1 No evil will ever come to a person who fears the Lord; however often danger comes, the Lord will come to the rescue. 2 A person who has no use for the Law doesn't have good sense, and anyone who is insincere about it is going to be tossed about like a boat in a storm. 3 If you are wise, you will believe in the Law; you will find it as reliable as the sacred lots.
4 Prepare what you are going to say and people will listen to you. Use what you have learned before you start talking. 5 A foolish person's mind works like a cartwheel, going round and round in circles. 6 A sarcastic friend is like a wild horse that neighs no matter who tries to ride him.
People Are Not Alike
7 Why are some days holier than others, even though the same sun rises on every day of the year? 8 It is because the Lord made them different by setting them apart as religious holidays and festivals. 9 He made some days holy and important, and made other days ordinary.
10 Every human being was made from the earth, just as Adam was. 11 But the Lord, in his wisdom, made them all different and gave them different tasks. 12 He blessed some, making them honored and holy, keeping them near him. Others he cursed, humbling them and removing them from their positions. 13 Just as clay is in the potter's hands for him to shape as he pleases, so we are in the hands of our Creator for him to do with as he wishes.
14 Good is the opposite of evil, life is the opposite of death, and sin is the opposite of devotion to the Lord. 15 Think about it: the Most High has made everything in pairs, each thing the opposite of something else.
16 As for me, I have been the last to come on duty, as if going through vineyards to gather whatever the grape-pickers had left behind. But the Lord blessed me, and I did well, like a grape-picker who has filled the wine press. 17 But I want you to know that I have not done all this work for myself alone, but for everyone who wants to learn. 18 Listen to me, all you great leaders! All you leaders of the assemblies, hear what I have to say!
Be Independent
19 Never, as long as you live, give anyone power over you—whether son, wife, brother, or friend. Don't give your property to anyone; you might change your mind and have to ask for it back. 20 As long as you have breath in your body, don't let anyone lead your life for you. 21 It is better that your children be dependent on you than the other way around. 22 Keep control over all that you do; don't let anything stain your reputation. 23 Wait until the last moment of your life, when you are breathing your last, and then divide your property among your heirs.
Treatment of Slaves
24 A donkey should be given its fodder and its burden, and it should be beaten. A slave should be given food and work, and should be disciplined. 25 If you make your slave work, you can set your mind at ease. If you don't keep him busy, he will be looking for freedom. 26 You can use a harness and yoke to tame an animal, and a slave can be tortured in the stocks. 27 Keep him at work, and don't let him be idle; idleness can only teach him how to make trouble. 28 Work is what he needs. If he won't obey you, put him in chains.
29 But don't be too severe with anyone, and never be unfair. 30 If you have a slave, treat him as you would want to be treated; you bought him with your hard-earned money. 31 Treat him as a brother; you need him as you need yourself. If you mistreat him and he runs away, where are you going to look for him?
1 Kas bīstas Kunga, tam neatgadīsies nekas ļauns,
bet pārbaudījumā Kungs atkal un atkal to glābs.
2 Gudrs cilvēks bauslību neienīst.
Kas, bauslību pildot, liekuļo, tas ir kā laiva brāzmās.
3 Saprātīgais bauslībai uzticas,
kā uz dievišķu pravietojumu paļaujas.
4 Sagatavo sakāmo, un tevī klausīsies.
Atbildi, pamatojies mācībā!
5 Muļķis iekšienē kā ratu rumba,
kā asis griežas tā domas;
6 ņirdzīgs draugs kā pāroties iekarsis ērzelis:
lai kas sēdētu mugurā – zviedz.
Atšķirības un pretstati pasaulē
7 Kā gan diena dienu var pārspēt,
ja visu savu gaismu ik diena gadā saņem no saules?
8 Tās atšķiras ar Kunga ziņu:
viņš nosacījis kā gadalaiku, tā svētku miju,
9 citas iecēlis godā un svētdarījis,
citas iekļāvis parasto dienu skaitā.
10 Kā visi cilvēki no zemes
un arī Ādams no zemes radīts,
11 tā Kungs ar lielu gudrību tos darījis atšķirīgus
un citādi locījis katra soļus.
12 Citus viņš apveltījis ar svētību un cēlis godā,
citus svētdarījis un darījis tuvus sev;
citus nolādējis un apkaunojis,
un laupījis tiem viņu stāvokli.
13 Kā podnieka rokās māls:
no viņa patikas atkarīgas tā tālākās gaitas,
tā Radītāja rokās cilvēki:
ko kuram nospriedis, to piešķir.
14 Kā labajam iepretī ļaunais un dzīvībai pretī nāve,
tā dievbijīgajam iepretī grēcinieks.
15 Tā ielūkojies visos Visuaugstākā darbos!
Pa pāriem – viens otram iepretī.
Par sevi
16 Un arī es – kā pēdējais es esmu bijis nomodā,
kā tāds, ko ievāc jau pēc ražas novākšanas;
17 ar Kunga svētību es esmu kļuvis pirmais
un vīnspaidu pildījis kā ražas ievācējs.
18 Apsveriet: ne savā labā vien es esmu pūlējies,
bet visu to labā, kas pēc mācības lūkosies.
Neatkarības saglabāšana un mantas novēlēšana
19 Ieklausieties manī, tautas diženie,
sapulces vadoņi, ievērojiet!
20 Ne dēlam, ne sievai, ne brālim, ne draugam
nepiešķir varu pār sevi, kamēr vien esi dzīvs,
un neatdod nevienam savu īpašumu,
lai pašam nenāktos nožēlot.
21 Kamēr vēl esi dzīvs un elpo,
neiztirgo pats sevi nevienam!
22 Labāk, lai bērni prasa no tevis,
nekā tu lūkojies dēliem saujā.
23 Esi pārāks visā, ko dari,
neaptraipi savu labo slavu!
24 Dienā, kad mūžs būs galā
un beigu brīdis būs klāt, sadali mantojumu!
Par vergiem
25 Ēzelim – barība, vica un nasta,
saimes ļaudīm – maize, pamācība un darbs.
26 Nostrādini kalpu – un varēsi atpūsties,
ļauj vaļoties – pēc brīvības lūkosies.
27 Kakls lokāms ar jūga loku un grožiem,
nelietīgi saimes ļaudis – ar valgiem un mokām.
28 Dzen viņu darbā, lai neslaistās –
daudz ļauna iemāca slaistīšanās,
29 ar darbiem apkrauj, kā pienākas,
liec smagākas kāju važas, ja neklausa;
30 bet ne pret vienu neizturies nesamērīgi
un nedari neko nepārdomāti!
31 Ja tev ir kalps, izturies pret viņu kā pats pret sevi,
jo ar savām asinīm tu esi to ieguvis.
32 Ja tev ir kalps, izturies pret viņu kā pret brāli,
jo tev viņa pietrūks kā pašam sevis.
33 Ja būsi pret viņu ļauns un tas ņems un aizbēgs,
uz kura ceļa gan pēc viņa lūkosies?
