You

Do not accuse a man without cause, when he has done you no harm.

For I give you sound teaching; do not abandon my directive.

…he taught me and said, “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands and you will live.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

Do not forsake wisdom, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will guard you.

Wisdom is supreme; so acquire wisdom. And whatever you may acquire, gain understanding.

Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

Prize her, and she will exalt you; if you embrace her, she will honor you.

She will set a garland of grace on your head; she will present you with a crown of beauty.”

I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

I will guide you in the way of wisdom; I will lead you on straight paths.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

When you walk, your steps will not be impeded; when you run, you will not stumble.

…that you may maintain discretion and your lips may preserve knowledge.

…lest you concede your vigor to others, and your years to one who is cruel;

At the end of your life you will groan when your flesh and your body are spent,

…and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and my heart despised reproof!

May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth:

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.

A loving doe, a graceful fawn—may her breasts satisfy you always; may you be captivated by her love forever.

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge with a stranger,

…if you have been trapped by the words of your lips, ensnared by the words of your mouth,

…then do this, my son, to free yourself, for you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go, humble yourself, and press your plea with your neighbor.

How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

How long will you lie there, O slacker? When will you get up from your sleep?

…and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

When you walk, they will guide you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

…to keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress.

Do not lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes.

My son, keep my words and treasure my commandments within you.

Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your kinsman,

…that they may keep you from the adulteress, from the stranger with seductive words.

So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.

So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.

So I came out to meet you; I sought you, and I have found you.

“To you, O men, I call out, and my cry is to the sons of men.

For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire compares with her.

Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”

Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage; but if you scoff, you alone will bear the consequences.

Stay away from a foolish man; you will gain no knowledge from his speech.

A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

A man of great anger must pay the penalty; if you rescue him, you will have to do so again.

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

If you cease to hear instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.

Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

Do not love sleep, or you will grow poor; open your eyes, and you will have plenty of food.

Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

…for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.

…for it is pleasing when you keep them within you and they are constantly on your lips.

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.

So that your trust may be in the LORD, I instruct you today—yes, you.

Have I not written for you thirty sayings about counsel and knowledge,

…to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

…to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

…to show you true and reliable words, that you may soundly answer those who sent you?

…or you may learn his ways and entangle yourself in a snare.

If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?

Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will be stationed in the presence of kings; he will not stand before obscure men.

When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,

When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is set before you,

…and put a knife to your throat if you possess a great appetite.

When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky.

…for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

…for he is keeping track, inwardly counting the cost. “Eat and drink,” he says to you, but his heart is not with you.

You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

You will vomit up what little you have eaten and waste your pleasant words.

…for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.

Do not withhold discipline from a child; although you strike him with a rod, he will not die.

Strike him with a rod, and you will deliver his soul from Sheol.

Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old.

May your father and mother be glad, and may she who gave you birth rejoice!

You will be like one sleeping on the high seas or lying on the top of a mast:

Only with sound guidance should you wage war, and victory lies in a multitude of counselors.

If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!

If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

Know therefore that wisdom is sweet to your soul. If you find it, there is a future for you, and your hope will never be cut off.

Whoever tells the guilty, “You are innocent”—peoples will curse him, and nations will denounce him;

Complete your outdoor work and prepare your field; after that, you may build your house.

…and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and need like a bandit.

…for it is better to be told, “Come up here!” than to be demoted in the presence of the prince. Even what you have seen with your own eyes,

…do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

…do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?

…lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.

…lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your infamy never go away.