1. In three things I was beautified, And stood up beautiful before the Lord and men: The concord of brethren, and friendship of neighbors, And a woman and her husband that walk together in agreement.
2. But three sorts of men my soul hates, And I am greatly offended at their life: A poor man that is haughty, and a rich man that is a liar, And an old man that is an adulterer lacking understanding.
3. In your youth you have not gathered, And how should you find in your old age?
4. How beautiful a thing is judgement for gray hairs, And for elders to know counsel!
5. How beautiful is the wisdom of old men, And thought and counsel to men that are in honor!
6. Much experience is the crown of old men; And their glorying is the fear of the Lord.
7. There be nine things that I have thought of, and in mine heart counted happy; And the tenth I will utter with my tongue: A man that has joy of his children; A man that lives and looks upon the fall of his enemies:
8. Happy is he that dwells with a wife of understanding; And he that has not slipped with his tongue; And he that has not served a man that is unworthy of him:
9. Happy is he that has found prudence; And he that discourseth in the ears of them that listen.
10. How great is he that has found wisdom! Yet is there none above him that fears the Lord.
11. The fear of the Lord passes all things: He that holds it, to whom shall he be likened?
13. Give me any plague but the plague of the heart; And any wickedness but the wickedness of a woman;
14. Any calamity, but a calamity from them that hate me; And any vengeance, but the vengeance of enemies.
15. There is no head above the head of a serpent; And there is no wrath above the wrath of an enemy.