Humility and Responsible Conduct

1 Do no evil, so no evil will overtake you. 2 Turn away from wrongdoing, and it will turn away from you. 3 My son, don’t sow in the furrows of unrighteousness, and you won’t reap them seven times over. 4 Don’t seek a leading position from the Lord, or the seat of honor from the king. 5 Don’t justify yourself in the presence of the Lord, and don’t display your wisdom before the king. 6 Don’t seek to be a judge, in case you cannot remove injustice, or fear a powerful person and put a stumbling block in the way of your integrity. 7 Don’t sin against the people of the city. Don’t disgrace yourself in the crowd.

8 Don’t commit a sin twice, for even one will not go unpunished. 9 Don’t say, “He will look at the abundance of my gifts. When I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.” 10 Don’t be fainthearted in your prayer.⁠a Don’t neglect to give to the poor.

11 Don’t laugh at a man in contempt when he is in the bitterness of his soul, for there is one who humbles and exalts. 12 Don’t invent a lie against your brother, or do the same to a friend. 13 Refuse to tell a lie,⁠b for that habit results in no good. 14 Don’t babble in the assembly of elders. Don’t repeat your words in your prayer.⁠c 15 Don’t hate hard labor or farm work, which the Most High has created. 16 Don’t count yourself among the crowd of sinners. Remember that anger will not wait. 17 Humble your soul greatly, for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.⁠d

Friends and Household Members

18 Don’t exchange a friend for something, or a true brother for the gold of Ophir. 19 Don’t deprive yourself of a wise and good wife, for her grace is worth more than gold. 20 Don’t abuse a servant who works faithfully, or a hired worker who gives you his life. 21 Let your soul love a wise servant. Don’t defraud him of freedom.

Care for Family and Livestock

22 Do you have cattle? Look after them. If they are profitable to you, let them stay by you. 23 Do you have children? Correct them, and make them obedient from their youth.⁠e 24 Do you have daughters? Take care of their bodies, and don’t be overly indulgent toward them. 25 Give your daughter in marriage, and you will have accomplished something important. Give her to a man of understanding.

26 Do you have a wife who pleases you? Don’t send her away. But don’t trust yourself to one who is hateful. 27 Honor your father with your whole heart, and don’t forget the labor pains of your mother. 28 Remember that you were born from them. How will you repay them for what they have done for you?

Honor for God and the Priests

29 Fear the Lord with all your soul⁠f and revere his priests.⁠g 30 With all your strength love him who made you. Don’t abandon his ministers. 31 Fear the Lord and honor the priest. Give him his portion, just as you are commanded: the first fruits, the trespass offering, the gift of the shoulders, the sacrifice of sanctification, and the first fruits of holy things.⁠h

Care for the Vulnerable

32 Also stretch out your hand to the poor man,⁠i so that your blessing may be complete.⁠j 33 A gift finds favor with every living person. Don’t withhold kindness to the dead.⁠k 34 Don’t avoid those who weep, and mourn with those who mourn. 35 Don’t be slow to visit a sick man, for through such acts you will gain love. 36 In all your words, remember eternity, and you will never sin.