| 1 Many have sinned for the sake of profit, one who hopes to be rich must turn a blind eye. |
| 2 A peg wil stick in the joint between two stones, and sin wil wedge itself between sel ing and buying. |
| 3 Whoever does not firmly hold to the fear of the Lord, his house wil soon be overthrown. |
| 4 In a shaken sieve the rubbish is left behind, so too the defects of a person appear in speech. |
| 5 The kiln tests the work of the potter, the test of a person is in conversation. |
| 6 The orchard where the tree grows is judged by its fruit, similarly words betray what a person feels. |
| 7 Do not praise anyone who has not yet spoken, since this is where people are tested. |
| 8 If you pursue virtue, you will attain it and put it on like a festal gown. |
| 9 Birds consort with their kind, truth comes home to those who practise it. |
| 10 The lion lies in wait for its prey, so does sin for those who do wrong. |
| 11 The conversation of the devout is wisdom at all times, but the fool is as changeable as the moon. |
| 12 When visiting stupid people, choose the right moment, but among the thoughtful take your time. |
| 13 The conversation of fools is disgusting, raucous their laughter in their sinful pleasures. |
| 14 The talk of hard-swearing people makes your hair stand on end, their brawling makes you stop yourears. |
| 15 A quarrel between the proud leads to bloodshed, and their insults are embarrassing to hear. |
| 16 A betrayer of secrets forfeits al trust and wil never find the kind of friend he wants. |
| 17 Be fond of a friend and keep faith with him, but if you have betrayed his secrets, do not go after himany more; |
| 18 for, as one destroys a person by kil ing him, so you have kil ed your neighbour's friendship, |
| 19 and as you let a bird slip through your fingers, so you have let your friend go, and wil not catch him. |
| 20 Do not go after him -- he is far away, he has fled like a gazel e from the snare. |
| 21 For a wound can be bandaged and abuse forgiven, but for the betrayer of a secret there is no hope. |
| 22 Someone with a sly wink is plotting mischief, no one can dissuade him from it. |
| 23 Honey-tongued to your face, he is lost in admiration at your words; but behind your back he has otherthings to say, and turns your words into a stumbling-block. |
| 24 I have found many things to hate, but nothing as much as him, and the Lord hates him too. |
| 25 Whoever throws a stone in the air, throws it on to his own head; a treacherous blow cuts both ways. |
| 26 The man who digs a pit falls into it, whoever sets a snare wil be caught by it. |
| 27 On anyone who does evil, evil wil recoil, without his knowing where it comes from. |
| 28 Sarcasm and abuse are the mark of the arrogant, but vengeance lies in wait like a lion for such a one. |
| 29 The trap will close on all who rejoice in the downfal of the devout, and pain wil eat them up beforethey die. |
| 30 Resentment and anger, these are foul things too, and a sinner is a master at them both. |