1 'n Wyse seun luister na die tug van die vader, maar 'n spotter hoor nie na berisping nie.
2 Van die vrug van iemand se mond eet hy die goeie, maar die begeerte van die ontroues is 'n daad van geweld.
3 Wie sy mond bewaak, bewaar sy lewe; wie sy lippe wyd oopmaak, vir hom is daar ondergang.
4 Die siel van die luiaard begeer, en daar is niks nie, maar die siel van die vlytiges word versadig.
5 Die regverdige haat leuentaal, maar die goddelose maak gehaat en handel skandelik.
6 Geregtigheid bewaar die regskapene van wandel, maar goddeloosheid bring die sondaar tot 'n val.
7 Daar is een wat hom ryk hou, en hy het glad niks nie; een wat hom arm hou, en hy het baie goed.
8 Die losprys vir die lewe van 'n man is sy rykdom, maar die arme hoor geen dreigement nie.
9 Die lig van die regverdige brand vrolik, maar die lamp van die goddelose gaan dood.
10 Vermetelheid gee net getwis af; maar by die wat hulle laat raai, is wysheid.
11 Goed wat uit niks verkry is, word minder; maar hy wat met die hand bymekaarmaak, kry altyd meer.
12 'n Uitgestelde hoop maak die hart siek; maar 'n wens wat uitkom, is 'n lewensboom.
13 Wie die Woord verag, moet dit ontgelde; maar hy wat die gebod vrees, ontvang vergelding.
14 Die onderrig van die wyse is 'n fontein van die lewe, om die strikke van die dood te ontwyk.
15 'n Goeie verstand verskaf guns, maar die weg van die ontroues is hard.
16 Elke skrandere handel met kennis, maar die dwaas strooi sotheid rond.
17 'n Goddelose boodskapper val in die ongeluk, maar 'n betroubare boodskapper is 'n gerusstelling.
18 Armoede en skande is vir hom wat die tug verwerp; maar hy wat die teregwysing in ag neem, word geëer.
19 'n Vervulde wens is soet vir die siel, maar om af te wyk van die kwaad, is 'n gruwel vir die dwase.
20 Gaan met die wyse om, dan word jy wys; maar hy wat met dwase verkeer, versleg.
21 Die onheil vervolg die sondaars, maar Hy sal die regverdiges met goed vergelde.
22 'n Goeie mens laat sy kindskinders erwe, maar die vermoë van die sondaar word vir die regverdige weggebêre.
23 Die braakland van die armes lewer oorvloedig spys op, maar daar is wat deur ongeregtigheid verlore gaan.
24 Wie sy roede terughou, haat sy seun; maar hy wat hom liefhet, besoek hom met tugtiging.
25 Die regverdige eet totdat hy versadig is; maar die maag van die goddelose ly gebrek.
1 A wise son is a lover of teaching, but the ears of the haters of authority are shut to sharp words.
2 A man will get good from the fruit of his lips, but the desire of the false is for violent acts.
3 He who keeps a watch on his mouth keeps his life; but he whose lips are open wide will have destruction.
4 The hater of work does not get his desires, but the soul of the hard workers will be made fat.
5 The upright man is a hater of false words: the evil-doer gets a bad name and is put to shame.
6 Righteousness keeps safe him whose way is without error, but evil-doers are overturned by sin.
7 A man may be acting as if he had wealth, but have nothing; another may seem poor, but have great wealth.
8 A man will give his wealth in exchange for his life; but the poor will not give ear to sharp words.
9 There is a glad dawn for the upright man, but the light of the sinner will be put out.
10 The only effect of pride is fighting; but wisdom is with the quiet in spirit.
11 Wealth quickly got will become less; but he who gets a store by the work of his hands will have it increased.
12 Hope put off is a weariness to the heart; but when what is desired comes, it is a tree of life.
13 He who makes sport of the word will come to destruction, but the respecter of the law will be rewarded.
14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning men away from the nets of death.
15 Wise behaviour gets approval, but the way of the false is their destruction.
16 A sharp man does everything with knowledge, but a foolish man makes clear his foolish thoughts.
17 A man taking false news is a cause of trouble, but he who gives news rightly makes things well.
18 Need and shame will be the fate of him who is uncontrolled by training; but he who takes note of teaching will be honoured.
19 To get one's desire is sweet to the soul, but to give up evil is disgusting to the foolish.
20 Go with wise men and be wise: but he who keeps company with the foolish will be broken.
21 Evil will overtake sinners, but the upright will be rewarded with good.
22 The heritage of the good man is handed down to his children's children; and the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the upright man.
23 There is much food in the ploughed land of the poor; but it is taken away by wrongdoing.
24 He who keeps back his rod is unkind to his son: the loving father gives punishment with care.
25 The upright man has food to the full measure of his desire, but there will be no food for the stomach of evil-doers.