¹Don’t put your confidence in wealth

or say, “I have enough—I’m set for life.”

²Don’t follow your inclinations and strength

and pursue all the desires of your heart.

³Don’t say, “No one is more powerful than I am,”

for the Lord will surely punish you.

⁴Don’t say, “I have sinned, yet nothing has happened to me,”

for the Lord is simply being patient with you.

⁵Don’t be so sure your sin is forgiven

that you continue to heap up sin upon sin.

⁶Don’t say, “The mercy of the Lord is great,

so I can keep sinning and receive forgiveness.”

For the Lord shows both mercy and anger,

and he will become angry with sinners.

⁷Don’t wait to return to the Lord;

don’t put it off one day longer.

For the Lord’s anger will come suddenly upon you,

and in the time of punishment you will be destroyed.

⁸Don’t take comfort in ill-gotten wealth,

for it will not help you on the day of disaster.

Sincerity in Speech

⁹Don’t winnow in every wind

or follow every path.

¹⁰Stand firm for what you know,

and be a person of your word.

¹¹Be quick to hear

and slow to answer.

¹²If you know what to say, answer your neighbors’ questions;

but if you don’t, keep quiet.

¹³What you say brings either honor or dishonor,

and the tongue may bring about a person’s downfall.

¹⁴Don’t gain a reputation as a slanderer,

and don’t try to trap people by what you say.

For shame awaits the thief,

and condemnation will come to those who speak out of both sides of their mouth.

¹⁵Be careful not to offend others in matters great or small,

and don’t be an enemy instead of a friend.