Wisdom and Appearances

1 The wisdom of the lowly will lift up his head, and make him sit among important men.⁠a 2 Don’t praise a man for his good looks. Don’t despise a man for his outward appearance. 3 The bee is little among flying creatures, but what it produces is the best of confections. 4 Don’t boast about the clothes you wear, and don’t exalt yourself on a day of honor,⁠b for the Lord’s works are wonderful, and his works are hidden among people. 5 Many kings have sat down on the ground, but one who was never thought of has worn a crown. 6 Many powerful men have been greatly disgraced. Famous men have been handed over to others.

Careful Judgment and Human Effort

7 Don’t blame before you investigate. Understand first, and then rebuke. 8 Don’t answer before you have heard.⁠c Don’t interrupt while someone else is speaking. 9 Don’t argue about a matter that doesn’t concern you. Don’t sit with sinners when they judge. 10 My son, don’t keep busy with too many matters, for if you meddle too much, you will not be unpunished. If you pursue, you will not overtake, and you will not escape by fleeing. 11 There is one who toils, labors, and hurries, and is even more behind. 12 There is one who is sluggish, and needs help, lacking in strength, and deep in poverty, but the Lord’s eyes looked kindly on him, and he raised him up from his low condition, 13 and lifted up his head so that many marveled at him.

Gifts and Reversals from God

14 Good things and bad, life and death, poverty and riches, are from the Lord. 17 The Lord’s gift remains with the godly. His good pleasure will prosper forever.

18 One grows rich by his diligence and self-denial, and this is his share of the reward:⁠d 19 when he says, “I have found rest, and now I will enjoy my possessions!” he doesn’t know how much time will pass until he leaves them to others and dies. 20 Be steadfast in your covenant and put it into practice, and grow old in your work. 21 Don’t be amazed at the works of a sinner, but trust the Lord and stay in your work, for it is easy for the Lord to make a poor man rich quickly and suddenly. 22 The Lord’s blessing is in the reward of the godly. He makes his blessing flourish in a sudden moment.

23 Don’t say, “What use am I? What further good things can be mine?” 24 Don’t say, “I have enough. What harm could happen to me now?” 25 On a good day, bad things are forgotten. On a bad day, a man will not remember things that are good. 26 For it is easy for the Lord to repay a man on the day of death according to his ways. 27 The distress of an hour causes delights to be forgotten. In the end, a man’s deeds are revealed. 28 Call no one happy before death. A man will be known in his children.⁠e

Caution with Strangers

29 Don’t bring every man into your house, for a deceitful man has many tricks.⁠f 30 A proud man’s heart is like a decoy partridge in a cage. Like a spy, he looks for your weakness. 31 For he lies in wait to turn things that are good into evil, and finds fault with things that are praiseworthy. 32 From a spark of fire, a heap of many coals is ignited, and a sinful man lies in wait to shed blood. 33 Beware of a wrongdoer, for he plans wicked things, and he may ruin your reputation forever. 34 If you welcome a stranger into your house, he will distract you with arguments and estrange you from your own family.