32
1 Have they made thee ruler of a feast?
Be not lifted up,
Be thou among them as one of them;
Take thought for them, and so sit down.
2 And when thou hast done all thy office, take thy place,
That thou mayest be gladdened on their account,
And receive a crown for thy well ordering.
3 Speak, thou that art the elder, for it becometh thee, but with sound knowledge;
And hinder not music.
4 Pour not out talk where there is a performance of music,
And display not thy wisdom out of season.
5 As a signet of carbuncle in a setting of gold,
So is a concert of music in a banquet of wine.
6 As a signet of emerald in a work of gold,
So is a strain of music with pleasant wine.
7 Speak, young man, if there be need of thee;
Yet scarcely if thou be twice asked.
8 Sum up thy speech, many things in few words;
Be as one that knoweth and yet holdeth his tongue.
9 If thou be among great men, behave not as their equal;
And when another is speaking, make not much babbling.
10 Before thunder speedeth lightning;
And before a shamefast man favour shall go forth.
11 Rise up betimes, and be not the last;
Get thee home quickly and loiter not:
12 There take thy pastime, and do what is in thy heart;
And sin not by proud speech:
13 And for these things bless him that made thee,
And giveth thee to drink freely of his good things.
14 He that feareth the Lord will receive his discipline;
And they that seek him early shall find favour.
15 He that seeketh the law shall be filled therewith:
But the hypocrite shall stumble thereat.
16 They that fear the Lord shall find judgement,
And shall kindle righteous acts as a light.
17 A sinful man shunneth reproof,
And will find a judgement according to his will.
18 A man of counsel will not neglect a thought;
A strange and proud man will not crouch in fear,
Even after he hath done a thing by himself without counsel.
19 Do nothing without counsel;
And when thou hast once done, repent not.
20 Go not in a way of conflict;
And stumble not in stony places.
21 Be not confident in a * smooth way.
22 And beware of thine own children.
23 In every work trust thine own soul;
For this is the keeping of the commandments.
24 He that believeth the law giveth heed to the commandment;
And he that trusteth in the Lord shall suffer no loss.
* 32:21 Gr. without stumbling-blocks.