Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse; He who guards his soul will be far from them.

Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way.

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

" Only take heed to yourself, and diligently keep yourself, lest you forget the things your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And teach them to your children and your grandchildren,

Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if [there is any] wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

" The heart [is] deceitful above all [things,] And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

"Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak."

looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;

Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [Therefore] get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

My son, let them not depart from your eyes -- Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless [men] retain riches.

He who guards his mouth preserves his life, [But] he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.

There is a severe evil [which] I have seen under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt.

"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

"All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.