1 noli fieri pro amico inimicus proximo
inproperium enim et contumeliam malus hereditabit
et omnis peccator invidus et bilinguis
2 non te extollas in cogitatione animae tuae velut taurus
ne forte elidatur virtus tua per stultitiam
3 et folia tua comedet et fructus tuos perdet
et relinqueris velut lignum aridum in heremo
4 anima enim nequa disperdet qui se habet
et in gaudium inimici dat illum
et deducit in sortem impiorum
5 verbum dulce multiplicat amicos et mitigat inimicos
et lingua eucharis in bono homine abundat
6 multi pacifici sint tibi
et consiliarii tibi sint unus de mille
7 si possides amicum in temptatione posside eum
et non facile credas illi
8 est enim amicus secundum tempus suum
et non permanebit in die tribulationis
9 et est amicus qui egreditur ad
inimicitiam
et est amicus qui odium et rixam et convicia denudabit
10 est autem amicus socius mensae
et non permanet in die necessitatis
11 amicus si permanserit fixus erit tibi quasi coaequalis
et in domesticis tuis fiducialiter aget
12 si humiliaverit se contra te
et a facie tua abscondet se
unianimem habebis amicitiam bonam
13 ab inimicis tuis separare et ab amicis tuis adtende
14 amicus fidelis protectio fortis
qui autem invenit illum invenit thesaurum
15 amico fideli nulla est conparatio
et non est digna ponderatio auri et argenti contra bonitatem fidei
illius
16 amicus fidelis medicamentum vitae et inmortalitatis
et qui metuunt Dominum inveniunt illum
17 qui timet Deum aeque habebit amicitiam bonam
quoniam secundum illum erit amicus illius
18 fili a iuventute tua excipe doctrinam
et usque ad canos invenies sapientiam
19 quasi is qui arat et seminat accede ad illam
et sustine bonos fructus illius
20 in opere enim ipsius exiguum laborabis
et cito edes de generationibus illius
21 quam aspera est nimium sapientia indoctis hominibus
et non permanet in illa excors
22 quasi lapidis virtus probatio erit in illis
et non demorabuntur proicere illum
23 sapientia enim doctrinae secundum nomen est eius
et non multis est manifesta
quibus autem agnita est
permanet usque ad conspectum Dei
24 audi fili et accipe consilium intellectus
et ne abicias consilium meum
25 inice pedem tuum in conpedes illius
et in torques eius tuum collum
26 subice umerum tuum et porta illam
et ne acedieris vinculis eius
27 in omni animo tuo accede ad illam
et in omni virtute tua serva vias eius
28 investiga illam et manifestabitur tibi
et continens factus ne derelinqueris
eam
29 in novissimis enim invenies requiem in ea
et convertetur tibi in oblectationem
30 et erunt tibi conpedes in protectionem fortitudinis et bases virtutis
et torques illius in stolam gloriae
31 decor enim vitae est in illa
et vincula illius netura salutaris
32 stolam gloriae indues eam
et coronam gratulationis superpones tibi
33 fili si adtenderis mihi disces
et si adcommodaveris animam tuam sapiens
eris
34 et si inclinaveris aurem tuam excipies doctrinam
et si dilexeris audire sapiens eris
35 in multitudine presbyterorum prudentium sta
et sapientiae illorum ex corde coniungere
ut omnem narrationem Dei possis audire
et proverbia laudis non effugiant te
36 et si videris sensatum evigila ad illum
et gradus ostiorum illius exterat pes tuus
37 cogitatum habe in praeceptis Dei
et in mandatis illius maxime adsiduus esto
et ipse dabit cor tibi
et concupiscentia sapientiae dabitur tibi
1 Instead of a friend become not an enemy; for thereby thou shalt inherit an ill name, shame, and reproach: even so shall a sinner that hath a double tongue.
2 Extol not thyself in the counsel of thine own heart; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull straying alone .
3 Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and lose thy fruit, and leave thyself as a dry tree.
4 A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath it, and shall make him to be laughed to scorn of his enemies.
5 Sweet language will multiply friends: and a fairspeaking tongue will increase kind greetings.
6 Be in peace with many: nevertheless have but one counsellor of a thousand.
7 If thou wouldest get a friend, prove him first and be not hasty to credit him.
8 For some man is a friend for his own occasion, and will not abide in the day of thy trouble.
9 And there is a friend, who being turned to enmity, and strife will discover thy reproach.
10 Again, some friend is a companion at the table, and will not continue in the day of thy affliction.
11 But in thy prosperity he will be as thyself, and will be bold over thy servants.
12 If thou be brought low, he will be against thee, and will hide himself from thy face.
13 Separate thyself from thine enemies, and take heed of thy friends.
14 A faithfull friend is a strong defence: and he that hath found such an one hath found a treasure.
15 Nothing doth countervail a faithful friend, and his excellency is invaluable.
16 A faithful friend is the medicine of life; and they that fear the Lord shall find him.
17 Whoso feareth the Lord shall direct his friendship aright: for as he is, so shall his neighbour be also.
18 My son, gather instruction from thy youth up: so shalt thou find wisdom till thine old age.
19 Come unto her as one that ploweth and soweth, and wait for her good fruits: for thou shalt not toil much in labouring about her, but thou shalt eat of her fruits right soon.
20 She is very unpleasant to the unlearned: he that is without understanding will not remain with her.
21 She will lie upon him as a mighty stone of trial; and he will cast her from him ere it be long.
22 For wisdom is according to her name, and she is not manifest unto many.
23 Give ear, my son, receive my advice, and refuse not my counsel,
24 And put thy feet into her fetters, and thy neck into her chain.
25 Bow down thy shoulder, and bear her, and be not grieved with her bonds.
26 Come unto her with thy whole heart, and keep her ways with all thy power.
27 Search, and seek, and she shall be made known unto thee: and when thou hast got hold of her, let her not go.
28 For at the last thou shalt find her rest, and that shall be turned to thy joy.
29 Then shall her fetters be a strong defence for thee, and her chains a robe of glory.
30 For there is a golden ornament upon her, and her bands are purple lace.
31 Thou shalt put her on as a robe of honour, and shalt put her about thee as a crown of joy.
32 My son, if thou wilt, thou shalt be taught: and if thou wilt apply thy mind, thou shalt be prudent.
33 If thou love to hear, thou shalt receive understanding: and if thou bow thine ear, thou shalt be wise,
34 Stand in the multitude of the elders; and cleave unto him that is wise.
35 Be willing to hear every godly discourse; and let not the parables of understanding escape thee.
36 And if thou seest a man of understanding, get thee betimes unto him, and let thy foot wear the steps of his door.
37 Let thy mind be upon the ordinances of the Lord and meditate continually in his commandments: he shall establish thine heart, and give thee wisdom at thine owns desire.