- 1
A worker who is a drunkard will not become rich. He who despises small things will fall little by little.
- 2
Wine and women will make men of understanding go astray. He who joins with prostitutes is reckless.
- 3
Decay and worms will have him as their heritage. A reckless soul will be taken away.
- 4
He who is hasty to trust is shallow-hearted. He who sins offends against his own soul.
- 5
He who rejoices in wickedness will be condemned.
- 6
He who hates gossip has less wickedness.
- 7
Never repeat what is told you, and you won’t lose anything.
- 8
Whether it is of friend or foe, don’t tell it. Unless it is a sin to you, don’t reveal it.
- 9
For if he has heard you and observed you, when the time comes, he will hate you.
- 10
Have you heard something? Let it die with you. Be brave: it will not make you burst!
- 11
A fool will travail in pain with a word, as a woman in labor with a child.
- 12
As an arrow that sticks in the flesh of the thigh, so is gossip in a fool.
- 13
Question a friend; it may be he didn’t do it. If he did something, it may be that he may do it no more.
- 14
Question your neighbor; it may be he didn’t say it. If he has said it, it may be that he may not say it again.
- 15
Question a friend; for many times there is slander. Don’t trust every word.
- 16
There is one who slips, and not from the heart. Who is he who hasn’t sinned with his tongue?
- 17
Reprove your neighbor before you threaten him; and give place to the law of the Most High.
- 20
All wisdom is the fear of the Lord. In all wisdom is the doing of the law.
- 22
The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom. The prudence of sinners is not counsel.
- 23
There is a wickedness, and it is an abomination. There is a fool lacking in wisdom.
- 24
Better is one who has little understanding, and fears God, than one who has much intelligence and transgresses the law.
- 25
There is an exquisite subtlety, and it is unjust. And there is one who perverts favor to gain a judgment.
- 26
There is one who does wickedly, who hangs down his head with mourning; but inwardly he is full of deceit,
- 27
bowing down his face, and pretending to be deaf in one ear. Where he isn’t known, he will take advantage of you.
- 28
And if for lack of power he is hindered from sinning, if he finds opportunity, he will do mischief.
- 29
A man will be known by his appearance. One who has understanding will be known by his face when you meet him.
- 30
A man’s attire, grinning laughter, and the way he walks show what he is.
Bible: World English Bible (Catholic), public domain, via eBible.org. Footnotes, section headings and acrostic letters are not reproduced.