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v1
Do not boast about tomorrow, ^[Literally “on the day of tomorrow”] for you do not know what the day will bring.
v2
May another praise you and not your own mouth, a stranger and not your own lips.
v3
Heavy is a stone and weighty is sand, but the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.
v4
Cruel is wrath and overwhelming is anger, but who will stand before jealousy?
v5
Better a rebuke that is open than a love that is hidden.
v6
The wounds of a friend mean well, but the kisses of an enemy are profane.
v7
An appetite ^[Literally “soul”] that is sated spurns honey, but to an appetite ^[Literally “soul”] that is ravenous, all bitterness is sweet.
v8
Like a bird that strays from its nest, so is a man who strays from his place.
v9
Perfume and incense will gladden a heart, and the pleasantness of one’s friend is personal advice. ^[Literally “because of advice of a person”]
v10
As for your friend and a friend of your father, do not forsake them, and the house of your brother, do not enter on the day of your calamity. Better is a close neighbor than a distant brother.
v11
Be wise, my child, and make my heart glad, and I will answer him who reproaches me with a word.
v12
When the clever sees danger, he hides; the simple go on and suffer.
v13
Take his garment, for he gives surety to a stranger, and to an adulteress ^[Literally “a foreign woman”]—so take his pledge.
v14
He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, a curse will be reckoned to him.
v15
Dripping constantly on a day of heavy rain and a woman ^[Or “wife”] of contention are alike.
v16
In restraining her, he restrains wind, ^[Or “breath, or “spirit”] and his right hand will grasp oil ^[Or “fat”].
v17
As iron sharpens ^[Or “is united with”] iron, so one man sharpens another. ^[Literally “a man sharpens the faces of his friend”]
v18
He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who guards his master ^[Or “lord”] will be honored.
v19
As the waters reflect face to face, ^[Literally “the faces to the faces”] so the heart of a person reflects the person.
v20
Sheol ^[A term for the place where the dead reside, i.e., the Underworld] and Abaddon ^[Poetic synonym for “Sheol.” Only mentioned in the ot in relation to Sheol, the grave, or death.] will not be satisfied, and the eyes of a person will not be satisfied either.
v21
A crucible is for the silver, and a furnace for the gold, but a man is tested by the mouth of him who praises him.
v22
If you crush a fool in the mortar with the pestle along with ^[Or “in the midst of”] the crushed grain, it will not drive folly from upon him.
v23
You will surely know the condition ^[Literally “faces”] of your flock; your heart ^[Or “mind”] attends to the herds.
v24
For riches are not forever, nor a crown for generation after generation.
v25
When the grass is gone, then green growth will appear, and the herbs of the mountains will be gathered.
v26
Lambs will be your clothing, and goats the price of the field.
v27
And there will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household and the nourishment ^[Literally “life”] of your maidservants.