Refrain not speech, when it tendeth to safety; and hide not thy wisdom for the sake of fair-seeming. For by speech wisdom shall be known; and instruction by the word of the tongue. Speak not against the truth; and be abashed for thine ignorance. Be not ashamed to make confession of thy sins; and force not the current of the river. Lay not thyself down for a fool to tread upon; and accept not the person of one that is mighty. Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord God shall fight for thee. Be not hasty in thy tongue, and in thy deeds slack and remiss. Be not as a lion in thy house, nor fanciful among thy servants. Let not thine hand be stretched out to receive, and closed when thou shouldest repay. =5= Set not thy heart upon thy goods; and say not, They are sufficient for me. Follow not thine own mind and thy strength, to walk in the desires of thy heart; And say not, Who shall have dominion over me? for the Lord will surely take vengeance on thee. * * * * * Say not, I sinned, and what happened unto me? for the Lord is longsuffering. Concerning atonement, be not without fear, to add sin upon sins: And say not, His compassion is great; he will be pacified for the multitude of my sins: for mercy and wrath are with him, and his indignation will rest upon sinners. Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord; and put not off from day to day: for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth; and thou shalt perish in the time of vengeance. * * * * * Set not thine heart upon unrighteous gains: for thou shalt profit nothing in the day of calamity. Winnow not with every wind, and walk not in every path: thus doeth the sinner that hath a double tongue. Be stedfast in thy understanding; and let thy word be one. Be swift to hear; and with patience make thine answer. If thou hast understanding, answer thy neighbour; and if not, let thy hand be upon thy mouth. Glory and dishonour is in talk: and the tongue of a man is his fall. Be not called a whisperer; and lie not in wait with thy tongue: for upon the thief there is shame, and an evil condemnation upon him that hath a double tongue. In a great matter and in a small be not ignorant; =6= And instead of a friend become not an enemy; for an evil name shall inherit shame and reproach: even so shall the sinner that hath a double tongue. * * * * * Exalt not thyself in the counsel of thy soul; that thy soul be not torn in pieces as a bull: Thou shalt eat up thy leaves, and destroy thy fruits, and leave thyself as a dry tree. A wicked soul shall destroy him that hath gotten it, and shall make him a laughing-stock to his enemies. * * * * * Sweet words will multiply a man’s friends; and a fair-speaking tongue will multiply courtesies. Let those that are at peace with thee be many; but thy counsellors one of a thousand.