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 makes men foolish, and strong drink makes men come to blows; and whoever comes into error through these is not wise.
2 The wrath of a king is like the loud cry of a lion: he who makes him angry does wrong against himself.
3 It is an honour for a man to keep from fighting, but the foolish are ever at war.
4 The hater of work will not do his ploughing because of the winter; so at the time of grain-cutting he will be requesting food and will get nothing.
5 The purpose in the heart of a man is like deep water, but a man of good sense will get it out.
6 Most men make no secret of their kind acts: but where is a man of good faith to be seen?
7 An upright man goes on in his righteousness: happy are his children after him!
8 A king on the seat of judging puts to flight all evil with his eyes.
9 Who is able to say, I have made my heart clean, I am free from my sin?
10 Unequal weights and unequal measures, they are all disgusting to the Lord.
11 Even a child may be judged by his doings, if his work is free from sin and if it is right.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye are equally the Lord's work.
13 Do not be a lover of sleep, or you will become poor: keep your eyes open, and you will have bread enough.
14 A poor thing, a poor thing, says he who is giving money for goods: but when he has gone on his way, then he makes clear his pride in what he has got.
15 There is gold and a store of corals: but the lips of knowledge are a jewel of great price.
16 Take a man's clothing if he makes himself responsible for a strange man, and get an undertaking from him who gives his word for strange men.
17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but after, his mouth will be full of sand.
18 Every purpose is put into effect by wise help: and by wise guiding make war.
19 He who goes about talking of the business of others gives away secrets: so have nothing to do with him whose lips are open wide.
20 If anyone puts a curse on his father or his mother, his light will be put out in the blackest night.
21 A heritage may be got quickly at first, but the end of it will not be a blessing.
22 Do not say, I will give punishment for evil: go on waiting for the Lord, and he will be your saviour.
23 Unequal weights are disgusting to the Lord, and false scales are not good.
24 A man's steps are of the Lord; how then may a man have knowledge of his way?
25 It is a danger to a man to say without thought, It is holy, and, after taking his oaths, to be questioning if it is necessary to keep them.
26 A wise king puts evil-doers to flight, and makes their evil-doing come back on them.
27 The Lord keeps watch over the spirit of man, searching all the deepest parts of the body.
28 Mercy and good faith keep the king safe, and the seat of his power is based on upright acts.
29 The glory of young men is their strength, and the honour of old men is their grey hairs.
30 By the wounds of the rod evil is taken away, and blows make clean the deepest parts of the body.