1 B oast not thyself of to-morrow, For thou knowest not what a day bringeth forth.

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

3 A stone heavy, and the sand heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both.

4 F ury fierce, and anger overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?

5 B etter open reproof than hidden love.

6 F aithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.

7 A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And a hungry soul every bitter thing sweet.

8 A s a bird wandering from her nest, So a man wandering from his place.

9 O intment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend -- from counsel of the soul.

10 T hine own friend, and the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better a near neighbour than a brother afar off.

11 B e wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.

12 T he prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.

13 T ake his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.

14 W hoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is reckoned to him.

15 A continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike,

16 W hoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.

17 I ron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

18 T he keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.

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

20 S heol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of man are not satisfied.

21 A refining pot for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.

22 I f thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things -- with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off him.

23 K now well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves,

24 F or riches not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation.

25 R evealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains.

26 L ambs for thy clothing, And the price of the field he-goats,

27 A nd a sufficiency of goats' milk for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!