1
My son, have you sinned?
2
Flee from sin as from the face of a snake;
3
All iniquity is as a two-edged sword.
4
Terror and violence will waste away riches.
5
Supplication from a poor man’s mouth reaches to the ears of[a] God,
6
One who hates reproof is in the path of the sinner.
7
He who is mighty in tongue is known far away;
8
He who builds his house with other men’s money
9
The congregation of wicked men is as a bundle of tow
10
The way of sinners is paved with stones;
11
He who keeps the law becomes master of its intent.
12
He who is not clever will not be instructed.
13
The knowledge of a wise man will be made to abound as a flood,
14
The inward parts of a fool are like a broken vessel.
15
If a man of knowledge hears a wise word,
16
The chatter of a fool is like a burden in the way,
17
The utterance of the prudent man will be sought for in the congregation.
18
As a house that is destroyed, so is wisdom to a fool. The knowledge of an unwise man is talk without sense.[b]
19
Instruction is as fetters on the feet of an unwise man,
20
A fool lifts up his voice with laughter,
21
Instruction is to a prudent man as an ornament of gold,
22
The foot of a fool rushes into a house,
23
A foolish man peers into the door of a house,
24
It is rude for someone to listen at a door,
25
The lips of strangers will be grieved at these things,
26
The heart of fools is in their mouth,
27
When the ungodly curses an adversary,
28
A whisperer defiles his own soul,