Part 3
Whoso feareth the Lord, it shall go well with him at the last, and in the day of his death he shall be blessed.
To fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and it was created together with the faithful in the womb.
With men she laid an eternal foundation; and with their seed shall she be had in trust.
To fear the Lord is the fulness of wisdom; and she satiateth men with her fruits.
She shall fill all her house with desirable things, and her garners with her produce.
The fear of the Lord is the crown of wisdom, making peace and perfect health to flourish.
He both saw and numbered her; he rained down skill and knowledge of understanding, and exalted the honour of them that hold her fast.
To fear the Lord is the root of wisdom; and her branches are length of days.
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Unjust wrath can never be justified; for the sway of his wrath is his downfall.
A man that is longsuffering will bear for a season, and afterwards gladness shall spring up unto him:
He will hide his words for a season, and the lips of many shall tell forth his understanding.
A parable of knowledge is in the treasures of wisdom; but godliness is an abomination to a sinner.
If thou desire wisdom, keep the commandments, and the Lord shall give her unto thee freely:
For the fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction; and in faith and meekness is his good pleasure.
Disobey not the fear of the Lord; and come not unto him with a double heart.
Be not a hypocrite in the mouths of men; and take good heed to thy lips.
Exalt not thyself, lest thou fall, and bring dishonour upon thy soul; and so the Lord shall reveal thy secrets, and shall cast thee down in the midst of the congregation; because thou camest not unto the fear of the Lord, and thy heart was full of deceit.
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=2= My son, if thou comest to serve the Lord, prepare thy soul for temptation.
Set thy heart aright, and constantly endure, and make not haste in time of calamity.
Cleave unto him, and depart not, that thou mayest be increased at thy latter end.
Accept whatsoever is brought upon thee, and be longsuffering when thou passeth into humiliation.
For gold is tried in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.
Put thy trust in him, and he will help thee: order thy ways aright, and set thy hope on him.
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Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy; and turn not aside, lest ye fall.
Ye that fear the Lord, put your trust in him; and your reward shall not fail.
Ye that fear the Lord, hope for good things, and for eternal gladness and mercy.
Look at the generations of old, and see: who did ever put his trust in the Lord, and was ashamed? or who did abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or who did call upon him, and he despised him?
For the Lord is full of compassion and mercy; and he forgiveth sins, and saveth in time of affliction.
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Woe unto fearful hearts, and to faint hands, and to the sinner that goeth two ways!
Woe unto the faint heart! for it believeth not; therefore shall it not be defended.
Woe unto you that have lost your patience! and what will ye do when the Lord shall visit you?
They that fear the Lord will not disobey his words; and they that love him will keep his ways.
They that fear the Lord will seek his good pleasure; and they that love him shall be filled with the law.
They that fear the Lord will prepare their hearts, and will humble their souls in his sight, saying,
We will fall into the hands of the Lord, and not into the hands of men: for as his majesty is, so also is his mercy.
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=3= Hear me your father, O my children, and do thereafter, that ye may be saved.
For the Lord hath given the father glory as touching the children, and hath confirmed the judgement of the mother as touching the sons.
He that honoureth his father shall make atonement for sins:
And he that giveth glory to his mother is as one that layeth up treasure.
Whoso honoureth his father shall have joy of his children; and in the day of his prayer he shall be heard.
He that giveth glory to his father shall have length of days; and he that hearkeneth unto the Lord shall bring rest unto his mother,
And will do service under his parents, as unto masters.
In deed and word honour thy father, that a blessing may come upon thee from him.
For the blessing of the father establisheth the houses of children; but the curse of the mother rooteth out the foundations.
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Glorify not thyself in the dishonour of thy father; for thy father’s dishonour is no glory unto thee.
For the glory of a man is from the honour of his father; and a mother in dishonour is a reproach to her children.
My son, help thy father in his old age; and grieve him not as long as he liveth.
And if he fail in understanding, have patience with him; and dishonour him not while thou art in thy full strength.
For the relieving of thy father shall not be forgotten: and instead of sins it shall be added to build thee up.
In the day of thine affliction it shall remember thee; as fair weather upon ice, so shall thy sins also melt away.
He that forsaketh his father is as a blasphemer; and he that provoketh his mother is cursed of the Lord.
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My son, go on with thy business in meekness; so shalt thou be beloved of an acceptable man.
The greater thou art, humble thyself the more, and thou shalt find favour before the Lord.
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For great is the potency of the Lord, and he is glorified of them that are lowly.
Seek not things that are too hard for thee, and search not out things that are above thy strength.
The things that have been commanded thee, think thereupon; for thou hast no need of the things that are secret.
Be not over busy in thy superfluous works: for more things are shewed unto thee than men can understand.
For the conceit of many hath led them astray; and evil surmising hath caused their judgement to slip.
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A stubborn heart shall fare ill at the last; and he that loveth danger shall perish therein.
A stubborn heart shall be laden with troubles; and the sinner shall heap sin upon sin.
The calamity of the proud is no healing; for a plant of wickedness hath taken root in him.
The heart of the prudent will understand a parable; and the ear of a listener is the desire of a wise man.
Water will quench a flaming fire; and almsgiving will make atonement for sins.
He that requiteth good turns is mindful of that which cometh afterward; and in the time of his falling he shall find a support.
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=4= My son, deprive not the poor of his living, and make not the needy eyes to wait long.
Make not a hungry soul sorrowful; neither provoke a man in his distress.
To a heart that is provoked add not more trouble; and defer not to give to him that is in need.
Reject not a suppliant in his affliction; and turn not away thy face from a poor man.
Turn not away thine eye from one that asketh of thee, and give none occasion to a man to curse thee:
For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul, he that made him will hear his supplication.
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Get thyself the love of the congregation; and to a great man bow thy head.
Incline thine ear to a poor man, and answer him with peaceable words in meekness.
Deliver him that is wronged from the hand of him that wrongeth him; and be not fainthearted in giving judgement.
Be as a father unto the fatherless, and instead of a husband unto their mother: so shalt thou be as a son of the Most High, and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth.
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Wisdom exalteth her sons, and taketh hold of them that seek her.
He that loveth her loveth life; and they that seek to her early shall be filled with gladness.
He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory; and where he entereth, the Lord will bless.
They that do her service shall minister to the Holy One; and them that love her the Lord doth love.
He that giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations; and he that giveth heed unto her shall dwell securely.
If he trust her, he shall inherit her; and his generations shall have her in possession.
For at the first she will walk with him in crooked ways, and will bring fear and dread upon him, and torment him with her discipline, until she may trust his soul, and try him by her judgements:
Then will she return again the straight way unto him, and will gladden him, and reveal to him her secrets.
If he go astray, she will forsake him, and give him over to his fall.
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Observe the opportunity, and beware of evil; and be not ashamed concerning thy soul.
For there is a shame that bringeth sin; and there is a shame that is glory and grace.
Accept not the person of any against thy soul; and reverence no man unto thy falling.
Refrain not speech, when it tendeth to safety; and hide not thy wisdom for the sake of fair-seeming.
For by speech wisdom shall be known; and instruction by the word of the tongue.
Speak not against the truth; and be abashed for thine ignorance.
Be not ashamed to make confession of thy sins; and force not the current of the river.
Lay not thyself down for a fool to tread upon; and accept not the person of one that is mighty.
Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord God shall fight for thee.
Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss.
Be not as a lion in thy house, nor fanciful among thy servants.
Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when thou shouldest repay.
=5= Set not thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, They are sufficient for me.
Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the desires of thy heart;
And say not, Who shall have dominion over me? for the Lord will surely take vengeance on thee.
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Say not, I sinned, and what happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering.
Concerning atonement, be not without fear, to add sin upon sins:
And say not, His compassion is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath are with him, and his indignation will rest upon sinners.
Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord; and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth; and thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance.
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Set not thine heart upon unrighteous gains: for thou shalt profit nothing in the day of calamity.
Winnow not with every wind, and walk not in every path: thus doeth the sinner that hath a double tongue.
Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be one.
Be swift to hear; and with patience make thine answer.
If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; and if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth.
Glory and dishonour is in talk: and the tongue of a man is his fall.
Be not called a whisperer; and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for upon the thief there is shame, and an evil condemnation upon him that hath a double tongue.
In a great matter and in a small be not ignorant;
=6= And instead of a friend become not an enemy; for an evil name shall inherit shame and reproach: even so shall the sinner that hath a double tongue.
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Exalt not thyself in the counsel of thy soul; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull:
Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruits, and leave thyself as a dry tree.
A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath gotten it, and shall make him a laughing-stock to his enemies.
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Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends; and a fair-speaking tongue will multiply courtesies.
Let those that are at peace with thee be many; but thy counsellors one of a thousand.
If thou wouldest get thee a friend, get him by proving, and be not in haste to trust him.
For there is a friend that is so for his own occasion; and he will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
And there is a friend that turneth to enmity; and he will discover strife to thy reproach.
And there is a friend that is a companion at the table; and he will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
And in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants:
If thou shalt be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.
Separate thyself from thine enemies; and beware of thy friends.
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A faithful friend is a strong defence; and he that hath found him hath found a treasure.
There is nothing that can be taken in exchange for a faithful friend; and his excellency is beyond price.
A faithful friend is a medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.
He that feareth the Lord directeth his friendship aright; for as he is, so is his neighbour also.
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My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: and even unto hoar hairs thou shalt find wisdom.
Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits; for thy toil shall be little in the tillage of her, and thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
How exceeding harsh is she to the unlearned! and he that is without understanding will not abide in her.
As a mighty stone of trial shall she rest upon him; and he will not delay to cast her from him.
For wisdom is according to her name; and she is not manifest unto many.
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Give ear, my son, and accept my judgement, and refuse not my counsel,
And bring thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.
Put thy shoulder under her, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.
Come unto her with all thy soul, and keep her ways with thy whole power.
Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee; and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.
For at the last thou shalt find her rest; and she shall be turned for thee into gladness.
And her fetters shall be to thee for a covering of strength, and her chains for a robe of glory.
For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are a riband of blue.
Thou shalt put her on as a robe of glory, and shalt array thee with her as a crown of rejoicing.
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My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be instructed; and if thou wilt yield thy soul, thou shalt be prudent.
If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive; and if thou incline thine ear, thou shalt be wise.
Stand thou in the multitude of the elders; and whoso is wise, cleave thou unto him.
Be willing to listen to every godly discourse; and let not the proverbs of understanding escape thee.
If thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear out the steps of his doors.
Let thy mind dwell upon the ordinances of the Lord, and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and thy desire of wisdom shall be given unto thee.
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=7= Do no evil, so shall no evil overtake thee.
Depart from wrong, and it shall turn aside from thee.
My son, sow not upon the furrows of unrighteousness, and thou shalt not reap them sevenfold.
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Seek not of the Lord preeminence, neither of the king the seat of honour.
Justify not thyself in the presence of the Lord; and display not thy wisdom before the king.
Seek not to be a judge, lest thou be not able to take away iniquities; lest haply thou fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a stumblingblock in the way of thy uprightness.
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Sin not against the multitude of the city, and cast not thyself down in the crowd.
Bind not up sin twice; for in one sin thou shalt not be unpunished.
Say not, He will look upon the multitude of my gifts, and when I offer to the Most High God, he will accept it.
Be not fainthearted in thy prayer; and neglect not to give alms.
Laugh not a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul; for there is one who humbleth and exalteth.
Devise not a lie against thy brother; neither do the like to a friend.
Love not to make any manner of lie; for the custom thereof is not for good.
Prate not in the multitude of elders; and repeat not thy words in thy prayer.
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Hate not laborious work; neither husbandry, which the Most High hath ordained.
Number not thyself among the multitude of sinners: remember that wrath will not tarry.
Humble thy soul greatly; for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.
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Change not a friend for a thing indifferent; neither a true brother for the gold of Ophir.
Forgo not a wise and good wife; for her grace is above gold.
Entreat not evil a servant that worketh truly, nor a hireling that giveth thee his life.
Let thy soul love a wise servant; defraud him not of liberty.
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Hast thou cattle? have an eye to them; and if they are profitable to thee, let them stay by thee.
Hast thou children? correct them, and bow down their neck from their youth.
Hast thou daughters? give heed to their body, and make not thy face cheerful toward them.
Give thy daughter in marriage, and thou shalt have accomplished a great matter: and give her to a man of understanding.
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Hast thou a wife after thy mind? cast her not out: but trust not thyself to one that is hateful.
Give glory to thy father with thy whole heart; and forget not the pangs of thy mother.
Remember that of them thou wast born: and what wilt thou recompense them for the things that they have done for thee?
Fear the Lord with all thy soul; and reverence his priests.
With all thy strength love him that made thee; and forsake not his ministers.
Fear the Lord, and glorify the priest; and give him his portion, even as it is commanded thee; the firstfruits, and the trespass offering, and the gift of the shoulders, and the sacrifice of sanctification, and the firstfruits of holy things.
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Also to the poor man stretch out thy hand, that thy blessing may be perfected.
A gift hath grace in the sight of every man living, and for a dead man keep not back grace.
Be not wanting to them that weep; and mourn with them that mourn.
Be not slow to visit a sick man; for by such things thou shalt gain love.
In all thy matters remember thy last end, and thou shalt never do amiss.
=8= Contend not with a mighty man, lest haply thou fall into his hands.
Strive not with a rich man, lest haply he overweigh thee: for gold hath destroyed many, and turned aside the hearts of kings.
Contend not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.
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Jest not with a rude man, lest thine ancestors be dishonoured.
Reproach not a man when he turneth from sin: remember that we are all worthy of punishment.
Dishonour not a man in his old age; for some of us also are waxing old.
Rejoice not over one that is dead: remember that we die all.
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Neglect not the discourse of the wise, and be conversant with their proverbs; for of them thou shalt learn instruction, and how to minister to great men.
Miss not the discourse of the aged; for they also learned of their fathers: because from them thou shalt learn understanding, and to give answer in time of need.
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Kindle not the coals of a sinner, lest thou be burned with the flame of his fire.
Rise not up from the presence of an insolent man, lest he lie in wait as an ambush for thy mouth.
Lend not to a man that is mightier than thyself; and if thou lend, be as one that hath lost.
Be not surety above thy power: and if thou be surety, take thought as one that will have to pay.
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Go not to law with a judge; for according to his honour will they give judgement for him.
Go not in the way with a rash man, lest he be aggrieved with thee; for he will do according to his own will, and thou shalt perish with his folly.
Fight not with a wrathful man, and travel not with him through the desert; for blood is as nothing in his sight; and where there is no help, he will overthrow thee.
Take not counsel with a fool; for he will not be able to conceal the matter.
Do no secret thing before a stranger; for thou knowest not what he will bring forth.
Open not thine heart to every man; and let him not return thee a favour.
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=9= Be not jealous over the wife of thy bosom, and teach her not an evil lesson against thyself.
Give not thy soul unto a woman, that she should set her foot upon thy strength.
Go not to meet a woman that playeth the harlot, lest haply thou fall into her snares.
Use not the company of a woman that is a singer, lest haply thou be caught by her attempts.
Gaze not on a maid, less haply thou be trapped in her penalties.
Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine inheritance.
Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary places thereof.