Chapter 32

  Have they made thee ruler? be not lifted up: be among them as one of them.  

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  Have care of them, and so sit down, and when thou hast acquitted thyself of all thy charge, take thy place :  

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  That thou mayst rejoice for them, and receive a crown as an ornament of grace, and get the honour of the contribution.  

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  Speak, thou that art elder: for it becometh thee,  

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  To speak the first word with care knowledge, and hinder not music.  

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  Where there is no hearing, pour out words, and be not lifted up out season with thy wisdom.  

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  7A concert of music in a banquet wine is as a carbuncle set in gold.  

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  As a signet of an emerald in a work of gold: so is the melody of music with pleasant and moderate wine.  

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  Hear in silence, and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.  

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  Young man, scarcely speak in thy own cause.  

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  If thou be asked twice, let thy answer be short.  

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  In many things be as if thou wert ignorant, and hear in silence and withal seeking.  

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  In the company of great men bake not upon thee: and when the ancients are present, speak not much.  

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  Before a storm goeth lightning: and before shamefacedness goeth favour: and for thy reverence good grace shall come to thee.  

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  And at the time of rising be not slack: but be first to run home to thy house, and there withdraw thyself, and there take thy pastime.  

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  And do what thou hast a mind, but not in sin or proud speech.  

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  And for all these things bless the Lord, that made thee, and that replenisheth thee with all his good things.  

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  He that feareth the Lord, will receive his discipline: and they that will seek him early, shall find a blessing.  

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  He that seeketh the law, shall be filled with it: and he that dealeth deceitfully, shall meet with a stumblingblock therein.  

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  They that fear the Lord, shall find just judgment, and shall kindle justice as a light.  

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  A sinful man will flee reproof, and will find an excuse according to his will.  

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  A man of counsel will not neglect understanding, a strange and proud man will not dread fear:  

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  Even after he hath done with fear without counsel, he shall be controlled by the things of his own seeking.  

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  My son, do thou nothing without counsel, and thou shalt not repent when thou hast done.  

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  Go not in the way of ruin, and thou shalt not stumble against the stones; trust not thyself to a rugged may, lest thou set a stumblingblock to thy soul.  

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  And beware of thy own children, and take heed of them of thy household.  

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  In every work of thine regard thy soul in faith: for this is the keeping of the commandments.  

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  He that believeth God, taketh heed to the commandments: and he that trusteth in him, shall fare never the worse.  

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