

13 Just like the cold of snow in a time of harvest, so also is a faithful messenger to him who sent him: he causes his soul to rest.

14 A man who boasts and does not fulfill his promises is like clouds and wind, when rain does not follow.

15 By patience, a leader shall be appeased, and a soft tongue shall break hardness.

16 You have discovered honey; eat what is sufficient for you, lest perhaps, being filled up, you may vomit it.

17 Withdraw your feet from the house of your neighbor, lest, when he has had his fill, he may hate you.

18 A man who speaks false testimony against his neighbor is like a dart and a sword and a sharp arrow.

19 Whoever sets his hopes on the unfaithful in a day of anguish is like a rotten tooth and weary foot,

20 and like one who loosens his garment in cold weather. Whoever sings verses to a wicked heart is like vinegar on baking soda. Just like a moth to a garment, and a worm to wood, so too does the sadness of a man do harm to the heart.

21 If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him water to drink.

22 For you will gather hot coals upon his head, and the Lord will repay you.

23 The north wind brings forth the rain, and a sorrowful face brings forth a detracting tongue.

24 It is better to sit in a corner of the attic, than with an argumentative woman and in a shared house.

25 Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so too are good reports from a far away land.

26 The just falling down before the impious is like a fountain stirred up by feet and like a corrupted spring.

27 Just as whoever eats too much honey, it is not good for him, so also whoever is an investigator of what is majestic will be overwhelmed by glory.

28 Just like a city lying in the open and without surrounding walls, so also is a man who is unable to restrain his own spirit in speaking.

1 In the manner of snow in the summer, and rain at the harvest, so also is glory unfit for the foolish.

2 Like a bird flying away to another place, and like a sparrow that hurries away freely, so also a curse uttered against someone without cause will pass away.

3 A whip is for a horse, and a muzzle is for donkey, and a rod is for the back of the imprudent.

4 Do not respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest you become like him.

5 Respond to the foolish according to his folly, lest he imagine himself to be wise.

6 Whoever sends words by a foolish messenger has lame feet and drinks iniquity.

7 In the manner of a lame man who has beautiful legs to no purpose, so also is a parable unfit for the mouth of the foolish.

8 Just like one who casts a stone into the pile of Mercury, so also is he who gives honor to the foolish.

9 In the manner of a thorn, if it were to spring up from the hand of a drunkard, so also is a parable in the mouth of the foolish.

10 Judgment determines cases. And whoever imposes silence on the foolish mitigates anger.

11 Like a dog that returns to his vomit, so also is the imprudent who repeats his foolishness.

12 Have you seen a man who seems wise to himself? There will be greater hope held for the unwise than for him.

13 The lazy one says, “There is a lion along the way, and a lioness in the roads.”

14 Just as a door turns upon its hinges, so also does the lazy one turn upon his bed.

15 The lazy one conceals his hand under his arms, and it is a labor for him to move it to his mouth.

16 The lazy one seems wiser to himself than seven men speaking judgments.

17 Just like one who takes hold of a dog by the ears, so also is he who crosses impatiently and meddles in the quarrels of another.

18 Just as he is guilty who let loose the arrows and the lances unto death,

19 so also is the man who harms his friend by deceitfulness. And when he has been apprehended, he says, “I did it jokingly.”

20 When the wood fails, the fire will be extinguished. And when the gossiper is taken away, conflicts will be quelled.

21 Just as charcoals are to burning coals, and wood is to fire, so also is an angry man who stirs up quarrels.

22 The words of a whisperer seem simple, but they penetrate to the innermost parts of the self.

23 In the same manner as an earthen vessel, if it were adorned with impure silver, conceited lips are allied with a wicked heart.

24 An enemy is known by his lips, though it is from his heart that he draws out deceit.

25 When he will have lowered his voice, do not believe him, for there are seven vices in his heart.

26 Whoever covers hatred with deceit, his malice shall be revealed in the assembly.

27 Whoever digs a pit will fall into it. And whoever rolls a stone, it will roll back to him.

28 A false tongue does not love truth. And a slippery mouth works ruin.

1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what the future day may bring.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth: an outsider, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is weighty, and sand is burdensome; but the wrath of the foolish is heavier than both.

4 Anger holds no mercy, nor does fury when it erupts. And who can bear the assault of one who has been provoked?

5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love.

6 The wounds of a loved one are better than the deceitful kisses of a hateful one.

7 A sated soul will trample the honeycomb. And a hungry soul will accept even bitter in place of sweet.

8 Just like a bird migrating from her nest, so also is a man who abandons his place.

9 Ointment and various perfumes delight the heart. And the good advice of a friend is sweet to the soul.

10 Do not dismiss your friend or your father’s friend. And do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your affliction. A close neighbor is better than a distant brother.

11 My son, study wisdom, and rejoice my heart, so that you may be able to respond to the one who reproaches.

12 The discerning man, seeing evil, hides himself. The little ones, continuing on, sustain losses.

13 Take away the garment of him who has vouched for an outsider. And take a pledge from him on behalf of foreigners.

14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a grand voice, rising in the night, shall be like one who curses.

15 A roof leaking on a cold day, and an argumentative woman, are comparable.

16 He who would restrain her, he is like one who would grasp the wind, or who would gather together oil with his right hand.

17 Iron sharpens iron, and a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

18 Whoever maintains the fig tree shall eat its fruit. And whoever is the keeper of his master shall be glorified.

19 In the manner of faces looking into shining water, so are the hearts of men made manifest to the prudent.

20 Hell and perdition are never filled; similarly the eyes of men are insatiable.

21 In the manner of silver being tested in the refinery, and gold in the furnace, so also is a man tested by the mouth of one who praises. The heart of the iniquitous inquires after evils, but the heart of the righteous inquires after knowledge.

22 Even if you were to crush the foolish with a mortar, as when a pestle strikes over pearled barley, his foolishness would not be taken from him.

23 Be diligent to know the countenance of your cattle, and consider your own flocks,

24 for you will not always hold this power. But a crown shall be awarded from generation to generation.

25 The meadows are open, and the green plants have appeared, and the hay has been collected from the mountains.

26 Lambs are for your clothing, and goats are for the price of a field.

27 Let the milk of goats be sufficient for your food, and for the necessities of your household, and for the provisions of your handmaids.

1 The impious flees, though no one pursues. But the just, like a confident lion, shall be without dread.

2 Because of the sins of the land, it has many princes. And because of the wisdom of a man, and the knowledge of those things that are said, the life of the leader shall be prolonged.

3 A poor man slandering the poor is like a violent rainstorm in advance of a famine.

4 Those who abandon the law praise the impious. Those who guard it are inflamed against him.

5 Evil men do not intend judgment. But those who inquire after the Lord turn their souls toward all things.

6 Better is the pauper walking in his simplicity, than the rich walking in ways of depravity.

7 Whoever keeps the law is a wise son. But whoever feeds gluttons brings shame to his father.

8 Whoever piles up riches by usury and profit gathers them for him who will give freely to the poor.

9 Whoever turns away his ears from listening to the law: his prayer will be detestable.

10 Whoever deceives the just in a malicious way will fall into his own perdition. And the simple shall possess his goods.

11 The rich one seems wise to himself. But the poor one, being prudent, shall evaluate him.

12 In the exultation of the just, there is great glory. When the impious reign, men are brought to ruin.

13 Whoever hides his crimes will not be guided. But whoever will have confessed and abandoned them shall overtake mercy.

14 Blessed is the man who is ever fearful. Yet truly, whoever is hardened in mind will fall into evil.

15 An impious leader over a poor people is like a roaring lion and a hungry bear.

16 A leader destitute of prudence will oppress many through false accusations. But whoever hates avarice shall prolong his days.

17 A man who slanders the blood of a life, even if he flees to the pit, no one will tolerate him.

18 Whoever walks simply shall be saved. Whoever is perverse in his steps will fall all at once.

19 Whoever works his land shall be satisfied with bread. But whoever pursues leisure will be filled with need.

20 A faithful man shall be greatly praised. But whoever rushes to become rich will not be innocent.

21 Whoever shows favoritism in judgment does not do well; even if it is for a morsel of bread, he forsakes the truth.

22 A man who hurries to become rich, and who envies others, does not know that destitution will overwhelm him.

23 Whoever corrects a man, afterward he shall find favor with him, more so than he who deceives him with a flattering tongue.

24 Whoever takes away anything from his father or mother, and who says, “This is not a sin,” is the associate of a murderer.

25 Whoever boasts and enlarges himself stirs up conflicts. Yet truly, whoever trusts in the Lord will be healed.

26 Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool. But whoever treads wisely, the same shall be saved.

27 Whoever gives to the poor shall not be in need. Whoever despises his petition will suffer scarcity.

28 When the impious rise up, men will hide themselves. When they perish, the just shall be multiplied.

1 The man who, with a stiff neck, treats the one who corrects him with contempt will be suddenly overwhelmed to his own destruction, and reason shall not follow him.

2 When just men are multiplied, the common people shall rejoice. When the impious take up the leadership, the people shall mourn.

3 The man who loves wisdom rejoices his father. But whoever nurtures promiscuous women will lose his substance.

4 A just king guides the land. A man of avarice will destroy it.

5 A man who speaks to his friend with flattering and feigned words spreads a net for his own feet.

6 A snare will entangle the iniquitous when he sins. And the just shall praise and be glad.

7 The just knows the case of the poor. The impious is ignorant of knowledge.

8 Pestilent men squander a city. Yet truly, the wise avert fury.

9 A wise man, if he were to contend with the foolish, whether in anger or in laughter, would find no rest.

10 Bloodthirsty men hate the simple one; but the just seek out his soul.

11 A foolish one offers everything on his mind. A wise one reserves and defers until later.

12 A leader who freely listens to lying words has only impious servants.

13 The pauper and the creditor have met one another. The Lord is the illuminator of them both.

14 The king who judges the poor in truth, his throne shall be secured in eternity.

15 The rod and its correction distribute wisdom. But the child who is left to his own will brings shame to his mother.

16 When the impious are multiplied, crimes will be multiplied. But the just shall see their ruin.

17 Teach your son, and he will refresh you, and he will give delight to your soul.

18 When prophecy fails, the people will be scattered. Yet truly, whoever guards the law is blessed.

19 A servant cannot be taught by words, because he understands what you say, but he disdains to respond.

20 Have you seen a man rushing to speak? Foolishness has more hope than his correction.

21 Whoever nurtures his servant delicately from childhood, afterwards will find him defiant.

22 A short-tempered man provokes quarrels. And whoever is easily angered is more likely to sin.

23 Humiliation follows the arrogant. And glory shall uphold the humble in spirit.

24 Whoever participates with a thief hates his own soul; for he listens to his oath and does not denounce him.

25 Whoever fears man will quickly fall. Whoever hopes in the Lord shall be lifted up.

26 Many demand the face of the leader. But the judgment of each one proceeds from the Lord.

27 The just abhor an impious man. And the impious abhor those who are on the right way. By keeping the word, the son shall be free from perdition.

1 The words of the Gatherer, the son of the Vomiter. The vision that the man spoke. God is with him, and he, being strengthened by God and abiding with him, said:

2 “I am the most foolish among men, and the wisdom of men is not with me.

3 I have not learned wisdom, and I have not known the knowledge of sanctity.

4 Who has ascended to heaven and also descended? Who has grasped the wind in his hands? Who has tied the waters together, as with a garment? Who has raised all the limits of the earth? What is his name, and what is the name of his son, if you know?

5 Every word of God is fire-tested. He is a bronze shield to those who hope in him.

6 Do not add anything to his words, lest you be reproved and be discovered to be a liar.

7 Two things I have asked of you; do not deny them to me before I die.

8 Remove, far from me, vanity and lying words. Give me neither begging, nor wealth. Apportion to me only the necessities of my life,

9 lest perhaps, being filled, I might be enticed into denial, and say: ‘Who is the Lord?’ Or, being compelled by destitution, I might steal, and then perjure myself in the name of my God.

10 Do not accuse a servant to his lord, lest he curse you, and you fall.

11 There is a generation which curses their father, and which does not bless their mother.

12 There is a generation which seems pure to themselves, and yet they are not even washed from their filthiness.

13 There is a generation, whose eyes have been elevated, and their eyelids are lifted on high.

14 There is a generation which has swords in place of teeth, and which commands their molars to devour the indigent from the earth and the poor from among men.

15 The leech has two daughters, who say, ‘Bring, bring.’ Three things are insatiable, and a fourth never says ‘Enough’:

16 Hell, and the mouth of the womb, and a land that is not filled with water. And truly, fire never says, ‘Enough.’

17 The eye of one who mocks his father and who despises the childbearing of his mother, let the ravens of the torrent tear it out, and let the sons of the eagles consume it.

18 Three things are difficult for me, and about a fourth, I am nearly ignorant:

19 the way of an eagle in the sky, the way of a serpent on a rock, the way of a ship in the middle of the sea, and the way of a man in adolescence.

20 Such is the way also of an adulterous woman, who eats, and wiping her mouth, says: “I have done no evil.”

21 By three things, the earth is moved, and a fourth it is not able to sustain:

22 by a slave when he reigns, by the foolish when he has been filled with food,

23 by a hateful woman when she has been taken in matrimony, and by a handmaid when she has been heir to her mistress.

24 Four things are least upon the earth, and they are wiser than the wise:

25 the ants, an infirm people who provide food for themselves at the harvest,

26 the rabbit, a sickened people who make their bed upon the rock.

27 The locust has no king, but they all depart by their troops.

28 The lizard supports itself on hands and dwells in the buildings of kings.

29 There are three things that advance well, and a fourth that marches happily on:

30 a lion, the strongest of beasts, who fears nothing that he meets,

31 a rooster prepared at the loins, likewise a ram, and a king, whom none can resist.

32 There is one who has appeared foolish, after he was lifted up on high; for if he had understood, he would have placed his hand over his mouth.

33 But whoever strongly squeezes the udder to bring out the milk, presses out butter. And whoever violently blows his nose, brings out blood. And whoever provokes wrath, brings forth discord.”

1 The words of king Lamuel. The vision by which his mother instructed him:

2 “What, O my beloved? What, O beloved of my womb? What, O beloved of my vows?

3 Do not give your substance to women, or your riches to overthrow kings.

4 Not to kings, O Lamuel, not to kings give wine. For there are no secrets where drunkenness reigns.

5 And perhaps they may drink and forget judgments, and alter the case of the sons of the poor.

6 Give strong drink to the grieving, and wine to those who are bitter in soul.

7 Let them drink, and forget their needs, and remember their sorrow no more.

8 Open your mouth for the mute and for all the cases of the sons who are passing through.

9 Open your mouth, declare what is just, and do justice to the indigent and the poor.

10 Who shall find a strong woman? Far away, and from the furthest parts, is her price.

11 The heart of her husband confides in her, and he will not be deprived of spoils.

12 She will repay him with good, and not evil, all the days of her life.

13 She has sought wool and flax, and she has worked these by the counsel of her hands.

14 She has become like a merchant’s ship, bringing her bread from far away.

15 And she has risen in the night, and given a prey to her household, and provisions to her maids.

16 She has considered a field and bought it. From the fruit of her own hands, she has planted a vineyard.

17 She has wrapped her waist with fortitude, and she has strengthened her arm.

18 She has tasted and seen that her tasks are good; her lamp shall not be extinguished at night.

19 She has put her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle.

20 She has opened her hand to the needy, and she has extended her hands to the poor.

21 She shall not fear, in the cold of snow, for her household. For all those of her household have been clothed two-fold.

22 She has made embroidered clothing for herself. Fine linen and purple is her garment.

23 Her husband is noble at the gates, when he sits among the senators of the land.

24 She has made finely woven cloth and sold it, and she has delivered a waistband to the Canaanite.

25 Strength and elegance are her clothing, and she will laugh in the final days.

26 She has opened her mouth to wisdom, and the law of clemency is on her tongue.

27 She has considered the paths of her household, and she has not eaten her bread in idleness.

28 Her sons rose up and predicted great happiness; her husband rose up and praised her.

29 Many daughters have gathered together riches; you have surpassed them all.

30 Charm is false, and beauty is vain. The woman who fears the Lord, the same shall be praised.

31 Give to her from the fruit of her own hands. And let her works praise her at the gates.