1 Don't brag about tomorrow, since you don't know what the day will bring. 2 Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth-- a stranger, not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, but the resentment caused by a fool is even heavier. 4 Anger is cruel, and wrath is like a flood, but jealousy is even more dangerous. 5 An open rebuke is better than hidden love! 6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. 7 A person who is full refuses honey, but even bitter food tastes sweet to the hungry. 8 A person who strays from home is like a bird that strays from its nest. 9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend is as sweet as perfume and incense. 10 Never abandon a friend-- either yours or your father's. When disaster strikes, you won't have to ask your brother for assistance. It's better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away. 11 Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad. Then I will be able to answer my critics. 12 A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. 13 Get security from someone who guarantees a stranger's debt. Get a deposit if he does it for foreigners. 14 A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse! 15 A quarrelsome wife is as annoying as constant dripping on a rainy day. 16 Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands. 17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. 18 As workers who tend a fig tree are allowed to eat the fruit, so workers who protect their employer's interests will be rewarded. 19 As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. 20 Just as Death and Destruction are never satisfied, so human desire is never satisfied. 21 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised. 22 You cannot separate fools from their foolishness, even though you grind them like grain with mortar and pestle. 23 Know the state of your flocks, and put your heart into caring for your herds, 24 for riches don't last forever, and the crown might not be passed to the next generation. 25 After the hay is harvested and the new crop appears and the mountain grasses are gathered in, 26 your sheep will provide wool for clothing, and your goats will provide the price of a field. 27 And you will have enough goats' milk for yourself, your family, and your servant girls.
1 Don't brashly announce what you're going to do tomorrow; you don't know the first thing about tomorrow. 2 Don't call attention to yourself; let others do that for you. 3 Carrying a log across your shoulders while you're hefting a boulder with your arms Is nothing compared to the burden of putting up with a fool. 4 We're blasted by anger and swamped by rage, but who can survive jealousy? 5 A spoken reprimand is better than approval that's never expressed. 6 The wounds from a lover are worth it; kisses from an enemy do you in. 7 When you've stuffed yourself, you refuse dessert; when you're starved, you could eat a horse. 8 People who won't settle down, wandering hither and yon, are like restless birds, flitting to and fro. 9 Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul. 10 Don't leave your friends or your parents' friends and run home to your family when things get rough; Better a nearby friend than a distant family. 11 Become wise, dear child, and make me happy; then nothing the world throws my way will upset me. 12 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered. 13 Hold tight to collateral on any loan to a stranger; be wary of accepting what a transient has pawned. 14 If you wake your friend in the early morning by shouting "Rise and shine!" It will sound to him more like a curse than a blessing. 15 A nagging spouse is like the drip, drip, drip of a leaky faucet; 16 You can't turn it off, and you can't get away from it. 17 You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another. 18 If you care for your orchard, you'll enjoy its fruit; if you honor your boss, you'll be honored. 19 Just as water mirrors your face, so your face mirrors your heart. 20 Hell has a voracious appetite, and lust just never quits. 21 The purity of silver and gold is tested by putting them in the fire; The purity of human hearts is tested by giving them a little fame. 22 Pound on a fool all you like--you can't pound out foolishness. 23 Know your sheep by name; carefully attend to your flocks; 24 (Don't take them for granted; possessions don't last forever, you know.) 25 And then, when the crops are in and the harvest is stored in the barns, 26 You can knit sweaters from lambs' wool, and sell your goats for a profit; 27 There will be plenty of milk and meat to last your family through the winter.
1 Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. 3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's wrath is heavier than them both. 4 Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy? 5 Open rebuke is better than secret love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7 The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place. 9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. 10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. 12 A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished. 13 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger, and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. 15 A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike. 16 Whosoever hideth her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand, which bewrayeth itself. 17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 18 Whoso keepeth the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof: so he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured. 19 As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. 20 Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied. 21 As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise. 22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. 23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. 24 For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? 25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. 26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. 27 And thou shalt have goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and for the maintenance for thy maidens.
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool's wrath is heavier than both of them. 4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy? 5 Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 7 A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest Is a man who wanders from his place. 9 Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel. 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, Nor go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, That I may answer him who reproaches me. 12 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished. 13 Take the garment of him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress. 14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him. 15 A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike; 16 Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. 17 As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. 18 Whoever keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored. 19 As in water face reflects face, So a man's heart reveals the man. 20 Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied. 21 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him. 22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. 23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, And attend to your herds; 24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the hay is removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26 The lambs will provide your clothing, And the goats the price of a field; 27 You shall have enough goats' milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy and the sand weighty, But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them. 4 Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood, But who can stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. 7 A sated man loathes honey, But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet. 8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, So is a man who wanders from his home. 9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, So a man's counsel is sweet to his friend. 10 Do not forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away. 11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, That I may reply to him who reproaches me. 12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himself, The naive proceed and pay the penalty. 13 Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger; And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge. 14 He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning, It will be reckoned a curse to him. 15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain And a contentious woman are alike; 16 He who would restrain her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand. 17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another. 18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit, And he who cares for his master will be honored. 19 As in water face reflects face, So the heart of man reflects man. 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied. 21 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, And each is tested by the praise accorded him. 22 Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not depart from him. 23 Know well the condition of your flocks, And pay attention to your herds; 24 For riches are not forever, Nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in, 26 The lambs will be for your clothing, And the goats will bring the price of a field, 27 And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, For the food of your household, And sustenance for your maidens.
1 DO NOT boast of [yourself and] tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. 3 Stone is heavy and sand weighty, but a fool's [unreasoning] wrath is heavier and more intolerable than both of them. 4 Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood, but who is able to stand before jealousy? 5 Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful. 7 He who is satiated [with sensual pleasures] loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet. 8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who strays from his home. 9 Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend's counsel that comes from the heart. 10 Your own friend and your father's friend, forsake them not; neither go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near [in spirit] than a brother who is far off [in heart]. 11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me [as having failed in my parental duty]. 12 A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished [with suffering]. 13 [The judge tells the creditor] Take the garment of one who is security for a stranger; and hold him in pledge when he is security for foreigners. 14 The flatterer who loudly praises and glorifies his neighbor, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted as cursing him [for he will be suspected of sinister purposes]. 15 A continual dripping on a day of violent showers and a contentious woman are alike; 16 Whoever attempts to restrain [a contentious woman] might as well try to stop the wind--his right hand encounters oil [and she slips through his fingers]. 17 Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]. 18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit; so he who patiently and faithfully guards and heeds his master shall be honored. 19 As in water face answers to and reflects face, so the heart of man to man. 20 Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the place of destruction) are never satisfied; so [the lust of] the eyes of man is never satisfied. 21 As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold [bring forth all the impurities of the metal], so let a man be in his trial of praise [ridding himself of all that is base or insincere; for a man is judged by what he praises and of what he boasts]. 22 Even though like grain you should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. 23 Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds; 24 For riches are not forever; does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the hay is gone, the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountain are gathered in, 26 The lambs will be for your clothing, and the goats [will furnish you] the price of a field. 27 And there will be goats' milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance of your maids.
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth. 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. 3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden, but provocation by a fool is heavier than both. 4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. 7 He who is full loathes honey, but to the hungry even what is bitter tastes sweet. 8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home. 9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. 10 Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you- better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart; then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt. 12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. 13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman. 14 If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. 15 A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; 16 restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. 18 He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. 19 As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man. 20 Death and Destruction are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man. 21 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives. 22 Though you grind a fool in a mortar, grinding him like grain with a pestle, you will not remove his folly from him. 23 Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; 24 for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations. 25 When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, 26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. 27 You will have plenty of goats' milk to feed you and your family and to nourish your servant girls.
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. 2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty, but a fool's provocation is heavier than both. 4 Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. 7 One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet. 8 Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home. 9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. 10 Do not forsake your friend and your father's friend, and do not go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away. 11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me. 12 The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. 13 Take a man's garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress. 14 Whoever blesses his neighbor with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, will be counted as cursing. 15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a quarrelsome wife are alike; 16 to restrain her is to restrain the wind or to grasp oil in one's right hand. 17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master will be honored. 19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man. 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and never satisfied are the eyes of man. 21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is tested by his praise. 22 Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him. 23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, 24 for riches do not last forever; and does a crown endure to all generations? 25 When the grass is gone and the new growth appears and the vegetation of the mountains is gathered, 26 the lambs will provide your clothing, and the goats the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats' milk for your food, for the food of your household and maintenance for your girls.