1 ق ُلُوبُ المُلُوكِ فِي يَدِ اللهِ مِثلُ جَداوِلِ المِياهِ، يُدِيرُها حَيثُما يُرِيدُ.

The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.

2 ك ُلُّ طُرُقِ الإنسانِ قَدْ تَبدُو صَحِيحَةً فِي عَينَيهِ، وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ هُوَ الَّذِي يَفحَصُ القُلُوبَ.

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

3 ف ِعلُ ما هُوَ صَحِيحٌ وَعادِلٌ أهَمُّ عِنْدَ اللهِ مِنْ تَقدِيمِ الذَّبائِحِ.

To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

4 ا لنَّظراتُ المُتَعَجْرِفَةُ وَالأفْكارُ المُتكبِّرةُ تُظْهِرُ خَطيَّةَ الشِّرِّيرِ.

An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

5 خ ُطَطُ المُجتَهِدِ تَقُودُهُ إلَى الرِّبحِ، أمّا المُتَهَوِّرُ فَيَصيرُ فَقِيراً.

The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.

6 ا لكُنُوزُ الَّتِي تَأتِي بِالكَذِبِ هِيَ بُخارٌ يَتَلاشَى وَفَخٌّ يُؤَدِّي إلَى المَوْتِ.

The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death.

7 ع ُنْفُ الأشرارِ يَجُرُّهُمْ بَعِيداً، لِأنَّهُمْ يَرفُضُونَ عَمَلَ ما هُوَ عَدلٌ.

The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment.

8 ا لمُذنِبُ يَتَصَرَّفُ بِخِداعٍ، أمّا البَرِيءُ فَطُرُقُهُ مُستَقِيمَةٌ.

The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right.

9 خ َيرٌ لِلإنسانِ أنْ يَسكُنَ فِي زاوِيَةِ البَيتِ، مِنْ أنْ يَعِيشَ فِي بَيتٍ واسِعٍ مَعَ زَوجَةٍ تُثِيرُ النِّزاعَ.

It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house.

10 ا لشِّرِّيرُ يَشْتَهِي الشَّرَّ، وَهُوَ لَيسَ رَحِيماً مَعَ جارِهِ.

The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes.

11 ع ِندَما يُعاقَبُ المُتَكَبِّرُ، يُصبِحُ الجاهِلُ حَكِيماً. وَعِندَما يُنصَحُ الحَكِيمُ وَيُرْشَدُ، فَإنَّهُ يَكتَسِبُ المَعْرِفَةَ.

When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge.

12 ا للهُ البارُّ يُراقِبُ بُيُوتَ الأشرارِ، وَيُدّمِّرُ الأشْرارَ تَدْمِيراً.

The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.

13 م َنْ يَسُدُّ أُذُنَيهِ عِنْ نِداءِ الفَقِيرِ، يَطلُبُ هُوَ المُساعَدَةَ وَلا يَجِدُ مَنْ يُجِيبُهُ.

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

14 ا لهَدِيَّةُ الَّتِي تُعطَى فِي السِّرِّ تُهَدِّئُ الغَضَبَ، وَالهَدَيَّةُ الحَميمَةُ تُهَدِّئُ الغَضَبَ الشَّدِيدَ.

A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath.

15 ا لبارُّ يَفرَحُ بِالعَدلِ، وَالهَلاكُ لِفاعِلِي الشَّرِّ.

It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

16 م َنْ يَتَجَنَّبُ طَرِيقَ الفَهمِ يَرتاحُ مَعَ جَماعَةِ الأمواتِ.

The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead.

17 م ُحِبُّ المَلَذّاتِ يُصِيرُ فَقِيراً، وَمُحِبُّ الخَمْرِ وَالتَّرَفِ لَنْ يَغْتَنِيَ.

He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.

18 ي ُؤخَذُ الشِّرِّيرُ عِوَضاً عَنِ البارِّ، وَيُعاقَبُ الخائِنُ لا المُسْتَقِيمُ.

The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright.

19 خ َيرٌ لِلإنسانِ أنْ يَحيا فِي الصَّحراءِ مِنْ أنْ يَعِيشَ مَعَ زَوجَةٍ مُتَقَلِّبَةٍ تُثِيرُ النِّزاعَ.

It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman.

20 ف ِي بَيتِ الحَكِيمِ تَجِدُ كَنزاً ثَمِيناً وَزَيتاً مُخَزَّناً، أمّا الأحْمَقُ فَيَستَهلِكُ كُلَّ ما لَدَيْهِ.

There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.

21 م َنْ يتْبَعُ العَدلَ وَالرَّحمَةَ سَيَجِدُ حَياةً وَكَرامَةً وَبِرّاً.

He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

22 ر َجُلٌ حَكِيمٌ يَغلِبُ مَدِينَةَ مُحارِبِينَ، وَيُدَمِّرُ حِصنَها المَنيعَ.

A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof.

23 م َنْ يَنتَبِهْ إلَى كَلامِهِ يَحفَظْ نَفسَهُ مِنَ المَتاعِبِ.

Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

24 ا لمُتَكَبِّرُ المَغرُورُ يَسَخَرُ بِهِ النّاسُ، وَهُوَ يَتَصَرَّفُ بِتَفاخُرٍ شَدِيدٍ.

Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath.

25 ش َهْوَةُ الكَسْلانِ سَتَقتُلُهُ، لِأنَّهُ لا يُحِبُّ أنْ يَعمَلَ.

The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

26 ف َهُوَ يَشتَهِي أكثَرَ فَأكثَرَ، أمّا البارُّ فَيُعطِي مِنْ دُونِ تَأخِيرٍ.

He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.

27 ا لذَّبائِحَ الَّتِي يُقَدِّمُها الشِّرِّيرُ كَرِيهةٌ، لِأنَّهُ يُقَدِّمُها بِغِشٍّ.

The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?

28 ش ُهُودُ الزُّورِ يُعاقَبونَ، أمّا مَنْ يُصغِي لِضَمِيرِهِ فَإنَّهُ يَتَكَلَّمُ بِثِقَةٍ.

A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly.

29 ا لشِّرِّيرُ يُغَيِّرُ مَلامِحَ وَجهِهِ، أمّا الصّالِحُ فَواثِقٌ مِنْ طَرِيقِهِ.

A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way.

30 م ا مِنْ حِكمَةٍ وَلا فَهْمٍ وَلا مَشُورَةٍ تَنجَحُ ضِدَّ اللهِ.

There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.

31 ا لحِصانُ يُجَهَّزُ لِيَومِ الحَربِ، أمّا النُّصرَةُ فَهِيَ مِنْ عِندِ اللهِ.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.