Anonymous (Septuagint) · a new plain-English translation from the original language
1| For the sake of trifling gain many have sinned, and whoever seeks to grow rich will avert his eye.
2| Between the fitted stones a peg will lodge, and between buying and selling sin will wedge itself in.
3| If a man does not hold fast to the fear of the Lord with diligence, his house will quickly be overthrown.
4| When a sieve is shaken, the refuse remains behind; so too the dregs of a man show up in his reasoning.
5| The furnace tests the potter's vessels, and a man's trial is in his reasoning.
6| The fruit discloses the cultivation of a tree; so the word discloses the reasoning of a man's heart.
7| Do not praise a man before he has reasoned things out, for this is the testing-ground of men.
8| If you pursue what is just, you will attain it, and you will wear it like a robe of glory.
9| Birds will roost with their own kind, and truth will return to those who practice it.
10| A lion lies in wait for prey; so do sins for those who work injustice.
11| The conversation of the godly is always wisdom, but the fool changes like the moon.
12| Among the senseless, watch your moment; but among the thoughtful, stay engaged continually.
13| The conversation of fools is offensive, and their laughter runs riot in sin.
14| The talk of the habitual swearer makes the hair stand on end, and their quarreling makes one stop up his ears.
15| The quarrel of the arrogant is a bloodbath, and their mutual abuse is painful to hear.
16| Whoever discloses secrets destroys trust, and will never find a friend after his own heart.
17| Love a friend and keep faith with him; but if you disclose his secrets, do not go chasing after him again.
18| For as a man destroys his enemy, so you have destroyed the friendship of your neighbor.
19| And as you would let a bird go from your hand, so you have let your neighbor go, and you will not catch him again.
20| Do not pursue him, for he has gone far off, and has escaped like a gazelle from a snare.
21| For a wound can be bound up, and there is reconciliation after abuse; but whoever discloses secrets has destroyed all hope.
22| Whoever winks the eye is plotting evil, and no one can turn him from it.
23| In front of your eyes he will make his speech sweet, and he will marvel at your words; but afterward he will twist his speech and make your words into a trap.
24| There are many things I detest, yet none so much as him, and the Lord too will hate him.
25| Whoever throws a stone straight up throws it onto his own head, and a treacherous blow inflicts wounds all around.
26| Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever sets a snare will be caught in it.
27| Whoever does evil, it will roll back upon him, and he will not even recognize where it came from.
28| Mockery and reproach belong to the arrogant, and vengeance will lie in wait for him like a lion.
29| Those who rejoice at the fall of the godly will be caught in a snare, and pain will consume them before they die.
30| Wrath and anger — these too are abominations, and a sinful man will be their master.