1 Do not boast about tomorrow;

for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;

someone else, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy and sand is weighty,

but vexation by a fool is more burdensome than the two of them.

4 Wrath is cruel and anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke

than hidden love.

6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

but the kisses of an enemy are excessive.

7 The one whose appetite is satisfied loathes honey,

but to the hungry mouth every bitter thing is sweet.

8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest,

so is a person who wanders from his home.

9 Ointment and incense make the heart rejoice,

likewise the sweetness of one’s friend from sincere counsel.

10 Do not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,

and do not enter your brother’s house in the day of your disaster;

a neighbor nearby is better than a brother far away.

11 Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad,

so that I may answer anyone who taunts me.

12 A shrewd person saw danger—he hid himself;

the naive passed right on by— they had to pay for it.

13 Take a man’s garment when he has given security for a stranger,

and hold him in pledge on behalf of a stranger.

14 If someone blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,

it will be counted as a curse to him.

15 A continual dripping on a rainy day—

a contentious wife makes herself like that.

16 Whoever contains her has contained the wind

or can grasp oil with his right hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so a person sharpens his friend.

18 The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and whoever takes care of his master will be honored.

19 As in water the face is reflected as a face,

so a person’s heart reflects the person.

20 As Death and Destruction are never satisfied,

so the eyes of a person are never satisfied.

21 As the crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,

so a person must put his praise to the test.

22 If you should pound the fool in the mortar

among the grain with the pestle,

his foolishness would not depart from him.

23 Pay careful attention to the condition of your flocks,

set your mind on your herds,

24 for riches do not last forever,

nor does a crown last from generation to generation.

25 When the hay is removed and new grass appears,

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26 the lambs will be for your clothing,

and the goats will be for the price of a field.

27 And there will be enough goat’s milk for your food,

for the food of your household,

and for the sustenance of your servant girls.

28:1 The wicked person fled, though no one was pursuing,

but the righteous person can be as confident as a lion.

2 When a country is rebellious it has many princes,

but by someone who is discerning and knowledgeable order is maintained.

3 A poor person who oppresses the weak

is like a driving rain without food.

4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law contend with them.

5 Evil people do not understand justice,

but those who seek the Lord understand it all.

6 A poor person who walks in his integrity is better

than one who is perverse in his ways even though he is rich.

7 The one who keeps the law is a discerning child,

but a companion of gluttons brings shame to his parents.

8 The one who increases his wealth by increasing interest

gathers it for someone who is gracious to the needy.

9 The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

10 The one who leads the upright astray in an evil way

will himself fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will inherit what is good.

11 A rich person is wise in his own opinion,

but a discerning poor person can evaluate him properly.

12 When the righteous rejoice, great is the glory,

but when the wicked rise to power, people are sought out.

13 The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper,

but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy.

14 Blessed is the one who is always cautious,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into evil.

15 Like a roaring lion or a roving bear,

so is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 The prince who is a great oppressor lacks wisdom,

but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17 The one who is tormented by the murder of another will flee to the pit;

let no one support him.

18 The one who walks blamelessly will be delivered,

but whoever is perverse in his ways will fall at once.

19 The one who works his land will be satisfied with food,

but whoever chases daydreams will have his fill of poverty.

20 A faithful person will have an abundance of blessings,

but the one who hastens to gain riches will not go unpunished.

21 To show partiality is terrible,

for a person will transgress over the smallest piece of bread.

22 The stingy person hastens after riches

and does not know that poverty will overtake him.

23 The one who reproves another will in the end find more favor

than the one who flatters with the tongue.

24 The one who robs his father and mother and says, “There is no transgression,”

is a companion to the one who destroys.

25 The greedy person stirs up dissension,

but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

26 The one who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

but the one who walks in wisdom will escape.

27 The one who gives to the poor will not lack,

but whoever shuts his eyes to them will receive many curses.

28 When the wicked gain control, people hide themselves,

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

29:1 The one who stiffens his neck after numerous rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed without remedy.

2 When the righteous become numerous, the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3 The man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but whoever associates with prostitutes wastes his wealth.

4 A king brings stability to a land by justice,

but one who exacts tribute tears it down.

5 The one who flatters his neighbor

spreads a net for his steps.

6 In the transgression of an evil person there is a snare,

but a righteous person can sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous person cares for the legal rights of the poor;

the wicked person does not understand such knowledge.

8 Scornful people inflame a city,

but those who are wise turn away wrath.

9 When a wise person goes to court with a foolish person,

there is no peace whether he is angry or laughs.

10 Bloodthirsty people hate someone with integrity;

as for the upright, they seek his life.

11 A fool lets fly with all his temper,

but a wise person keeps it back.

12 If a ruler listens to lies,

all his ministers will be wicked.

13 The poor person and the oppressor have this in common:

The Lord gives light to the eyes of them both.

14 If a king judges the poor in truth,

his throne will be established forever.

15 A rod and reproof impart wisdom,

but a child who is unrestrained brings shame to his mother.

16 When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

but the righteous will see their downfall.

17 Discipline your child, and he will give you rest;

he will bring you happiness.

18 When there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

but the one who keeps the law, blessed is he!

19 A servant cannot be corrected by words,

for although he understands, there is no answer.

20 You have seen someone who is hasty in his words—

there is more hope for a fool than for him.

21 If someone pampers his servant from youth,

he will be a weakling in the end.

22 An angry person stirs up dissension,

and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.

23 A person’s pride will bring him low,

but one who has a lowly spirit will gain honor.

24 Whoever shares with a thief is his own enemy;

he hears the oath to testify, but does not talk.

25 The fear of people becomes a snare,

but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high.

26 Many people seek the face of a ruler,

but it is from the Lord that one receives justice.

27 An unjust person is an abomination to the righteous,

and the one who lives an upright life is an abomination to the wicked.