1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.
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 a burden,
but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.
4 Wrath is cruel
and anger is overwhelming;
but who is able to stand before jealousy?
5 Better is open rebuke
than hidden love.
6 The wounds of a friend are faithful,
although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.
7 A full soul loathes a honeycomb,
but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.
8 As a bird that wanders from her nest,
so is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
so earnest counsel does from a man’s friend.
10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend.
Do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
A neighbor who is near is better than a distant brother.
11 Be wise, my son,
and bring joy to my heart.
Then I can answer my tormentor.
12 A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge,
but the simple continue on and suffer for it.
13 Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger.
Hold it for a wayward woman!
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
it will be counted as a curse to him.
15 A continuous drip on a rainy day
and a contentious wife are alike.
16 Restraining her is like restraining the wind,
or like grasping oil in his right hand.
17 Iron sharpens iron,
so one friend sharpens another.
18 Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit.
He who looks after his master shall be honored.
19 Like water reflects a face,
so a man’s heart reflects the man.
20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,
and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.
21 The crucible is for silver,
and the furnace for gold,
but man is refined by his praise.
22 Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar with a pestle,
yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.
23 Know well the state of your flocks,
and pay attention to your herds,
24 for riches are not forever,
nor does the crown endure to all generations.
25 The hay is removed, and the new growth appears,
the grasses of the hills are gathered in.
26 The lambs are for your clothing,
and the goats are the price of a field.
27 There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food,
for your family’s food,
and for the nourishment of your servant girls.