And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

May they be yours alone, and not for strangers [who are] with you.

For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.

My son, if you are surety for your friend, if you struck your palms with a stranger,

If you have been snared with the words of your lips,
If you have been trapped by the speech of your mouth,

deceits are in his heart; he deviseth mischief at all times, he soweth discords.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Eyes that are lofty, a tongue that is false, and hands shedding innocent blood;

A heart that deviseth wicked purposes, Feet that are swift in running to mischief,

In your walking, it will be your guide; when you are sleeping, it will keep watch over you; when you are awake, it will have talk with you.

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

Doth a man take fire into his bosom, And are his garments not burnt?

Doth a man walk on the hot coals, And are his feet not scorched?

He will not take any payment; and he will not make peace with you though your money offerings are increased.

Say to [skillful and godly] wisdom, “You are my sister,”
And regard understanding and intelligent insight as your intimate friends;

So that they may keep you from the strange woman, even from her whose words are smooth.

Sacrifices of peace-offerings are with me; This day have I paid my vows.

Come, we are filled with loves till the morning, We delight ourselves in loves.

For she hath cast down many wounded: Yea, all her slain are a mighty host.

The ways of Sheol [are] her house, descending to chambers of death.

Learn to be shrewd, you who are inexperienced;
develop common sense, you who are foolish.

Give ear, for my words are true, and my lips are open to give out what is upright.

For good faith goes out of my mouth, and false lips are disgusting to me.

All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

The fear of the Lord is seen in hating evil: pride, a high opinion of oneself, the evil way, and the false tongue, are unpleasing to me.

{Advice and sound judgment} are mine; I am understanding, {strength is mine}.

Through me chiefs have authority, and the noble ones are judging in righteousness.

Those who have given me their love are loved by me, and those who make search for me with care will get me.

Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

“I, [Wisdom, continuously] walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,

Rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth, And my delights are with the sons of men.

Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

But he who does evil to me, does wrong to his soul: all my haters are in love with death.

For by me do thy days multiply, And added to thee are years of life.

If you are wise, you are wise for yourself [for your own benefit];
If you scoff [thoughtlessly ridicule and disdain], you alone will pay the penalty.

To call to those passing by the way, Who are going straight on their paths.

Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Treasures of wickedness and ill-gotten gains do not profit,
But righteousness and moral integrity in daily life rescues from death.

Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

He whose ways are upright will go safely, but he whose ways are twisted will be made low.

Those who wink their eyes are trouble makers, and the mocking fool will be brought down.

Hate is a cause of violent acts, but all errors are covered up by love.

On the lips of the discerning, [skillful and godly] wisdom is found,
But discipline and the rod are for the back of the one who is without common sense and understanding.

Those who are wise lay up knowledge, but [to] the mouth of the fool, ruin draws near.

The rich hide within the fortress that is their wealth, but the poor are dismayed due to their poverty.

When there are many words, sin is unavoidable,
but the one who controls his lips is wise.

The tongue of the righteous is like precious silver (greatly valued);
The heart of the wicked is worth little.

The thing that the ungodly are afraid of, shall come upon them; but the righteous shall have their desire.

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more,
But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

The fear of Jehovah addeth days, And the years of the wicked are shortened.

The hope of the righteous [those of honorable character and integrity] is joy,
But the expectation of the wicked [those who oppose God and ignore His wisdom] comes to nothing.

The lips of the upright man have knowledge of what is pleasing, but twisted are the mouths of evil-doers.

Balances of deceit are an abomination to Jehovah, And a perfect weight is His delight.

When pride comes [boiling up with an arrogant attitude of self-importance], then come dishonor and shame,
But with the humble [the teachable who have been chiseled by trial and who have learned to walk humbly with God] there is wisdom and soundness of mind.

The righteousness of the upright delivereth them; but the treacherous are taken in their own craving.

With his mouth a hypocrite destroyeth his neighbour; but through knowledge are the righteous delivered.

When it goes well for the righteous, the city rejoices,
And when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

When the upright are blessed, exalted is the city, but, by the mouth of the lawless, it is overthrown.

Where no good counsel is, there the people decay; but whereas are many that can give counsel, there is wealth.

The wicked man earns deceptive wages,
But he who sows righteousness and lives his life with integrity will have a true reward [that is both permanent and satisfying].

They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the LORD: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

There is the one who [generously] scatters [abroad], and yet increases all the more;
And there is the one who withholds what is justly due, but it results only in want and poverty.

If the righteous will be rewarded on the earth [with godly blessings],
How much more [will] the wicked and the sinner [be repaid with punishment]!

The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,
But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

True lips are certain for ever, but a false tongue is only for a minute.

Deceit is in the heart of those whose designs are evil, but for those purposing peace there is joy.

{No evil will happen} to the righteous, but the wicked are filled [with] trouble.

Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.

The slothful man doesn't roast his game, but the possessions of diligent men are prized.

In the way of righteousness is life,
And in its pathway there is no death [but immortality—eternal life].

A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.

He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.

The lazy person craves, yet receives nothing, but the desires of the diligent are satisfied.

Righteousness (being in right standing with God) guards the one whose way is blameless,
But wickedness undermines and overthrows the sinner.

There are some who pretend to be rich, yet have nothing. There are some who pretend to be poor, yet have great wealth.

The ransom of a man's life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

Arrogance only brings quarreling, but those receiving advice are wise.

Hastily gotten goods are soon spent; but they that be gathered together with the hand, shall increase.

Poverty and contempt, are for him that neglecteth correction, but, he that regardeth reproof, shall be honoured.

Abundant food is in the fallow (uncultivated) ground of the poor,
But [without protection] it is swept away by injustice.

He who goes on his way in righteousness has before him the fear of the Lord; but he whose ways are twisted gives him no honour.

Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

Fools mock sin [but sin mocks the fools],
But among the upright there is good will and the favor and blessing of God.

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

The evil bow before those who are good,
the wicked, at the gates of the righteous.

Even of his neighbour is the poor hated, And those loving the rich are many.

Do they not err that devise evil? but loving-kindness and truth are for those that devise good.

Riches are an ornament unto the wise; but the ignorance of fools is very foolishness.

The fear of the LORD is a stronghold; and his children are under a sure defense.

A calm and peaceful and tranquil heart is life and health to the body,
But passion and envy are like rottenness to the bones.

He who is hard on the poor puts shame on his Maker; but he who has mercy on those who are in need gives him honour.

The wicked one is thrown down by his own sin,
but the righteous one has a refuge in his death.