1 B oast not thyself of to-morrow, for thou knowest not what a day will bring forth.

Don’t boast about tomorrow; for you don’t know what a day may bring.

2 L et another praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

3 A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than them both.

A stone is heavy, and sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4 F ury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

Wrath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 O pen rebuke is better than hidden love.

Better is open rebuke than hidden love.

6 F aithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; although the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

7 T he full soul trampleth on a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

A full soul loathes a honeycomb; but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet.

8 A s a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

As a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.

9 O intment and perfume rejoice the heart; and the sweetness of one's friend is of hearty counsel.

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart; so does earnest counsel from a man’s friend.

10 T hine 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.

Don’t forsake your friend and your father’s friend. Don’t go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster: better is a neighbor who is near than a distant brother.

11 B e wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

12 A prudent seeth the evil, hideth himself; the simple pass on, are punished.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge; but the simple pass on, and suffer for it.

13 T ake his garment that is become surety another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.

Take his garment when he puts up collateral for a stranger. Hold it for a wayward woman!

14 H e that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be reckoned a curse to him.

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 very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike:

A continual dropping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike:

16 w hosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

restraining her is like restraining the wind, or like grasping oil in his right hand.

17 I ron is sharpened by iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

18 W hoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that guardeth his master shall be honoured.

Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit. He who looks after his master shall be honored.

19 A s water face to face, so the heart of man to man.

Like water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

20 S heol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.

21 T he fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.

The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but man is refined by his praise.

22 I f thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him.

Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with grain, yet his foolishness will not be removed from him.

23 B e well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds:

Know well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:

24 f or wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown from generation to generation?

for riches are not forever, nor does even the crown endure to all generations.

25 T he hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in.

The hay is removed, and the new growth appears, the grasses of the hills are gathered in.

26 T he lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field;

The lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.

27 a nd there is goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.

There will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.