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

Do not boast of tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth.

2 L et another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your 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 sand is a burden; but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

Stone is heavy and sand weighty, but a fool’s wrath is heavier and more intolerable than both of them.

4 W rath is cruel, and anger is overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

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

5 B etter is open rebuke than hidden love.

Open rebuke is better than love that is hidden.

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

Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are lavish and deceitful.

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

He who is satiated loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8 A s a bird that wanders from her nest, so is a man who wanders from his home.

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

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

Oil and perfume rejoice the heart; so does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.

10 D on’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.

Your own friend and your father’s friend, forsake them not; neither go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity. Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far off.

11 B e wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, then I can answer my tormentor.

My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him who reproaches me.

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

A prudent man sees the evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.

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

Take the garment of one who is security for a stranger; and hold him in pledge when he is security for foreigners.

14 H e who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.

The flatterer who loudly praises and glorifies his neighbor, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted as cursing him.

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

A continual dripping on a day of violent showers and a contentious woman are alike;

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

Whoever attempts to restrain might as well try to stop the wind—his right hand encounters oil.

17 I ron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.

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

Whoever tends the fig tree shall eat its fruit; so he who patiently and faithfully guards and heeds his master shall be honored.

19 L ike water reflects a face, so a man’s heart reflects the man.

As in water face answers to and reflects face, so the heart of man to man.

20 S heol and Abaddon are never satisfied; and a man’s eyes are never satisfied.

Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the place of destruction) are never satisfied; so the eyes of man is never satisfied.

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

As the refining pot for silver and the furnace for gold, so let a man be in his trial of praise.

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

Even though like grain you should pound a fool in a mortar with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23 K now well the state of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds:

Be diligent to know the state of your flocks, and look well to your herds;

24 f or riches are not forever, nor does even the crown endure to all generations.

For riches are not forever; does a crown endure to all generations?

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

When the hay is gone, the tender grass shows itself, and herbs of the mountain are gathered in,

26 T he lambs are for your clothing, and the goats are the price of a field.

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

27 T here will be plenty of goats’ milk for your food, for your family’s food, and for the nourishment of your servant girls.

And there will be goats’ milk enough for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance of your maids.