1 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.    The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?   I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.   For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.   For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.  But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.  My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth. 

2 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.  For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.   For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.  Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.  Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.  

3 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation. The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened. The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish. The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.   Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth. The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.  

4 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.  Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.  A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.  Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.  A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.  Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.  There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going. The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge. The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.  The king's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.  

5 A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.  The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.   Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die. A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.  The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.  Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. The LORD will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.  The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.   The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.  The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. 

6 The LORD hath made all things for himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.  Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.  How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.  Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.  There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.   An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.  Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.  The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.  

7 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape.   A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.   Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge.  Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.  The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.  A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.   The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.  Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words.  If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small. If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works? My son, eat thou honey,  because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste: So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

8 It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable. Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer. Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men: For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.   The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.  As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouths of fools.  When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.  A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 

9 Open rebuke is better than secret love.  As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.   The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.  When righteous men do rejoice, there is great glory: but when the wicked rise, a man is hidden.  He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. When the wicked rise, men hide themselves: but when they perish, the righteous increase.    He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.  If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest.  When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.  A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.  

10 There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.  There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.  The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it.  If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth.  Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.  Let him drink, and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Praise be unto the Lord !