He catches ¹  the wise in their own craftiness, ²  and the counsel of the cunning ³  is brought to a quick end. ⁴ 

what wise men declare, hiding nothing, from the tradition of ¹  their ancestors, ² 

“Listen to my words, you wise men; hear ¹  me, you learned men. ² 

To discern ¹  the meaning of ²  a proverb and a parable, ³  the sayings of the wise ⁴  and their ⁵  riddles. ⁶ 

The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up ¹  to public contempt. ² 

The crown of the wise is their riches, ¹  but the folly ²  of fools is folly.

The sluggard is wiser in his own estimation ¹  than seven people who respond with good sense. ² 

A wise person’s good sense protects him, ¹  but a fool’s lack of sense leaves him vulnerable. ² 

Those who think they are wise are as good as dead, ¹  those who think they possess understanding. ² 

For the wise man, like ¹  the fool, will not be remembered for very long, ²  because ³  in the days to come, both will already have been forgotten. ⁴  Alas, ⁵  the wise man dies – just like ⁶  the fool!

The wisest of her ladies ¹  answer; indeed she even thinks to herself,

He is wise in heart ¹  and mighty ²  in strength ³  – who has resisted ⁴  him and remained safe? ⁵ 

“Does a wise man answer with blustery knowledge, ¹  or fill his belly ²  with the east wind? ³ 

Men of understanding say to me – any wise man listening to me says –

Therefore people fear him, for he does not regard all the wise in heart.” ¹ 

Whoever is wise, let him take note of these things! Let them consider the Lord’s acts of loyal love!

(Let the wise also ¹  hear ²  and gain ³  instruction, and let the discerning ⁴  acquire ⁵  guidance! ⁶ )

Do not reprove ¹  a mocker or ²  he will hate you; reprove a wise person and he will love you.

Give instruction ¹  to a wise person, ²  and he will become wiser still; teach ³  a righteous person and he will add to his ⁴  learning.

The wise person ¹  accepts instructions, ²  but the one who speaks foolishness ³  will come to ruin. ⁴