10 My son, don’t be busy about many matters;

for if you meddle much, you will not be unpunished.

If you pursue, you will not overtake,

and you will not escape by fleeing.

11 There is one who toils, labours, and hurries,

and is even more behind.

12 There is one who is sluggish, and needs help,

lacking in strength, and who abounds in poverty,

but the master’s eyes looked upon him for good,

and he raised him up from his low condition,

13 and lifted up his head

so that many marvelled at him.

14 Good things and bad, life and death,

poverty and riches, are from the master.15-16 [fn]

17 The master’s gift remains with the godly.

His good pleasure will prosper forever.

18 One grows rich by his diligence and self-denial,

and this is the portion of his reward:

19 when he says, “I have found rest,

and now I will eat of my goods!”

he doesn’t know how much time will pass

until he leaves them to others and dies.

20 Be steadfast in your covenant and be doing it,

and grow old in your work.

21 Don’t marvel at the works of a sinner,

but trust the master and stay in your labour;

for it is an easy thing in the sight of the master

to swiftly and suddenly make a poor man rich.

22 The master’s blessing is in the reward of the godly.

He makes his blessing flourish in an hour that comes swiftly.

23 Don’t say, “What use is there of me?

What further good things can be mine?”

24 Don’t say, “I have enough.

What harm could happen to me now?”

25 In the day of good things, bad things are forgotten.

In the day of bad things, a man will not remember things that are good.

26 Because it is an easy thing in the sight of the master

to reward a man in the day of death according to his ways.

27 The affliction of an hour causes delights to be forgotten.

In the end, a person’s actions are revealed.

28 Don’t call anyone happy before their death.

A man will be known in his children.