He who receives instruction will do well, and he who keeps reproof will become wise. He who guards his ways preserves his soul, and he who loves his life will guard his lips. Pride goes before destruction, and evil plans before a fall. Better is the meek with humility than the one who divides the spoils with the proud. He who is wise in his deeds will find good, and he who trusts in God is the happiest person. The wise and prudent are called evil, but the sweet-tongued will be listened to with pleasure. For those who have it, reason is the source of life, but the instruction of the foolish is evil. The heart of a wise man will understand what comes from his own mouth, for in his mouth he carries knowledge. Kind words are like honey from a honeycomb, their sweetness is a healing agent for the soul. There are paths that seem straight to a person, but their end points to the bottom of hell. A working person works for himself and gets rid of his own destruction, but a cunning person brings destruction in his mouth. A foolish man digs up evil for himself, but gathers fire on his lips. A cunning man spreads evil, lights a deceptive lamp for the wicked, and separates friends.
A lawless person seduces friends and leads them to evil paths. Fixing his eyes, he harbors perverted thoughts; biting his lips, he comes up with everything evil. He is a furnace of malice. The crown of praise is old age; it is found on the paths of truth. A long-suffering man is better than a strong man, and a prudent man is better than a skilled farmer, and one who controls his anger is better than one who conquers a fortified city. Everything goes into the bosom of the wicked, but everything that is honest comes from the Lord. Better is a piece of bread with pleasure in the world than a house filled with great wealth and unrighteous sacrifices with enmity. A wise slave rules over foolish masters and divides the inheritance between brothers. As silver and gold are tested in the furnace, so are the chosen hearts of the Lord. The wicked listens to the tongue of the wicked, but the righteous does not listen to lying lips. He who ridicules the poor angers his Creator, but the merciful will have mercy. He who rejoices in the death of another will not go unpunished. The crown of the elders is the sons of their sons, and the praise of the children is their fathers.
The faithful have the whole world as wealth, but the infidel does not even have a small coin. Truthful lips are not suitable for the foolish, and lying lips are not suitable for the righteous. The precious reward is the instruction for those who use it: wherever he turns, he will prosper. He who hides grievances seeks love; and whoever does not like to hide separates friends and family. A threat breaks the heart of a wise man, but a foolish man does not feel the wounds of a beating. Every evil person stirs up quarrels, but the Lord will send a merciless angel against him. A smart person is attacked by concern for good, but foolish people invent evil within themselves. Evil will not be removed from the house of one who repays evil for good. The beginning of truth gives power to words, and disputes and quarrels precede need. Whoever recognizes the righteous as unrighteous and the unjust as righteous in court is unclean and abominable before the Lord. Why does a madman need property? After all, an unclean and insane person cannot acquire wisdom. He who makes his house high tends to be broken, and he who deviates from the teaching will fall into trouble. May you have a friend at all times, and let your brothers be helpful in times of need.