1 It is for man to prepare the soul, and for the Lord to govern the tongue 2 All the ways of a man are open to his eyes; the Lord is the one who weighs spirits 3 Open your works to the Lord, and your intentions will be set in order 4 The Lord has wrought all things because of himself. Likewise the impious is for the evil day 5 All the arrogant are an abomination to the Lord. Even if hand will be joined to hand, he is not innocent. The beginning of a good way is to do justice. And this is more acceptable with God than to immolate sacrifices 6 By mercy and truth, iniquity is redeemed. And by the fear of the Lord, one turns away from evil 7 When the ways of man will please the Lord, he will convert even his enemies to peace 8 Better is a little with justice, than many fruits with iniquity 9 The heart of man disposes his way. But it is for Lord to direct his steps 10 Foreknowledge is in the lips of the king. His mouth shall not err in judgment 11 Weights and scales are judgments of the Lord. And all the stones in the bag are his work 12 Those who act impiously are abominable to the king. For the throne is made firm by justice 13 Just lips are the will of kings. He who speaks honestly shall be loved 14 The indignation of a king is a herald of death. And the wise man will appease it 15 In the cheerfulness of the king’s countenance, there is life. And his clemency is like belated rain 16 Possess wisdom, for it is better than gold. And acquire prudence, for it is more precious than silver 17 The path of the just turns away from evils. He who guards his soul preserves his way 18 Arrogance precedes destruction. And the spirit is exalted before a fall 19 It is better to be humbled with the meek, than to divide spoils with the arrogant 20 The learned in word shall find good things. And whoever hopes in the Lord is blessed 21 Whoever is wise in heart shall be called prudent. And whoever is sweet in eloquence shall attain to what is greater 22 Learning is a fountain of life to one who possesses it. The doctrine of the foolish is senseless 23 The heart of the wise shall instruct his mouth and add grace to his lips 24 Careful words are a honeycomb: sweet to the soul and healthful to the bones 25 There is a way which seems right to a man, and its end result leads to death 26 The soul of the laborer labors for himself, because his mouth has driven him to it 27 The impious man digs up evil, and in his lips is a burning fire 28 A perverse man stirs up lawsuits. And one who is verbose divides leaders 29 A man of iniquity entices his friend, and he leads him along a way that is not good 30 Whoever, with astonished eyes, thinks up depravities, biting his lips, accomplishes evil 31 Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice 32 A patient man is better than a strong one. And whoever rules his soul is better than one who assaults cities 33 Lots are cast into the lap, but they are tempered by the Lord
