[1] Of these things be not ashamed, And accept no man's person to sinthereby:
[2] Of the law of the Most High, and his covenant; And of judgement to do justice to the ungodly;
[3] Of reckoning with a partner and with travellers; And of a gift from the heritage of friends;
[4] Of exactness of balance and weights; And of getting much or little;
[5] Of indifferent selling of merchants; And of much correction of children; And of making the side of an evil servant to bleed.
[6] Sure keeping is good, where an evil wife is; And where many hands are, shut you close.
[7] Whatsoever you handest over, let it be by number and weight; And in giving and receiving let all be in writing.
[8] Be not ashamed to instruct the unwise and foolish, And one of extreme old age that contendeth with those that are young; And so shall you be well instructed indeed, And approved in the sight of every man living.
[9] A daughter is a secret cause of wakefulness to a father; And the care for her puts away sleep; In her youth, lest she pass the flower of her age; And when she is married, lest she should be hated:
[10] In her virginity, lest she should be defiled And be with child in her father's house; And when she has a husband, lest she should transgress; And when she is married, lest she should be barren.
[11] Keep a strict watch over a headstrong daughter, Lest she make you a laughingstock to your enemies, A byword in the city and notorious among the people, And shame you before the multitude.
[12] Look not upon every body in regard of beauty, And sit not in the midst of women;
[13] For from garments comes a moth, And from a woman a woman's wickedness.
[14] Better is the wickedness of a man than a pleasant-dealing woman, And a woman which puts you to shameful reproach.
[15] I will make mention now of the works of the Lord, And will declare the things that I have seen: In the words of the Lord are his works.
[16] The sun that gives light looketh upon all things; And the work of the Lord is full of his glory.
[17] The Lord has not given power to the saints to declare all his marvellous works; Which the Almighty Lord firmly settled, That whatsoever is might be established in his glory.
[18] He searcheth out the deep, and the heart, And he has understanding of their cunning devices: For the Most High knows all knowledge, And he looketh into the signs of the world,
[19] Declaring the things that are past, and the things that shall be, And revealing the traces of hidden things.
[20] No thought escapeth him; There is not a word hid from him.
[21] The mighty works of his wisdom he has ordered, Who is from everlasting to everlasting: Nothing has been added to them, nor diminished from them; And he had no need of any counsellor.
[22] How desirable are all his works! One may beholdthis even to a spark.
[23] All these things live and remain for ever in all manner of uses, And they are all obedient.
[24] All things are double one against another: And he has made nothing imperfect.
[25] One thing establisheth the good things of another: And who shall be filled with beholding his glory?