The commentary is practical, hard-hitting, current, and spiritual.
Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.
My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:
He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:
Such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness.
The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.
Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
A servant will not be corrected by words: for though he understand he will not answer.
To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.
A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.
He that tilleth his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that followeth after vain persons shall have poverty enough.
As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.
Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.
As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.
Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?
If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:
As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.
Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
For there shall be no reward to the evil man; the candle of the wicked shall be put out.
Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked:
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.
Hear thou, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way.
That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?