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

Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know 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.

A stone is heavy and sand is weighty, But a fool’s wrath is heavier 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 a torrent, But who is able to stand before jealousy?

5 B etter is open rebuke than hidden love.

Open rebuke is better Than love carefully concealed.

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 deceitful.

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

A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, But to a 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 its nest Is a man who wanders from his place.

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

Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.

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.

Do not forsake your own friend or your father’s friend, Nor go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

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 foresees evil and hides himself; 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 him who is surety for a stranger, And hold it in pledge when he is surety for a seductress.

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

He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him.

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

A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike;

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

Whoever restrains her restrains the wind, And grasps oil with his right hand.

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

As 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 keeps the fig tree will eat its fruit; So he who waits on his master will be honored.

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

As in water face reflects face, So a man’s heart reveals the man.

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

Hell and Destruction are never full; So the eyes of man are never satisfied.

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

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, And a man is valued by what others say of him.

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.

Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, Yet his foolishness will not 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 attend to your herds;

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

For riches are not forever, Nor 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 removed, and the tender grass shows itself, And the herbs of the mountains are gathered in,

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

The lambs will provide 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.

You shall have enough goats’ milk for your food, For the food of your household, And the nourishment of your maidservants.