I went by the field of the hater of work, and by the vine-garden of the man without sense;
Take note and give ear to my words; and I will say what I have seen:
What I have seen is that those by whom trouble has been ploughed, and evil planted, get the same for themselves.
See, we have made search with care, and it is so; it has come to our ears; see that you take note of it for yourself.
The upright see it and are glad: the mouth of the sinner is stopped.
I have been young, and now am old, but I have not seen the good man without help, or his children looking for bread.
In the lips of him who has knowledge wisdom is seen; but a rod is ready for the back of him who is without sense.
He who does work on his land will not be short of bread; but he who goes after foolish men is without sense.
The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
He who takes another man's wife is without all sense: he who does it is the cause of destruction to his soul.
When no work is done the roof goes in, and when the hands do nothing water comes into the house.
These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing.