1 ا لإنسانُ المُنعَزِلُ يَبحَثُ عَنْ رَغبَتِهِ، وَيَتَضايَقُ مِنْ كُلِّ نَصِيحَةٍ.

He who willfully separates and estranges himself seeks his own desire and pretext to break out against all wise and sound judgment.

2 ا لأحْمَقُ لا يَجِدُ مُتعَةً فِي الفَهْمِ، بَلْ فِي إعطاءِ آراءِهِ فَقَطْ.

A fool has no delight in understanding but only in revealing his personal opinions and himself.

3 ع ِندَما يَأْتِي الشَّرُّ يَأْتِي الاستِهزاءُ مَعَهُ، وَمَعَ الإهانَةِ يَأْتِي الخِزْيُ وَالعارُ.

When the wicked comes in, he becomes a contemptuous despiser, and with inner baseness comes outer shame and reproach.

4 ك َلِماتُ الإنسانِ مِياهٌ عَمِيقَةٌ، وَنَبعُ الحِكْمَةِ نَهرٌ مُتَدَفِّقٌ.

The words of a man’s mouth are like deep waters, and the fountain of skillful and godly Wisdom is like a gushing stream.

5 ل َيسَ جَيِّداً أنْ تَتَحَيَّزَ لِلمُذنِبِ، فَتَحرِمَ البَرِيءَ مِنْ حَقِّهِ.

To respect the person of the wicked and be partial to him, so as to deprive the righteous of justice, is not good.

6 ك َلامُ الأحْمَقِ يُؤَدِّي إلَى الجَدَلِ، وَفَمُهُ يُسَبِّبُ لَهُ الضَّرْبَ.

A fool’s lips bring contention, and his mouth invites a beating.

7 ف َمُ الأحْمَقِ يُسَبِّبُ دَمارَهُ، وَكَلامُهُ يُشبِهُ الفَخَّ لِحَياتِهِ.

A fool’s mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to himself.

8 ك َلامُ النَّمّامِ يُشبِهُ لُقَمَ الطَّعامِ الَّتِي تَنزِلُ إلَى المَعِدَةِ.

The words of a whisperer or talebearer are as dainty morsels; they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

9 ا لكَسْلانُ فِي عَمَلِهِ، هُوَ وَالمُخَرِّبُ سِيّانِ.

He who is loose and slack in his work is brother to him who is a destroyer and he who does not use his endeavors to heal himself is brother to him who commits suicide.

10 ا سْمُ يهوه بُرجٌ مَنِيعٌ، يَركُضُ إلَيهِ البارُّ وَيَحتَمِي.

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe, high and strong.

11 ث َروَةُ الغَنِيِّ هِيَ مَدِينَتُهُ الحَصِينَةُ، فَيَتَخَيَّلُها سُوراً عالِياً.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit.

12 ا لكِبرِياءُ تأتِي قَبلَ الانهِيارِ، أمّا التَّواضُعُ فَيَأتِي قَبلَ الكَرامَةِ.

Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor.

13 م َنْ يُجِيبُ عَنْ سُؤالٍ قَبلَ أنْ يَسمَعَهُ، فَهُوَ أحْمَقُ يُسَبِّبُ لِنَفسِهِ الخِزيَ.

He who answers a matter before he hears the facts—it is folly and shame to him.

14 ر ُوحُ الإنسانِ تُسانِدُهُ فِي مَرَضِهِ، أمّا الرُّوحُ الحَزِينَةُ فَلا يَحتَمِلُها أحَدٌ.

The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?

15 ا لإنسانُ الذَّكِيُّ يَكتَسِبُ المَعرِفَةَ، وَأُذُنُ الحَكِيمِ تَبحَثُ عَنِ العِلْمِ.

The mind of the prudent is ever getting knowledge, and the ear of the wise is ever seeking (inquiring for and craving) knowledge.

16 ا لهَدِيَّةُ تُؤدّي إلَى التَرْحيبِ، وَتُمَهِّدُ لِمُقابَلَةِ العُظَماءَ.

A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men.

17 م َنْ يَشتَكِي أوَّلاً يَبْدُو مُحِقّاً، إلَى أنْ يَأتِيَ خَصْمُهُ وَيَستَجْوِبُهُ.

He who states his case first seems right, until his rival comes and cross-examines him.

18 ا لقُرعَةُ تُنهِي النِّزاعَ، وَتَفصِلُ بَينَ طَرَفَينِ قَوِيّينِ.

To cast lots puts an end to disputes and decides between powerful contenders.

19 م ُصالَحةُ الأخِ بَعْدَ إهانَتِهِ أصعَبُ مِنْ فَتْحِ مَدِينَةٍ، وَالمُخاصَماتُ بَيْنَ الأصْدِقاءِ أشبَهُ بِعَوارِضِ قَلعَةٍ.

A brother offended is harder to be won over than a strong city, and contentions separate them like the bars of a castle.

20 م ِنْ ثَمَرِ كَلامِ الإنسانِ تَمتَلِئُ مَعِدَتُهُ، وَمِنْ غَلَّةِ شَفَتَيهِ يَشْبَعُ.

A man’s self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied.

21 ا لمَوتُ وَالحَياةُ تَحتَ سُلْطَةِ اللِّسانِ، وَمَنْ يُحِبُّ الكَلامَ سَيَأكُلُ ثَمَرَ كَلامِهِ.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it.

22 م َنْ يَجِدُ زَوجَةً صالِحَةً يَجِدُ خَيْراً، وَينالُ رِضَىً مِنَ اللهِ.

He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.

23 ا لفَقِيرُ يَطلُبُ بِتَواضُعٍ، أمّا الغَنِيُّ فَيُجِيبُ بِخُشُونَةٍ.

The poor man uses entreaties, but the rich answers roughly.

24 ق َدْ يَضُرُّ الأصْدِقاءُ صَدِيقَهُمْ، لَكِنْ هُناكَ صَدِيقٌ ألصَقُ مِنَ الأخِ.

The man of many friends will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.