1 Don’t boast about tomorrow;

for you don’t 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 does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

10 Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend.

Don’t 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 pass 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 taken as a curse by him.

15 A continual dropping 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 a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

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 in a mortar with a pestle along with grain,

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.

1 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth.2 Let another 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 vexation is heavier than them both.4 Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?5 Open rebuke is better than hidden love.6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.7 The full soul trampleth on a 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; and the sweetness of one's friend is {the fruit} of hearty counsel.10 Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.12 A prudent {man} seeth the evil, {and} hideth himself; the simple pass on, {and} are punished.13 Take his garment that is become surety {for} another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.14 He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.15 A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:16 whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.17 Iron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.18 Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.19 As {in} water face {answereth} to face, so the heart of man to man.20 Sheol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.21 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.22 If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him.23 Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds:24 for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown {endure} from generation to generation?25 The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in.26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field;27 and there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.