1 Die wyn is 'n spotter, en sterk drank 'n lawaaimaker; en elkeen wat daardeur bedwelmd raak, is nie wys nie.

2 Die dreiging van die koning is soos die gebrom van 'n jong leeu; wie hom vertoorn, verbeur sy lewe.

3 Dit is 'n eer vir 'n man om van twis weg te bly, maar elke sot breek los.

4 In die herfs ploeg die luiaard nie; en verlang hy iets in die oestyd, dan is daar niks nie.

5 Die raad in die hart van 'n man mag diep waters wees, 'n man van verstand sal dit tog uitskep.

6 Baie mense roem hulle eie welwillendheid, maar wie vind 'n betroubare man?

7 Wie in sy regskapenheid wandel as 'n regverdige -- gelukkig is sy kinders n hom.

8 'n Koning wat op die regterstoel sit, wan met sy oë alles uit wat sleg is.

9 Wie kan sê: Ek het my hart suiwer gehou, ek is rein van my sonde?

10 Twee soorte gewig, twee soorte maat -- hulle altwee is vir die HERE 'n gruwel.

11 Die seun laat hom alreeds aan sy handelinge ken, of sy handelwyse suiwer en of dit reg is.

12 'n Oor wat hoor, en 'n oog wat sien -- die HERE het hulle altwee gemaak.

13 Moenie die slaap liefhê, sodat jy arm word nie; maak jou oë oop, dat jy jou met brood kan versadig.

14 Sleg, sleg! sê die koper; maar as hy wegloop, beroem hy hom.

15 Daar is goud en 'n menigte korale, maar 'n kosbare sieraad is die lippe van kennis.

16 Neem sy kleed weg, want hy het vir 'n ander borg gestaan, en neem hom as pand vir die vreemdes.

17 Soet is vir 'n mens die brood van bedrog, maar daarna word sy mond vol gruisklippertjies.

18 Planne kom deur beraadslaging tot stand; voer dan oorlog met goeie oorleg.

19 Wie met kwaadsprekery omgaan, maak 'n geheim openbaar; laat jou dus nie in met een wat sy lippe laat oopstaan nie.

20 Wie sy vader of sy moeder vloek, sy lamp gaan in pikdonker dood.

21 'n Besit wat by die begin haastig bymekaargeskraap is -- die einde daarvan sal tog nie geseënd wees nie.

22 Moenie sê: Ek wil die kwaad vergelde nie! Wag op die HERE, dat Hy jou help.

23 Twee soorte gewig is vir die HERE 'n gruwel, en 'n valse weegskaal is nie goed nie.

24 Die voetstappe van 'n man hang van die HERE af: hoe sou 'n mens dan sy weg verstaan?

25 Dit is vir die mens 'n strik dat hy onbedagsaam sê: Heilig! om dan eers n die geloftes te oorweeg.

26 'n Wyse koning wan die goddelose uit en laat die dorswiel oor hulle draai.

27 Die gees van die mens is 'n lamp van die HERE, dit deursoek al die kamers van die binneste.

28 Liefde en trou behoed die koning, en deur liefde stut hy sy troon.

29 Die sieraad van die jongmanne is hulle krag, en die versiersel van grysaards is grys hare.

30 Bloedige wonde suiwer die kwaad uit en slae die kamers van die binneste.

1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler;

And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise.

2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion:

He that provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own life.

3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife;

But every fool will be quarrelling.

4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter;

Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.

5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water;

But a man of understanding will draw it out.

6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness;

But a faithful man who can find?

7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity,

Blessed are his children after him.

8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment

Scattereth away all evil with his eyes.

9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,

I am pure from my sin?

10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures,

Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings,

Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.

12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye,

Jehovah hath made even both of them.

13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty;

Open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer;

But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth.

15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies;

But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger;

And hold him in pledge that is surety for foreigners.

17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man;

But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

18 Every purpose is established by counsel;

And by wise guidance make thou war.

19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets;

Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips.

20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother,

His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.

21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning;

But the end thereof shall not be blessed.

22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil:

Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee.

23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah;

And a false balance is not good.

24 A man’s goings are of Jehovah;

How then can man understand his way?

25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, It is holy,

And after vows to make inquiry.

26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked,

And bringeth the threshing-wheel over them.

27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah,

Searching all his innermost parts.

28 Kindness and truth preserve the king;

And his throne is upholden by kindness.

29 The glory of young men is their strength;

And the beauty of old men is the hoary head.

30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil;

And strokes reach the innermost parts.