1 Don’t deprive a poor person’s life,and don’t avoid lookingthe needy in the eyes.
2 Don’t grieve a hungry person,and don’t make a personin dire straits angry.
3 Don’t trouble an angry person,and don’t put off giving to the needy.
4 Don’t keep rejecting the pleaof someone in distress,and don’t turn your faceaway from the poor.
5 Don’t turn youreyes away from someone begging,and don’t give anyone an opportunityto curse you.
6 If some curse youin their bitter circumstances,the one who made themwill hear their prayer.
7 Behave yourself pleasantly in the assembly,and bow your headto an influential person.
8 Listen to the poor,and reply with peacefuland gentle speech.
9 Set the wronged freefrom the hand of the wrongdoer,and don’t be timidwhen you give judgment.
10 Be like a parent to orphans,and take care of their mothersas you would your own wife or husband.Do this, and you will be like a childof the Most High,and God will love youmore than your own mother does.
11 Wisdom will exalther childrenand take hold of those who seek her.
12 Whoever loves her loves life.Those who wake early for herwill be filled with gladness.
13 Those who possess her will inherit glory.The Lord blesses the placewhere they enter.
14 Those who serve her will servethe holy one;the Lord loves those who love her.
15 Whoever obeys her will judge nations.Whoever is devoted to herwill live with confidence.
16 If they persevere in faith,they will inherit her,and their descendants will possess her.
17 At first she will walkin twists and turns with them.She will bring fear and dread upon them,and she will torture themwith her disciplineuntil she trusts them completely.She will test themwith her commandments,
18 and again she will come straight back to them, make them glad,and reveal to them her secrets.
19 If they go astray,she will leave them behindand hand them over to their downfall.
20 Watch closely for the right opportunity,be on guard against evil,and don’t be ashamed of yourself.
21 There’s a kind of shamethat brings about sin,and there’s a kind of shamethat brings good reputation and favor.
22 Don’t show partiality to your own hurt,and don’t show respectto your own downfall.
23 Don’t keep from speakingin a time of need,
24 for wisdom will show itselfin one’s speech,and education through one’s words.
25 Don’t contradict the truth,but don’t be ashamedwhen you don’t know the answer.
26 Don’t be ashamed to confess your sins,and don’t force the flow of a river.
27 Don’t lower yourself before a fool,and don’t show partialitytoward the powerful.
28 Fight to the death on behalf of truth,and the Lord God will fight for you.
29 Don’t be bold to speak,but sluggish and slackwhen it comes to action.
30 Don’t be like a lion in your house,putting on airsamong your household slaves.
31 Don’t stretch your hand outto receive and withdraw itwhen it is time to pay back.