7 Do no evil,

so no evil will overtake you.

2 Depart from wrong,

and it will turn away from you.

3 My son, don’t sow upon the furrows of unrighteousness,

and you won’t reap them sevenfold.

4 Don’t seek preeminence from the master,

nor the seat of honour from the king.

5 Don’t justify yourself in the presence of the master,

and don’t display your wisdom before the king.

6 Don’t seek to be a judge,

lest you not be able to take away iniquities,

lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man,

and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness.

7 Don’t sin against the multitude of the city.

Don’t disgrace yourself in the crowd.

8 Don’t commit a sin twice,

for even in one you will not be unpunished.

9 Don’t say, “He will look upon the multitude of my gifts.

When I make an offering to the Most High God, he will accept it.”

10 Don’t be faint-hearted in your prayer.

Don’t neglect to give alms.

11 Don’t laugh a man to scorn when he is in the bitterness of his soul,

for there is one who humbles and exalts.

12 Don’t devise[fn] a lie against your brother,

or do the same to a friend.

13 Refuse to utter a lie,

for that habit results in no good.

14 Don’t babble in the assembly of elders.

Don’t repeat your words in your prayer.

15 Don’t hate hard labour

or farm work, which the Most High has created.

16 Don’t number yourself amongst the multitude of sinners.

Remember that wrath will not wait.

17 Humble your soul greatly,

for the punishment of the ungodly man is fire and the worm.