An exhortation to works of mercy, and to the love of wisdom.

 1 Son, defraud not the poor of alms, and turn not away thy eyes from the poor.
Fili, eleemosynam pauperis ne defraudes, et oculos tuos ne transvertas a paupere.

 2 Despise not the hungry soul: and provoke not the poor in his want.
Animam esurientem ne despexeris, et non exasperes pauperem in inopia sua.

 3 Afflict not the heart of the needy, and defer not to give to him that is in distress.
Cor inopis ne afflixeris, et non protrahas datum angustianti.

 4 Reject not the petition of the afflicted: and turn not away thy face from the needy.
Rogationem contribulati ne abjicias, et non avertas faciem tuam ab egeno.

 5 Turn not away thy eyes from the poor for fear of anger: and leave not to them that ask of thee to curse thee behind thy back.
Ab inope ne avertas oculos tuos propter iram : et non relinquas quaerentibus tibi retro maledicere.

 6 For the prayer of him that curseth thee in the bitterness of his soul, shall be heard, for he that made him will hear him.
Maledicentis enim tibi in amaritudine animae, exaudietur deprecatio illius : exaudiet autem eum qui fecit illum.

 7 Make thyself affable to the congregation of the poor, and humble thy soul to the ancient, and bow thy head to a great man.
Congregationi pauperum affabilem te facito : et presbytero humilia animam tuam, et magnato humilia caput tuum.

 8 Bow down thy ear cheerfully to the poor, and pay what thou owest, and answer him peaceable words with mildness.
Declina pauperi sine tristitia aurem tuam, et redde debitum tuum, et responde illi pacifica in mansuetudine.

 9 Deliver him that suffereth wrong out of the hand of the proud: and be not fainthearted in thy soul.
Libera eum qui injuriam patitur de manu superbi, et non acide feras in anima tua.

 10 In judging be merciful to the fatherless as a father, and as a husband to their mother.
In judicando esto pupillis misericors ut pater, et pro viro matri illorum :

 11 And thou shalt be as the obedient son of the most High, and he will have mercy on thee more than a mother.
et eris tu velut filius Altissimi obediens, et miserebitur tui magis quam mater.

 12 Wisdom inspireth life into her children, and protecteth them that seek after her, and will go before them in the way of justice.
Sapientia filiis suis vitam inspirat : et suscipit inquirentes se, et praeibit in via justitiae.

 13 And he that loveth her, loveth life: and they that watch for her, shall embrace her sweetness.
Et qui illam diligit, diligit vitam, et qui vigilaverint ad illam complectentur placorem ejus.

 14 They that hold her fast, shall inherit life: and whithersoever she entereth, God will give a blessing.
Qui tenuerint illam, vitam haereditabunt : et quo introibit benedicet Deus.

 15 They that serve her, shall be servants to the holy one: and God loveth them that love her.
Qui serviunt ei obsequentes erunt sancto : et eos qui diligunt illam, diligit Deus.

 16 He that hearkeneth to her, shall judge nations: and he that looketh upon her, shall remain secure.
Qui audit illam judicabit gentes : et qui intuetur illam permanebit confidens.

 17 If he trust to her, he shall inherit her, and his generation shall be in assurance.
Si crediderit ei, haereditabit illam, et erunt in confirmatione creaturae illius :

 18 For she walketh with him in temptation, and at the first she chooseth him.
quoniam in tentatione ambulat cum eo, et in primis eligit eum.

 19 She will bring upon him fear and dread and trial: and she will scourge him with the affliction of her discipline, till she try him by her laws, and trust his soul.
Timorem, et metum, et probationem inducet super illum : et cruciabit illum in tribulatione doctrinae suae, donec tentet eum in cogitationibus suis, et credat animae illius.

 20 Then she will strengthen him, and make a straight way to him, and give him joy,
Et firmabit illum, et iter adducet directum ad illum, et laetificabit illum :

 21 And will disclose her secrets to him, and will heap upon him treasures of knowledge and understanding of justice.
et denudabit absconsa sua illi, et thesaurizabit super illum scientiam et intellectum justitiae.

 22 But if he go astray, she will forsake him, and deliver him into the hands of his enemy.
Si autem oberraverit, derelinquet eum, et tradet eum in manus inimici sui.

 23 Son, observe the time, and fly from evil.
Fili, conserva tempus, et devita a malo.

 24 For thy soul be not ashamed to say the truth.
Pro anima tua ne confundaris dicere verum :

 25 For there is a shame that bringeth sin, and there is a shame that bringeth glory and grace.
est enim confusio adducens peccatum, et est confusio adducens gloriam et gratiam.

 26 Accept no person against thy own person, nor against thy soul a lie.
Ne accipias faciem adversus faciem tuam, nec adversus animam tuam mendacium.

 27 Reverence not thy neighbour in his fall:
Ne reverearis proximum tuum in casu suo,

 28 And refrain not to speak in the time of salvation. Hide not thy wisdom in her beauty.
nec retineas verbum in tempore salutis. Non abscondas sapientiam tuam in decore suo :

 29 For by the tongue wisdom is discerned: and understanding, and knowledge, and learning by the word of the wise, and steadfastness in the works of justice.
in lingua enim sapientia dignoscitur : et sensus, et scientia, et doctrina in verbo sensati, et firmamentum in operibus justitiae.

 30 In nowise speak against the truth, but be ashamed of the lie of thy ignorance.
Non contradicas verbo veritatis ullo modo, et de mendacio ineruditionis tuae confundere.

 31 Be not ashamed to confess thy sins, but submit not thyself to every man for sin.
Non confundaris confiteri peccata tua, et ne subjicias te omni homini pro peccato.

 32 Resist not against the face of the mighty, and do not strive against the stream of the river.
Noli resistere contra faciem potentis, nec coneris contra ictum fluvii.

 33 Strive for justice for thy soul, and even unto death fight for justice, and God will overthrow thy enemies for thee.
Pro justitia agonizare pro anima tua, et usque ad mortem certa pro justitia : et Deus expugnabit pro te inimicos tuos.

 34 Be not hasty in thy tongue: and slack and remiss in thy works.
Noli citatus esse in lingua tua, et inutilis, et remissus in operibus tuis.

 35 Be not as a lion in thy house, terrifying them of thy household, and oppressing them that are under thee.
Noli esse sicut leo in domo tua, evertens domesticos tuos, et opprimens subjectos tibi.

 36 Let not thy hand be stretched out to receive, and shut when thou shouldst give.
Non sit porrecta manus tua ad accipiendum, et ad dandum collecta.