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19:1  A drunken workman will never grow rich, and carelessness in small matters will lead to one’s ruin.
19:2  Wine and women lead intelligent men astray, and the man who consorts with prostitutes becomes ever more reckless.
19:3  Decay and worms will take possession of him, and because of his recklessness he will lose his life.
19:4  One who too readily trusts others displays a shallow intelligence, and one who sins does serious harm to himself.
19:5  One who rejoices in wickedness will suffer condemnation, [ but one who resists pleasures crowns his life. One who curbs the tongue lives without strife],
19:6  but by hating gossip he avoids evil.
19:7  Never repeat gossip, and you will come to no harm.
19:8  Report nothing accusatory to friend or foe; do not reveal anything unless it would be sinful for you not to do so.
19:9  For one may hear it and mistrust you and in time come to hate you.
19:10  Have you heard a rumor? Let it die with you; be assured, if you hold it in, it will not cause you to burst asunder.
19:11  A fool who has heard something suffers birth pangs like a woman in labor with a child.
19:12  Like an arrow lodged in a person’s thigh is gossip in the heart of a fool.
19:13  Question your friend—perhaps he may not have done what he is accused of, and if he has, your action may ensure that he will not do it again.
19:14  Question your neighbor—perhaps he may not have said what he is accused of, and if he has, your action may ensure that he will not say it again.
19:15  Question your friend—often he may be the victim of slander; you cannot believe everything you hear.
19:16  And of course a man may let something slip without intending to do so; is anyone’s tongue free of guilt?
19:17  Question your neighbor before you break with him, and thereby you will give due place to the law of the Most High. Do not give in to anger.
19:18  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of his clemency, and wisdom wins his love.
19:19  The knowledge of the Lord’s commandments is life-giving instruction, and those who do what pleases him exult in the fruit of the tree of immortality.]
19:20  All wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and it derives from the fulfillment of the law. [It also derives from the knowledge of his universal sovereignty.
19:21  If a servant says to his master, “I will not do what you want,” even if later he does it, he angers the man who has him in his care.]
19:22  The knowledge of wickedness is not wisdom, nor is there prudence in the advice of sinners.
19:23  There is a cleverness that is foul; however, he who does not have wisdom is a fool.
19:24  It is better to be short of sense and God-fearing than to be highly intelligent and violate the law.
19:25  There is a cleverness that is scrupulous but dishonest, and there are those who abuse favors to win a favorable decision.
19:26  There is a wicked man who bows his head in mourning but is filled with guile within.
19:27  He hides his face and pretends not to hear, but when no one is paying attention, he will take advantage of you.
19:28  And if lack of strength prevents him from sinning, he will nevertheless do evil deeds at the first opportunity.