1 propter inopiam multi deliquerunt
et qui quaerit locupletari avertit oculum suum
2 si in medio conpaginis lapidum palus figitur
sic et inter medium venditionis et emptionis angustabitur peccatis
3 conteretur delictum
4 si non in timore Domini tenueris instanter
cito subvertetur domus tua
5 si in pertusura cribri remanebit stercus
sic aporia hominis in cogitatu illius
6 vasa figuli probat fornax
et homines iustos temptatio tribulationis
7 sicut rusticatio de ligno ostendit fructum illius
sic verbum excogitatum
hominis cordis
8 ante sermonem non conlaudes virum
haec enim temptatio est hominum
9 si sequaris iustitiam adprehendes illam
et indues quasi poderem honoris
et inhabitabis cum ea et proteget te in sempiternum
et in die agnitionis invenies firmamentum
10 volatilia ad sibi similia conveniunt
et veritas ad eos qui operantur illam revertetur
11 leo venationi insidiatur semper
sic peccata operantibus iniquitates
12 homo sanctus in sapientia manet sicut sol
nam stultus sicut luna inmutatur
13 in medio insensatorum serva verbum tempori
in medio autem cogitantium adsiduus esto
14 narratio peccantium odiosa
et risus illorum delictis peccati
15 loquella multum iurans horripilationem capiti
statuet
et inreverentia ipsius obturatio aurium
16 effusio sanguinis in rixa superborum
et maledictio illorum auditus gravis
17 qui denudat arcana amici perdet fidem
et non inveniet amicum ad animum suum
18 dilige proximum et coniungere fide cum illo
19 quod si denudaveris absconsa illius non persequeris post eum
20 sicut enim homo qui perdit amicum suum
sic qui perdit amicitiam proximi sui
21 et sicut qui dimittit avem de manu sua
sic reliquisti proximum tuum et non eum capies
22 non illum sequaris quoniam longe abest
effugit enim quasi caprea de laqueo
quoniam vulnerata est
23 conligare et maledicti est concordatio
24 denudare autem amici mysteria desperatio est
25 annuens oculo fabricat iniqua et nemo eum abiciet
26 in conspectu oculorum tuorum condulcabit os tuum
et super sermones tuos admirabitur
novissime autem pervertet os suum
et in verbis tuis dabit scandalum
27 multa audivi et non coaequavi ei
et Dominus odiet illum
28 qui in altum mittit lapidem super caput eius cadet
et plaga dolosi dividet vulnera
29 et qui foveam fodit in illam decidet
et qui statuit lapidem proximo offendet in eo
et qui laqueum alio peribit in illo
30 facienti nequissimum super ipsum devolvetur
et non agnoscet unde adveniat illi
31 inlusio et inproperium superborum
et vindicta sicut leo insidiabitur illi
32 laqueo peribunt qui oblectantur casu iustorum
dolor autem consumet illos antequam moriantur
33 ira et furor utraque execrabilia
et vir peccator continens erit illorum
1 Many have sinned for a small matter; and he that seeketh for abundance will turn his eyes away.
2 As a nail sticketh fast between the joinings of the stones; so doth sin stick close between buying and selling.
3 Unless a man hold himself diligently in the fear of the Lord, his house shall soon be overthrown.
4 As when one sifteth with a sieve, the refuse remaineth; so the filth of man in his talk.
5 The furnace proveth the potter’s vessels; so the trial of man is in his reasoning.
6 The fruit declareth if the tree have been dressed; so is the utterance of a conceit in the heart of man.
7 Praise no man before thou hearest him speak; for this is the trial of men.
8 If thou followest righteousness, thou shalt obtain her, and put her on, as a glorious long robe.
9 The birds will resort unto their like; so will truth return unto them that practise in her.
10 As the lion lieth in wait for the prey; so sin for them that work iniquity.
11 The discourse of a godly man is always with wisdom; but a fool changeth as the moon.
12 If thou be among the indiscreet, observe the time; but be continually among men of understanding.
13 The discourse of fools is irksome, and their sport is the wantonness of sin.
14 The talk of him that sweareth much maketh the hair stand upright; and their brawls make one stop his ears.
15 The strife of the proud is bloodshedding, and their revilings are grievous to the ear.
16 Whoso discovereth secrets loseth his credit; and shall never find friend to his mind.
17 Love thy friend, and be faithful unto him: but if thou betrayest his secrets, follow no more after him.
18 For as a man hath destroyed his enemy; so hast thou lost the love of thy neighbor.
19 As one that letteth a bird go out of his hand, so hast thou let thy neighbour go, and shalt not get him again
20 Follow after him no more, for he is too far off; he is as a roe escaped out of the snare.
21 As for a wound, it may be bound up; and after reviling there may be reconcilement: but he that betrayeth secrets is without hope.
22 He that winketh with the eyes worketh evil: and he that knoweth him will depart from him.
23 When thou art present, he will speak sweetly, and will admire thy words: but at the last he will writhe his mouth, and slander thy sayings.
24 I have hated many things, but nothing like him; for the Lord will hate him.
25 Whoso casteth a stone on high casteth it on his own head; and a deceitful stroke shall make wounds.
26 Whoso diggeth a pit shall fall therein: and he that setteth a trap shall be taken therein.
27 He that worketh mischief, it shall fall upon him, and he shall not know whence it cometh.
28 Mockery and reproach are from the proud; but vengeance, as a lion, shall lie in wait for them.
29 They that rejoice at the fall of the righteous shall be taken in the snare; and anguish shall consume them before they die.
30 Malice and wrath, even these are abominations; and the sinful man shall have them both.