[1] Do not make a noise about tomorrow, for you are not certain what a
day's outcome may be. [2] Let another man give you praise, and not your
mouth; one who is strange to you, and not your lips. [3] A stone has great
weight, and sand is crushing; but the wrath of the foolish is of greater
weight than these. [4] Wrath is cruel, and angry feeling an overflowing
stream; but who does not give way before envy? [5] Better is open protest
than love kept secret. [6] The wounds of a friend are given in good faith,
but the kisses of a hater are false. [7] The full man has no use for honey,
but to the man in need of food every bitter thing is sweet. [8] Like a bird
wandering from the place of her eggs is a man wandering from his station.
[9] Oil and perfume make glad the heart, and the wise suggestion of a
friend is sweet to the soul. [10] Do not give up your friend and your
father's friend; and do not go into your brother's house in the day of your
trouble: better is a neighbour who is near than a brother far off. [11] My
son, be wise and make my heart glad, so that I may give back an answer to
him who puts me to shame. [12] The sharp man sees the evil and takes cover:
the simple go straight on and get into trouble. [13] 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. [14] He who gives a blessing
to his friend with a loud voice, getting up early in the morning, will have
it put to his account as a curse. [15] Like an unending dropping on a day
of rain is a bitter-tongued woman. [16] He who keeps secret the secret of
his friend, will get himself a name for good faith. [17] Iron makes iron
sharp; so a man makes sharp his friend. [18] Whoever keeps a fig-tree will
have its fruit; and the servant waiting on his master will be honoured.
[19] Like face looking at face in water, so are the hearts of men to one
another. [20] The underworld and Abaddon are never full, and the eyes of
man have never enough. [21] The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire
for gold, and a man is measured by what he is praised for. [22] Even if a
foolish man is crushed with a hammer in a vessel among crushed grain, still
his foolish ways will not go from him. [23] Take care to have knowledge
about the condition of your flocks, looking well after your herds; [24] For
wealth is not for ever, and money does not go on for all generations. [25]
The grass comes up and the young grass is seen, and the mountain plants are
got in. [26] The lambs are for your clothing, and the he-goats make the
value of a field: [27] There will be goats' milk enough for your food, and
for the support of your servant-girls.
