The evil of avarice: works of mercy are recommended, and the love of wisdom.

[1] Blessed is the man that hath not slipped by a word out of his mouth, and is not pricked with the remorse of sin. [2] Happy is he that hath had no sadness of his mind, and who is not fallen from his hope. [3] Riches are not comely for a covetous man and a niggard, and what should an envious man do with gold? [4] He that gathereth together by wronging his own soul, gathereth for others, and another will squander away his goods in rioting. [5] He that is evil to himself, to whom will he be good? and he shall not take pleasure in his goods.

[6] There is none worse than he that envieth himself, and this is the reward of his wickedness: [7] And if he do good, he doth it ignorantly, and unwillingly: and at the last he discovereth his wickedness. [8] The eye of the envious is wicked: and he turneth away his face, and despiseth his own soul. [9] The eye of the covetous man is insatiable in his portion of iniquity: he will not be satisfied till he consume his own soul, drying it up. [10] An evil eye is towards evil things: and he shall not have his fill of bread, but shall be needy and pensive at his own table.

[11] My son, if thou have any thing, do good to thyself, and offer to God worthy offerings. [12] Remember that death is not slow, and that the covenant of hell hath been shewn to thee: for the covenant of this world shall surely die. [13] Do good to thy friend before thou die, and according to thy ability, stretching out thy hand give to the poor. [14] Defraud not thyself of the good day, and let not the part of a good gift overpass thee. [15] Shalt thou not leave to others to divide by lot thy sorrows and labours?

[12] Covenant of hell: The decree by which all are to go down to the regions of death.

[16] Give and take, and justify thy soul. [17] Before thy death work justice: for in hell there is no finding food. [18] All flesh shall fade as grass, and as the leaf that springeth out on a green tree. [19] Some grow, and some fall off: so is the generation of flesh and blood, one cometh to an end, and another is born. [20] Every work that is corruptible shall fail in the end: and the worker thereof shall go with it.

[21] And every excellent work shall be justified: and the worker thereof shall be honoured therein. [22] Blessed is the man that shall continue in wisdom, and that shall meditate in his justice, and in his mind shall think of the all seeing eye of God. [23] He that considereth her ways in his heart, and hath understanding in her secrets, who goeth after her as one that traceth, and stayeth in her ways: [24] He who looketh in at her windows, and hearkeneth at her door: [25] He that lodgeth near her house, and fastening a pin in her walls shall set up his tent nigh unto her, where good things shall rest in his lodging for ever.

[26] He shall set his children under her shelter, and shall lodge under her branches: [27] He shall be protected under her covering from the heat, and shall rest in her glory.