⁵The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

²⁰There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

²³Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

³A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

⁷The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.

²⁶Be not thou one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts.

²⁷If thou hast nothing to pay, why should he take away thy bed from under thee?

¹When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee:

²And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite.

³Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.

⁹Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.

⁶For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.

²⁷Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

⁸Go not forth hastily to strive, lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, when thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself; and discover not a secret to another:

¹⁰Lest he that heareth it put thee to shame, and thine infamy turn not away.

⁴Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.

⁵Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.

¹²A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished.

⁸Scornful men bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.

¹¹A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.

¹⁶Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself ?

¹⁷Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

²I counsel thee to keep the king’s commandment, and that in regard of the oath of God.

³Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for he doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

¹Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

¹⁰If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put to more strength: but wisdom is profitable to direct.

⁹Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.

¹³Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.

²⁵Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

²⁶Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

⁶Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

²⁸For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

²⁹Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

³⁰Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

¹⁶Let not then your good be evil spoken of: