1
Do not boast thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
2
Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, a stranger, and not thine own lips.
3
Heavy is a stone, and weighty is sand,—but, the vexation of a fool, is heavier than both.
4
The cruelty of rage, and the overflow of anger! But who can stand before, jealousy?
5
Better is a rebuke that is open, than love carefully concealed.
6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but lavished are the kisses of an enemy.
7
The surfeited soul, trampleth upon droppings from the comb, but, to the hungry soul, every bitter thing, is sweet.
8
As a bird wandering from her nest, so, is a man wandering from his place.
9
Oil and perfume, rejoice the heart, the sweetness of one’s friend, more than fragrant wood.
10
Thine own friend and thy father’s friend, do not thou forsake; but, the house of thy brother, do not enter, in thy day of calamity, Better a neighbour near, than a brother far off.
11
Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart, that I may answer him that reproacheth me in a matter.
12
A prudent man, seeth calamity—he hideth himself, the simple, pass on—they suffer.
13
Take a man’s garment when he hath become pledge for a stranger, then, for a female unknown, accept him as surety.
14
He that blesseth his friend, with a loud voice, in the morning early, a reproach, shall it be reckoned to him.
15
A continuous dripping on a day of downpour, and a contentious wife, are alike:
16
He that hideth her, hideth the wind, and, perfume, his right hand may proclaim.
17
Let, iron, by iron, become sharp, and let, a man, sharpen the face of his friend.
18
He that guardeth the fig-tree, shall eat the fruit thereof, and, he that watcheth over his master, shall be honoured.
19
As in water, face [answereth] to face, so, the heart of man to man.
20
Hades and destruction, are not satisfied, and, the eyes of a man, are not satisfied.
21
Fining pot for silver, and crucible for gold, and, a man, [is to be tried] by what he praiseth.
22
Though thou pound a fool in a mortar, amidst grain, with a pestle, his folly, will not depart from him.
23
Note well, the appearance of thy flock, apply thy mind to thy herds;
24
For, not age-abiding, are riches, nor is the diadem, from generation to generation:—
25
The grass, is taken away, and the young shoot, showeth itself, and the herbage of the mountains, is gathered;
26
There are, lambs, for thy clothing, and, for the price of thy field, there are he-goats;
27
With, enough goats-milk, for thy food—for the food of thy household, and, a maintenance, for thy maidens.