Chapter 24

  Seek not to be like evil men, neither desire to be with them:  

-

  Because their mind studieth robberies, and their lips speak deceits.  

-

  By wisdom the house shall be built, and by prudence it shall be strengthened.  

-

  By instruction the storerooms shall be filled with all precious and most beautiful wealth.  

-

  A wise man is strong: and a knowing man, stout and valiant.  

-

  Because war is managed by due ordering: and there shall be safety where there are many counsels.  

-

  Wisdom is too high for a fool, in the gate he shall not open his mouth.  

-

  He that deviseth to do evils, shall be called a fool.  

-

  The thought of a fool is sin: and the detracter is the abomination of men.  

-

  If thou lose hope being weary in the day of distress, thy strength shall be diminished.  

-

  Deliver them that are led to death: and those that are drawn to death forbear not to deliver.  

-

  If thou say: I have not strength enough: he that seeth into the heart, he understandeth, and nothing deceiveth the keeper of thy soul, end he shall render to a man according to his works.  

-

  Fat honey, my son, because it is good, and the honeycomb most sweet to thy throat:  

-

  So also is the doctrine of wisdom to thy soul: which when thou hast found, thou shalt have hope in the end, and thy hope shall not perish.  

-

  Lie not in wait, nor seek after wickedness in the house of the just, nor spoil his rest.  

-

  For a just mall shall fall seven times and shall rise again: but the wicked shall fall down into evil.  

-

  When thy enemy shall fall, be not glad, and in his ruin let not thy heart rejoice:  

-

  Lest the Lord see, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.  

-

  Contend not with the wicked, nor seek to be like the ungodly:  

-

  For evil men have no hope of things to come, and the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.  

-

  My son, fear the Lord and the king: and have nothing to do with detracters.  

-

  For their destruction shall rise suddenly: and who knoweth the ruin of both?  

-

  These things also to the wise: It is not good to have respect to persons in judgment.  

-

  They that say to the wicked man: Thou art just: shall be cursed by the people, and the tribes shall abhor them.  

-

  They that rebuke him, shall be praised: and a blessing shall come upon them.  

-

  He shall kiss the lips, who answereth right words.  

-

  Prepare thy work without, and diligently till thy ground: that afterward thou mayst build thy house.  

-

  Be not witness without cause against thy neighbour: and deceive not any man with thy lips.  

-

  Say not: I will do to him as he hath done to me: I will render to every one according to his work.  

-

  I passed by the field of the slothful man, and by the vineyard of the foolish man:  

-

  And behold it was all filled with nettles, and thorns had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall was broken down.  

-

  Which when I had seen, I laid it up in my heart, and by the example I received instruction.  

-

  Thou wilt sleep a little, said I, thou wilt slumber a little, thou wilt fold thy hands a little to rest:  

-

  And poverty shall come to thee as a runner, and beggary as an armed man.  

-