“ Be steadfast in the way of the Lord, and in the truth of thy judgment, and in knowledge, and let the word of peace and justice keep with thee.
5:13. Be meek to hear the word, that thou mayst understand: and return a true answer with wisdom.
5:14. If thou have understanding, answer thy neighbour: but if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth, lest thou be surprised in an unskilful word, and be confounded.
5:15. Honour and glory is in the word of the wise, but the tongue of the fool is his ruin. ”

“ THE PROLOGUE The knowledge of many and great things hath been shewn us by the law, and the prophets, and others that have followed them: for which things Israel is to be commended for doctrine and wisdom, because not only they that speak must needs be skilful, but strangers also, both speaking and writing, may by their means become most learned. My grandfather Jesus, after he had much given himself to a diligent reading of the law, and the prophets, and other books, that were delivered to us from our fathers, had a mind also to write something himself, pertaining to doctrine and wisdom ”

“ And in the midst of the church she shall open his mouth, and shall fill him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and shall clothe him with a robe of glory.
15:6. She shall heap upon him a treasure of joy and gladness, and shall cause him to inherit an everlasting name.
15:7. But foolish men shall not obtain her, and wise men shall meet her, foolish men shall not see her: for she is far from pride and deceit.
15:8. Lying men shall be mindful of her: but men that speak truth shall be found with her, and shall advance, even till they come to the sight of God. ”

“ In all thy works let the true word go before thee, and steady counsel before every action.
37:21. A wicked word shall change the heart: out of which four manner of things arise, good and evil, life and death: and the tongue is continually the ruler of them. There is a man that is subtle and a teacher of many, and yet is unprofitable to his own soul.
37:22. A skilful man hath taught many, and is sweet to his own soul. ”

“ Good things that are hidden in a mouth that is shut, are as messes of meat set about a grave.
30:19. What good shall an offering do to an idol? for it can neither eat, nor smell:
30:20. So is he that is persecuted by the Lord, bearing the reward of his iniquity:
30:21. He seeth with his eyes, and groaneth, as an eunuch embracing a virgin, and sighing.
30:22. Give not up thy soul to sadness, and afflict not thyself in thy own counsel.
30:23. The joyfulness of the heart, is the life of a man, and a never failing treasure of holiness: and the joy of a man is length of life. ”

“ Instruct thy son, and labour about him, lest his lewd behaviour be an offence to thee.
30:14. Better is a poor man who is sound, and strong of constitution, than a rich man who is weak and afflicted with evils.
30:15. Health of the soul in holiness of justice, is better than all gold and silver: and a sound body, than immense revenues.
30:16. There is no riches above the riches of the health of the body: and there is no pleasure above the joy of the heart. ”

“ In the treasures of wisdom is understanding, and religiousness of knowledge: but to sinners wisdom is an abomination.
1:27. The fear of the Lord driveth out sin:
1:28. For he that is without fear, cannot be justified: for the wrath of his high spirits is his ruin.
1:29. A patient man shall bear for a time, and afterwards joy shall be restored to him.
1:30. A good understanding will hide his words for a time, and the lips of many shall declare his wisdom.
1:31. In the treasures of wisdom is the signification of discipline:
1:32. But the worship of God is an abomination to a sinner. ”

“ Ye divine offspring... He speaks to the children of Israel, the people of God: whom he exhorts to bud forth and flourish with virtue.
39:18. Give ye a sweet odour as frankincense.
39:19. Send forth flowers, as the lily, and yield a smell, and bring forth leaves in grace, and praise with canticles, and bless the Lord in his works.
39:20. Magnify his name, and give glory to him with the voice of your lips, and with the canticles of your mouths, and with harps, and in praising him, you shall say in this manner:
39:21. All the works of the Lord are exceeding good. ”

“ He that is not wise in good, will not be taught.
21:15. But there is a wisdom that aboundeth in evil: and there is no understanding where there is bitterness.
21:16. The knowledge of a wise man shall abound like a flood, and his counsel continueth like a fountain of life.
21:17. The heart of a fool is like a broken vessel, and no wisdom at all shall it hold.
21:18. A man of sense will praise every wise word he shall hear, and will apply it to himself: the luxurious man hath heard it, and it shall displease him, and he will cast it behind his back. ”

“ Do good to the just, and thou shalt find great recompense: and if not of him, assuredly of the Lord.
12:3. For there is no good for him that is always occupied in evil, and that giveth no alms: for the Highest hateth sinners, and hath mercy on the penitent.
12:4. Give to the merciful and uphold not the sinner: God will repay vengeance to the ungodly and to sinners, and keep them against the day of vengeance.
12:5. Give to the good, and receive not a sinner.
12:6. Do good to the humble, and give not to the ungodly: hold back thy bread, and give it not to him, lest thereby he overmaster thee. ”

“ All things that are of the earth, shall return into the earth: so the ungodly shall from malediction to destruction.
41:14. The mourning of men is about their body, but the name of the ungodly shall be blotted out.
41:15. Take care of a good name: for this shall continue with thee, more than a thousand treasures precious and great.
41:16. A good life hath its number of days: but a good name shall continue for ever.
41:17. My children, keep discipline in peace: for wisdom that is hid, and a treasure that is not seen, what profit is there in them both? ”

“ All iniquity is like a two-edged sword, there is no remedy for the wound thereof.
21:5. Injuries and wrongs will waste riches: and the house that is very rich shall be brought to nothing by pride: so the substance of the proud shall be rooted out. ”

“ A wise man will fear in every thing, and in the days of sins will beware of sloth.
18:28. Every man of understanding knoweth wisdom, and will give praise to him that findeth her.
18:29. They that were of good understanding in words, have also done wisely themselves: and have understood truth and justice, and have poured forth proverbs and judgments.
18:30. Go not after thy lusts, but turn away from thy own will.
18:31. If thou give to thy soul her desires, she will make thee a joy to thy enemies. ”

“ The mouth of the prudent is sought after in the church, and they will think upon his words in their hearts.
21:21. As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool: and the knowledge of the unwise is as words without sense.
21:22. Doctrine to a fool is as fetters on the feet, and like manacles on the right hand.
21:23. A fool lifteth up his voice in laughter: but a wise man will scarce laugh low to himself. ”

“ The prayer out of the mouth of the poor shall reach the ears of God, and judgment shall come for him speedily.
21:7. He that hateth to be reproved walketh in the trace of a sinner: and he that feareth God will turn to his own heart.
21:8. He that is mighty by a bold tongue is known afar off, but a wise man knoweth to slip by him.
21:9. He that buildeth his house at other men's charges, is as he that gathereth himself stones to build in the winter.
21:10. The congregation of sinners is like tow heaped together, and the end of them is a flame of fire. ”

“ Again, there is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty:
11:13. Yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him, and have glorified God.
11:14. Good things and evil, life and death, poverty and riches, are from God.
11:15. Wisdom and discipline, and the knowledge of the law are with God. Love and the ways of good things are with him.
11:16. Error and darkness are created with sinners: and they that glory in evil things, grow old in evil. ”

“ Keep a sure watch over a shameless daughter: lest at anytime she make thee become a laughingstock to thy enemies, and a byword in the city, and a reproach among the people, and she make thee ashamed before all the multitude.
42:12. Behold not everybody's beauty: and tarry not among women.
42:13. For from garments cometh a moth, and from a woman the iniquity of a man.
42:14. For better is the iniquity of a man, than a woman doing a good turn, and a woman bringing shame and reproach. ”

“ Go not on the way with a bold man, lest he burden thee with his evils: for he goeth according to his own will, and thou shalt perish together with his folly.
8:19. Quarrel not with a passionate man, and go not into the desert with a bold man: for blood is as nothing in his sight, and where there is no help he will overthrow thee.
8:20. Advise not with fools, for they cannot love but such things as please them.
8:21. Before a stranger do no matter of counsel: for thou knowest not what he will bring forth. ”

“ Although thou hast drawn a sword at a friend, despair not: for there may be a returning. To a friend,
22:27. If thou hast opened a sad mouth, fear not, for there may be a reconciliation: except upbraiding, and reproach, and pride, and disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for in all these cases a friend will flee away.
22:28. Keep fidelity with a friend in his poverty, that in his prosperity also thou mayst rejoice.
22:29. In the time of his trouble continue faithful to him, that thou mayst also be heir with him in his inheritance. ”

“ Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold?
14:4. He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting.
14:5. He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.
14:6. There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness:
14:7. And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness. ”

“ There is one that holdeth his peace, because he knoweth not what to say: and there is another that holdeth his peace, knowing the proper time.
20:7. A wise man will hold his peace till he see opportunity: but a babbler, and a fool, will regard no time.
20:8. He that useth many words shall hurt his own soul: and he that taketh authority to himself unjustly shall be hated.
20:9. There is success in evil things to a man without discipline, and there is a finding that turneth to loss. ”

“ Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner:
15:10. For wisdom came forth from God: for praise shall be with the wisdom of God, and shall abound in a faithful mouth, and the sovereign Lord will give praise unto it.
15:11. Say not: It is through God, that she is not with me: for do not thou the things that he hateth.
15:12. Say not: He hath caused me to err: for he hath no need of wicked men.
15:13. The Lord hateth all abomination of error, and they that fear him shall not love it.
15:14. God made man from the beginning, and left him in the hand of his own counsel. ”

“ And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.
4:12. Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice. ”

“ A man wise in words shall make himself beloved: but the graces of fools shall be poured out.
20:14. The gift of the fool shall do thee no good: for his eyes are sevenfold.
20:15. He will give a few things, and upbraid much: and the opening of his mouth is the kindling of a fire.
20:16. To day a man lendeth, and to morrow he asketh it again: such a man as this is hateful.
20:17. A fool shall have no friend, and there shall be no thanks for his good deeds.
20:18. For they that eat his bread, are of a false tongue. ”

“ But be continually with a holy man, whomsoever thou shalt know to observe the fear of God,
37:16. Whose soul is according to thy own soul: and who, when thou shalt stumble in the dark, will be sorry for thee.
37:17. And establish within thyself a heart of good counsel: for there is no other thing of more worth to thee than it.
37:18. The soul of a holy man discovereth sometimes true things, more than seven watchmen that sit in a high place to watch. ”

“ Other lessons of wisdom and virtue.
8:1. Strive not with a powerful man, lest thou fall into his hands.
8:2. Contend not with a rich man, lest he bring an action against thee.
8:3. For gold and silver hath destroyed many, and hath reached even to the heart of kings, and perverted them.
8:4. Strive not with a man that is full of tongue, and heap not wood upon his fire.
8:5. Communicate not with an ignorant man, lest he speak ill of thy family.
8:6. Despise not a man that turneth away from sin, nor reproach him therewith: remember that we are all worthy of reproof. ”

“ Who wast taken up in a whirlwind of fire, in a chariot of fiery horses.
48:10. Who art registered in the judgments of times to appease the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
48:11. Blessed are they that saw thee, and were honoured with thy friendship.
48:12. For we live only in our life, but after death our name shall not be such.
48:13. Elias was indeed covered with the whirlwind, and his spirit was filled up in Eliseus: in his days he feared not the prince, and no man was more powerful than he. ”

“ A sinner is caught in his own vanity, and the proud and the evil speakers shall fall thereby.
23:9. Let not thy mouth be accustomed to swearing: for in it there are many falls.
23:10. And let not the naming of God be usual in thy mouth, and meddle not with the names of saints, for thou shalt not escape free from them.
23:11. For as a slave daily put to the question, is never without a blue mark: so every one that sweareth, and nameth, shall not be wholly pure from sin.
23:12. A man that sweareth much, shall be filled with iniquity, and a scourge shall not depart from his house. ”