1
My son defraud not the poor of his living and make not the needy eyes to wait long
2
Make not an hungry soul sorrowful neither provoke a man in his distress
3
Add not more trouble to an heart that is vexed and defer not to give to him that is in need
4
Reject not the supplication of the afflicted neither turn away thy face from a poor man
5
Turn not away thine eye from the needy and give him none occasion to curse thee
6
For if he curse thee in the bitterness of his soul his prayer shall be heard of him that made him
7
Get thyself the love of the congregation and bow thy head to a great man
8
Let it not grieve thee to bow down thine ear to the poor and give him a friendly answer with meekness
9
Deliver him that suffereth wrong from the hand of the oppressor and be not fainthearted when thou sittest in judgment
10
Be as a father unto the fatherless and instead of an husband unto their mother so shalt thou be as the son of the most High and he shall love thee more than thy mother doth
11
Wisdom exalteth her children and layeth hold of them that seek her
12
He that loveth her loveth life and they that seek to her early shall be filled with joy
13
He that holdeth her fast shall inherit glory and wheresoever she entereth the Lord will bless
14
They that serve her shall minister to the Holy One and them that love her the Lord doth love
15
Whoso giveth ear unto her shall judge the nations and he that attendeth unto her shall dwell securely
16
If a man commit himself unto her he shall inherit her and his generation shall hold her in possession
17
For at the first she will walk with him by crooked ways and bring fear and dread upon him and torment him with her discipline until she may trust his soul and try him by her laws
18
Then will she return the straight way unto him and comfort him and shew him her secrets
19
But if he go wrong she will forsake him and give him over to his own ruin
20
Observe the opportunity and beware of evil and be not ashamed when it concerneth thy soul
21
For there is a shame that bringeth sin and there is a shame which is glory and grace
22
Accept no person against thy soul and let not the reverence of any man cause thee to fall
23
And refrain not to speak when there is occasion to do good and hide not thy wisdom in her beauty
24
For by speech wisdom shall be known and learning by the word of the tongue
25
In no wise speak against the truth but be abashed of the error of thine ignorance
26
Be not ashamed to confess thy sins and force not the course of the river
27
Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man neither accept the person of the mighty
28
Strive for the truth unto death and the Lord shall fight for thee
29
Be not hasty in thy tongue and in thy deeds slack and remiss
30
Be not as a lion in thy house nor frantick among thy servants
31
Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive and shut when thou shouldest repay