The Deceptiveness of Appearances

1The wisdom of the humble lifts their heads high,

and seats them among the great.

2Do not praise individuals for their good looks,

or loathe anyone because of appearance alone.

3The bee is small among flying creatures,

but what it produces is the best of sweet things.

4Do not boast about wearing fine clothes,

and do not exalt yourself when you are honoured;

for the works of the Lord are wonderful,

and his works are concealed from humankind.

5Many kings have had to sit on the ground,

but one who was never thought of has worn a crown.

6Many rulers have been utterly disgraced,

and the honoured have been handed over to others.

Deliberation and Caution

7Do not find fault before you investigate;

examine first, and then criticize.

8Do not answer before you listen,

and do not interrupt when another is speaking.

9Do not argue about a matter that does not concern you,

and do not sit with sinners when they judge a case.

10My child, do not busy yourself with many matters;

if you multiply activities, you will not be held blameless.

If you pursue, you will not overtake,

and by fleeing you will not escape.

11There are those who work and struggle and hurry,

but are so much the more in want.

12There are others who are slow and need help,

who lack strength and abound in poverty;

but the eyes of the Lord look kindly upon them;

he lifts them out of their lowly condition

13and raises up their heads

to the amazement of many.

14Good things and bad, life and death,

poverty and wealth, come from the Lord.11.14 Other ancient authorities add as verses 15 and 16, 15 Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of the law come from the Lord; affection and the ways of good works come from him. 16 Error and darkness were created with sinners; evil grows old with those who take pride in malice.

17The Lord's gift remains with the devout,

and his favour brings lasting success.

18One becomes rich through diligence and self-denial,

and the reward allotted to him is this:

19when he says, ‘I have found rest,

and now I shall feast on my goods!’

he does not know how long it will be

until he leaves them to others and dies.

20Stand by your agreement and attend to it,

and grow old in your work.

21Do not wonder at the works of a sinner,

but trust in the Lord and keep at your job;

for it is easy in the sight of the Lord

to make the poor rich suddenly, in an instant.

22The blessing of the Lord is11.22 Heb: Gk is in the reward of the pious,

and quickly God causes his blessing to flourish.

23Do not say, ‘What do I need,

and what further benefit can be mine?’

24Do not say, ‘I have enough,

and what harm can come to me now?’

25In the day of prosperity, adversity is forgotten,

and in the day of adversity, prosperity is not remembered.

26For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death

to reward individuals according to their conduct.

27An hour's misery makes one forget past delights,

and at the close of one's life one's deeds are revealed.

28Call no one happy before his death;

by how he ends, a person becomes known.11.28 Heb: Gk and through his children a person becomes known

Care in Choosing Friends

29Do not invite everyone into your home,

for many are the tricks of the crafty.

30Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the mind of the proud,

and like spies they observe your weakness;11.30 Heb: Gk downfall

31for they lie in wait, turning good into evil,

and to worthy actions they attach blame.

32From a spark many coals are kindled,

and a sinner lies in wait to shed blood.

33Beware of scoundrels, for they devise evil,

and they may ruin your reputation for ever.

34Receive strangers into your home and they will stir up trouble for you,

and will make you a stranger to your own family.