1Blessed is the man who does not blunder with his lips

and need not suffer grief for sin.

2Blessed is he whose heart does not condemn him,

and who has not given up his hope.

3Riches are not seemly for a stingy man;

and of what use is property to an envious man?

4Whoever accumulates by depriving himself, accumulates for others;

and others will live in luxury on his goods.

5If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous?

He will not enjoy his own riches.

6No one is meaner than the man who is grudging to himself,

and this is the retribution for his baseness;

7even if he does good, he does it unintentionally,

and betrays his baseness in the end.

8Evil is the man with a grudging eye;

he averts his face and disregards people.

9A greedy man's eye is not satisfied with a portion,

and mean injustice withers the soul.

10A stingy man's eye begrudges bread,

and it is lacking at his table.

11My son, treat yourself well, according to your means,

and present worthy offerings to the Lord.

12Remember that death will not delay,

and the decree14.12 Gk covenant of Hades has not been shown to you.

13Do good to a friend before you die,

and reach out and give to him as much as you can.

14Do not deprive yourself of a happy day;

let not your share of desired good pass by you.

15Will you not leave the fruit of your labours to another,

and what you acquired by toil to be divided by lot?

16Give, and take and beguile yourself,

Because in Hades one cannot look for luxury.

17All living beings become old like a garment,

for the decree14.17 Gk covenant from of old is, “You must surely die!”

18Like flourishing leaves on a spreading tree

which sheds some and puts forth others,

so are the generations of flesh and blood:

one dies and another is born.

19Every product decays and ceases to exist,

and the man who made it will pass away with it.

20Blessed is the man who meditates on14.20 Other authorities read dies in wisdom

and who reasons intelligently.

21He who reflects in his mind on her ways

will also ponder her secrets.

22Pursue wisdom14.22 Gk her like a hunter,

and lie in wait on her paths.

23He who peers through her windows

will also listen at her doors;

24he who encamps near her house

will also fasten his tent peg to her walls;

25he will pitch his tent near her,

and will lodge in an excellent lodging place;

26he will place his children under her shelter,

and will camp under her boughs;

27he will be sheltered by her from the heat,

and will dwell in the midst of her glory.