1Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.

2Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.

3A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.

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

5Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.

7The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.

8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

9Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.

10Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

11My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that taunteth me.

12A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.

13Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.

14He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.

15A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;

16He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.

17Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

18Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.

19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.

20The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated.

21The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.

22Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

23Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;

24For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?

25When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;

26The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.

27And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.