25 I enjoy three things,

and they are beautiful before the master and men:

the agreement of kindred,

the friendship of neighbours,

and a woman and her husband who walk together in agreement.

2 But my soul hates three sorts of people,

and I am greatly offended at their life:

a poor man who is arrogant,

a rich man who is a liar,

and an old fool who is an adulterer.

3 If you gathered nothing in your youth,

how could you find anything in your old age?

4 How beautiful a thing is judgement in the grey-haired,

and for elders to know good counsel!

5 How beautiful is the wisdom of old men,

and understanding and counsel to men who are in honour!

6 Much experience is the crown of the aged.

Their glory is the fear of the master.

7 There are nine things that I have thought of, and in my heart counted happy,

and the tenth I will utter with my tongue:

a man who has joy with his children,

and a man who lives and sees the fall of his enemies.

8 Happy is he who dwells with a wife of understanding,

he who has not slipped with his tongue,

and he who has not served a man who is unworthy of him.

9 Happy is he who has found prudence,

and he who speaks in the ears of those who listen.

10 How great is he who has found wisdom!

Yet is there none above him who fears the master.

11 The fear of the master surpasses all things.

To whom shall he who holds it be likened? 12 [fn]