1 Wisdom lifts up the head of he who is of low degree,
And makes him to sit among great men.
2 Do not commend a man for his good looks;
Neither despise a man for his outward appearance.
3 The bee is little among those that fly;
But her fruit is the first of that which is sweet.
4 Do not boast of your garments and clothes,
And do not exalt yourself in the day of esteem;
For the works of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 are wondrous,
And His works among men are hidden.
5 Many sovereigns have sat down on the ground;
And one that was never considered has worn the crown.
6 Many mighty men have been greatly shamed;
And those esteemed delivered into other men’s hands.
7 Do not accuse before you have examined the truth;
Understand first, and then reprove.
8 Do not answer before you have heard the case;
Neither interrupt men in the middle of speaking.
9 Do not strive in a matter that does not concern you;
And do not sit in judgment with sinners.
10 My son, do not engage in many matters;
For if you strive greatly, you shall not be innocent;
And if you pursue, you shall not obtain,
Neither shall you escape by fleeing.
11 There is one who labours, and struggles, and hurries,
And is so much more behind.
12 Again, there is another that is slow, and needs help,
Lacking skill, and full of poverty;
Yet the eye of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 looks upon him for good,
And raises him up from his humiliation,
13 And lifts his head from misery;
So that many see His peace over all this.
14 Prosperity and adversity, life and death,
Poverty and wealth, come from 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄.
15 Wisdom, knowledge and understanding of the Law,
are of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄; Love, and the way of good works, are from Him.
16 Sin and darkness had their beginning together with sinners;
And evil shall grow old with those who boast in them.
17 The gift of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 remains with the righteous,
And His favour brings peace forever.
18 There is he who grows wealthy by his cunning and frugality,
And this is the portion of his reward:
19 For he says, “I have found rest, and now shall eat continually of my goods.”
And yet he does not know what event shall come upon him,
And that he must leave those to others, and die.
20 Be steadfast in your agreement, and be aquainted with it,
And grow old in your work.
21 Do not marvel at the works of sinners;
But trust in 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄, and continue in your labour;
For it is light in the eyes of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 to suddenly make a poor man wealthy.
22 The beraḵah of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 is in the reward of the reverent,
And suddenly He makes his beraḵah flourish.
23 Do not say, “What profit is there of my service?
And what good shall I have afterward?”
24 Again, do not say, “I have enough, and possess much,
And what evil shall come to me afterward?”
25 In the day of good there is a forgetfulness of affliction;
And in the day of affliction there is no remembrance of good.
26 For it is light for 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄 to reward a man according to his ways on the day of death.
27 The affliction of an hour makes a man forget pleasure;
And in the end his deeds shall be exposed.
28 Judge none baruḵ before his death;
For a man shall be known in his children.
29 Do not bring every man into your house;
For the deceitful man has many schemes.
30 As a partridge taken in a cage,
So is the heart of the proud;
And as a spy, he watches for your fall;
31 For he lies in wait, and turns good into evil,
And in that which is worthy of praise shall accuse you.
32 From a spark of fire a heap of coals is kindled:
And a sinful man lays in wait for blood.
33 Take heed of an evil-doer, for he works wickedness;
Lest he bring upon you an everlasting stain.
34 Receive a stranger into your house, and he shall disturb you,
And turn you out of your own.