Chapter 9 _{5 Gaze not on a maid, that thou fall not by those things that are precious in her.6 Give not thy soul unto harlots, that thou lose not thine inheritance.7 Look not round about thee in the streets of the city, neither wander thou in the solitary place thereof.8 Turn away thine eye from a beautiful woman, and look not upon another's beauty; for many have been deceived by the beauty of a woman; for herewith love is kindled as a fire.9 Sit not at all with another man's wife, nor sit down with her in thine arms, and spend not thy money with her at the wine; lest thine heart incline unto her, and so through thy desire thou fall into destruction.10 Forsake not an old friend; for the new is not comparable to him: a new friend is as new wine; when it is old, thou shalt drink it with pleasure.11 Envy not the glory of a sinner: for thou knowest not what shall be his end.12 Delight not in the thing that the ungodly have pleasure in; but remember they shall not go unpunished unto their grave.13 Keep thee far from the man that hath power to kill; so shalt thou not doubt the fear of death: and if thou come unto him, make no fault, lest he take away thy life presently: remember that thou goest in the midst of snares, and that thou walkest upon the battlements of the city.14 As near as thou canst, guess at thy neighbour, and consult with the wise.15 Let thy talk be with the wise, and all thy communication in the law of the most High.16 And let just men eat and drink with thee; and let thy glorying be in the fear of the Lord.17 For the hand of the artificer the work shall be commended: and the wise ruler of the people for his speech.18 A man of an ill tongue is dangerous in his city; and he that is rash in his talk shall be hated.}

Chapter 10 _{1 A wise judge will instruct his people; and the government of a prudent man is well ordered.2 As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.3 An unwise king destroyeth his people; but through the prudence of them which are in authority the city shall be inhabited.4 The power of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and in due time he will set over it one that is profitable.5 In the hand of God is the prosperity of man: and upon the person of the scribe shall he lay his honour.6 Bear not hatred to thy neighbour for every wrong; and do nothing at all by injurious practices.7 Pride is hateful before God and man: and by both doth one commit iniquity.8 Because of unrighteous dealings, injuries, and riches got by deceit, the kingdom is translated from one people to another.9 Why is earth and ashes proud? There is not a more wicked thing than a covetous man: for such an one setteth his own soul to sale; because while he liveth he casteth away his bowels.10 The physician cutteth off a long disease; and he that is to day a king to morrow shall die.11 For when a man is dead, he shall inherit creeping things, beasts, and worms.12 The beginning of pride is when one departeth from God, and his heart is turned away from his Maker.13 For pride is the beginning of sin, and he that hath it shall pour out abomination: and therefore the Lord brought upon them strange calamities, and overthrew them utterly.14 The Lord hath cast down the thrones of proud princes, and set up the meek in their stead.15 The Lord hath plucked up the roots of the proud nations, and planted the lowly in their place.16 The Lord overthrew countries of the heathen, and destroyed them to the foundations of the earth.17 He took some of them away, and destroyed them, and hath made their memorial to cease from the earth.18 Pride was not made for men, nor furious anger for them that are born of a woman.19 They that fear the Lord are a sure seed, and they that love him an honourable plant: they that regard not the law are a dishonourable seed; they that transgress the commandments are a deceivable seed.20 Among brethren he that is chief is honorable; so are they that fear the Lord in his eyes.21 The fear of the Lord goeth before the obtaining of authority: but roughness and pride is the losing thereof.}