11:1 The wisdom of the poor lifts their head high and sets them among princes.
11:2 Do not praise anyone for good looks; or despise anyone because of appearance.
11:3 The bee is least among winged creatures, but it reaps the choicest of harvests.
11:4 Do not mock the one who wears only a loin-cloth, or scoff at a person’s bitter day. For strange are the deeds of the Lord, hidden from mortals his work.
11:5 Many are the oppressed who rise to the throne; some that none would consider wear a crown.
11:6 Many are the exalted who fall into utter disgrace, many the honored who are given into the power of the few.
11:7 Before investigating, do not find fault; examine first, then criticize.
11:8 Before listening, do not say a word, interrupt no one in the midst of speaking.
11:9 Do not dispute about what is not your concern; in the quarrels of the arrogant do not take part.
11:10 My son, why increase your anxiety, since whoever is greedy for wealth will not be blameless? Even if you chase after it, you will never overtake it; and by fleeing you will not escape.
11:11 One may work and struggle and drive, and fall short all the same.
11:12 Others go their way broken-down drifters, with little strength and great misery— Yet the eye of the Lord looks favorably upon them, shaking them free of the stinking mire.
11:13 He lifts up their heads and exalts them to the amazement of the many.
11:14 Good and evil, life and death, poverty and riches—all are from the Lord.
11:17 The Lord’s gift remains with the devout; his favor brings lasting success.
11:18 Some become rich through a miser’s life, and this is their allotted reward:
11:19 When they say: “I have found rest, now I will feast on my goods,” They do not know how long it will be till they die and leave them to others.
11:20 My child, stand by your agreement and attend to it, grow old while doing your work.
11:21 Do not marvel at the works of a sinner, but trust in the Lord and wait for his light; For it is easy in the eyes of the Lord suddenly, in an instant, to make the poor rich.
11:22 God’s blessing is the lot of the righteous, and in due time their hope bears fruit.
11:23 Do not say: “What do I need? What further benefits can be mine?”
11:24 Do not say: “I am self-sufficient. What harm can come to me now?”
11:25 The day of prosperity makes one forget adversity; the day of adversity makes one forget prosperity.
11:26 For it is easy for the Lord on the day of death to repay mortals according to their conduct.
11:27 A time of affliction brings forgetfulness of past delights; at the end of life one’s deeds are revealed.
11:28 Call none happy before death, for how they end, they are known.
11:29 Not everyone should be brought into your house, for many are the snares of the crafty.
11:30 Like a decoy partridge in a cage, so is the heart of the proud, and like a spy they will pick out the weak spots.
11:31 For they lie in wait to turn good into evil, and to praiseworthy deeds they attach blame.
11:32 One spark kindles many coals; a sinner lies in wait for blood.
11:33 Beware of scoundrels, for they breed only evil, and they may give you a lasting stain.
11:34 Admit strangers into your home, and they will stir up trouble and make you a stranger to your own family.
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