Warnings and Instructions

1Do not boast about tomorrow,

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

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

A stranger, and not your own lips.

3A stone is heavy and the sand weighty,

But the provocation of a fool is heavier than both of them.

4Wrath is fierce and anger is a flood,

But who can stand before jealousy?

5Better is open rebuke

Than love that is concealed.

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend,

But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

7A sated man loathes honey,

But to a famished man any bitter thing is sweet.

8Like a bird that wanders from her nest,

So is a man who wanders from his home.

9Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

So a man’s counsel is sweet to his friend.

10Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend,

And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity;

Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

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

That I may reply to him who reproaches me.

12A prudent man sees evil and hides himself,

The naive proceed and pay the penalty.

13Take his garment when he becomes surety for a stranger;

And for an adulterous woman hold him in pledge.

14He who blesses his friend with a loud voice early in the morning,

It will be reckoned a curse to him.

15A constant dripping on a day of steady rain

And a contentious woman are alike;

16He who would restrain her restrains the wind,

And grasps oil with his right hand.

17Iron sharpens iron,

So one man sharpens another.

18He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,

And he who cares for his master will be honored.

19As in water face reflects face,

So the heart of man reflects man.

20Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.

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

And each is tested by the praise accorded him.

22Though you pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain,

Yet his foolishness will not depart from him.

23Know well the condition of your flocks,

And pay attention to your herds;

24For riches are not forever,

Nor does a crown endure to all generations.

25When the grass disappears, the new growth is seen,

And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

26The lambs will be for your clothing,

And the goats will bring the price of a field,

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

For the food of your household,

And sustenance for your maidens.

Warnings and Instructions

1The wicked flee when no one is pursuing,

But the righteous are bold as a lion.

2By the transgression of a land many are its princes,

But by a man of understanding and knowledge, so it endures.

3A poor man who oppresses the lowly

Is like a driving rain which leaves no food.

4Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

But those who keep the law strive with them.

5Evil men do not understand justice,

But those who seek the Lord understand all things.

6Better is the poor who walks in his integrity

Than he who is crooked though he be rich.

7He who keeps the law is a discerning son,

But he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father.

8He who increases his wealth by interest and usury

Gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor.

9He who turns away his ear from listening to the law,

Even his prayer is an abomination.

10He who leads the upright astray in an evil way

Will himself fall into his own pit,

But the blameless will inherit good.

11The rich man is wise in his own eyes,

But the poor who has understanding sees through him.

12When the righteous triumph, there is great glory,

But when the wicked rise, men hide themselves.

13He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper,

But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.

14How blessed is the man who fears always,

But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

15Like a roaring lion and a rushing bear

Is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

16A leader who is a great oppressor lacks understanding,

But he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

17A man who is laden with the guilt of human blood

Will be a fugitive until death; let no one support him.

18He who walks blamelessly will be delivered,

But he who is crooked will fall all at once.

19He who tills his land will have plenty of food,

But he who follows empty pursuits will have poverty in plenty.

20A faithful man will abound with blessings,

But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.

21To show partiality is not good,

Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress.

22A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth

And does not know that want will come upon him.

23He who rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

Than he who flatters with the tongue.

24He who robs his father or his mother

And says, “It is not a transgression,”

Is the companion of a man who destroys.

25An arrogant man stirs up strife,

But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.

26He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

27He who gives to the poor will never want,

But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.

28When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;

But when they perish, the righteous increase.

Warnings and Instructions

1A man who hardens his neck after much reproof

Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy.

2When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,

But when a wicked man rules, people groan.

3A man who loves wisdom makes his father glad,

But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth.

4The king gives stability to the land by justice,

But a man who takes bribes overthrows it.

5A man who flatters his neighbor

Is spreading a net for his steps.

6By transgression an evil man is ensnared,

But the righteous sings and rejoices.

7The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,

The wicked does not understand such concern.

8Scorners set a city aflame,

But wise men turn away anger.

9When a wise man has a controversy with a foolish man,

The foolish man either rages or laughs, and there is no rest.

10Men of bloodshed hate the blameless,

But the upright are concerned for his life.

11A fool always loses his temper,

But a wise man holds it back.

12If a ruler pays attention to falsehood,

All his ministers become wicked.

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

The Lord gives light to the eyes of both.

14If a king judges the poor with truth,

His throne will be established forever.

15The rod and reproof give wisdom,

But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.

16When the wicked increase, transgression increases;

But the righteous will see their fall.

17Correct your son, and he will give you comfort;

He will also delight your soul.

18Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained,

But happy is he who keeps the law.

19A slave will not be instructed by words alone;

For though he understands, there will be no response.

20Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21He who pampers his slave from childhood

Will in the end find him to be a son.

22An angry man stirs up strife,

And a hot-tempered man abounds in transgression.

23A man’s pride will bring him low,

But a humble spirit will obtain honor.

24He who is a partner with a thief hates his own life;

He hears the oath but tells nothing.

25The fear of man brings a snare,

But he who trusts in the Lord will be exalted.

26Many seek the ruler’s favor,

But justice for man comes from the Lord.

27An unjust man is abominable to the righteous,

And he who is upright in the way is abominable to the wicked.