1Do not boast about tomorrow. You do not know what a day may bring forth.
2Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
3A stone is heavy, and sand is a weight to carry. But a fool's anger is heavier than them both.
4Wrath is cruel, and anger is like a flood. But who is able to stand before envy?
5Open rebuke is better than hidden love.
6The wounds a friend gives are faithful. But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
7The soul that has eaten its fill hates even honeycomb. But to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
8Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his place.
9Ointment and perfume make the heart glad. So does the sweetness of a man's friend, given with warm advice.
10Do not leave your own friend, or your father's friend. Do not go into your brother's house in the day of your trouble. A neighbour who is near is better than a brother far off.
11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, so that I can answer the one who taunts me.
12A sensible man sees the evil coming and hides himself. But the simple walk on, and are punished.
13Take the garment of the one who promises to pay a stranger's debt. Take a pledge from him when he does it for a strange woman.
14If a man blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it will be counted to him as a curse.
15A roof that keeps dripping on a very rainy day and a quarrelsome woman are alike.
16Whoever hides her hides the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which gives itself away.
17Iron sharpens iron. So a man sharpens the face of his friend.
18Whoever tends the fig tree will eat its fruit. So the one who serves his master will be honoured.
19As a face answers a face in water, so the heart of a man answers the man.
20Hell and destruction are never full. So the eyes of a man are never satisfied.
21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold. So a man is tested by his praise.
22Even if you crushed a fool in a mortar with a pestle, along with wheat, still his foolishness would not leave him.
23Take care to know how your flocks are doing. Look well to your herds.
24For riches do not last for ever. Does a crown endure to every generation?
25The hay comes up, and the young grass shows itself, and the plants of the mountains are gathered.
26The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.
27And you will have goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and to keep your servant girls alive.