³A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s vexation is heavier than them both. ⁴Fury is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵Open rebuke is better than hidden love. ⁶Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are profuse.

⁷The full soul trampleth on 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; and the sweetness of one’s friend is the fruit of hearty counsel. ¹⁰Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; and go not into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.

¹¹Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, that I may have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me.

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

¹³Take his garment that is become surety for another, and hold him in pledge for a strange woman.

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

¹⁵A continual dropping on a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike: ¹⁶whosoever will restrain her restraineth the wind, and his right hand encountereth oil.

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

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

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

²⁰Sheol and destruction are insatiable; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

²¹The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; so let a man be to the mouth that praiseth him.

²²If thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his folly depart from him.

²³Be well acquainted with the appearance of thy flocks; look well to thy herds: ²⁴for wealth is not for ever; and doth the crown endure from generation to generation? ²⁵The hay is removed, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered in. ²⁶The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of a field; ²⁷and there is goats’ milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and sustenance for thy maidens.

Chapter 28

¹The wicked flee when no man pursueth; but the righteous are bold as a lion.

²By the transgression of a land many are the princes thereof; but by a man of understanding and of knowledge, its stability is prolonged.

³A poor man who oppresseth the helpless is a sweeping rain which leaveth no food.

⁴They that forsake the law praise the wicked; but such as keep the law contend with them.

⁵Evil men understand not judgment; but they that seek Jehovah understand everything.

⁶Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse, double in ways, though he be rich.

⁷Whoso observeth the law is a son that hath understanding; but he that is a companion of profligates bringeth shame to his father.

⁸He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance gathereth it for him that is gracious to the poor.

⁹He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰Whoso causeth the upright to go astray in an evil way, shall himself fall into his own pit; but the perfect shall inherit good.

¹¹A rich man is wise in his own eyes; but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.

¹²When the righteous triumph, there is great glory; but when the wicked rise, men conceal themselves.

¹³He that covereth his transgressions shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtain mercy.

¹⁴Happy is the man that feareth always; but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into evil.

¹⁵A roaring lion, and a ranging bear, is a wicked ruler over a poor people.

¹⁶The prince void of intelligence is also a great oppressor: he that hateth covetousness shall prolong his days.

¹⁷A man laden with the blood of any person, fleeth to the pit: let no man stay him.

¹⁸Whoso walketh in integrity shall be saved; but he that is perverted in his double ways, shall fall in one of them.

¹⁹He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread; but he that followeth the worthless shall have poverty enough.

²⁰A faithful man aboundeth with blessings; but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

²¹To have respect of persons is not good; but for a piece of bread will a man transgress.

²²He that hath an evil eye hasteth after wealth, and knoweth not that poverty shall come upon him.

²³He that rebuketh a man shall afterwards find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.

²⁴Whoso robbeth his father and his mother, and saith, It is no transgression, the same is the companion of a destroyer.

²⁵He that is puffed up in soul exciteth contention; but he that relieth upon Jehovah shall be made fat.

²⁶He that confideth in his own heart is a fool; but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

²⁷He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack; but he that withdraweth his eyes shall have many a curse.

²⁸When the wicked rise, men hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Chapter 29

¹He that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and without remedy.

²When the righteous increase, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

³Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; but he that is a companion of harlots destroyeth his substance.

⁴A king by just judgment establisheth the land; but he that taketh gifts overthroweth it.

⁵A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his steps.

⁶In the transgression of an evil man there is a snare; but the righteous shall sing and rejoice.

⁷The righteous taketh knowledge of the cause of the poor; the wicked understandeth not knowledge.

⁸Scornful men set the city in a flame; but the wise turn away anger.

⁹If a wise man contendeth with a fool, whether he rage or laugh, he hath no rest.

¹⁰The bloodthirsty hate the perfect, but the upright care for his soul.

¹¹A fool uttereth all his mind; but a wise man keepeth it back.

¹²If a ruler hearken to lying words, all his servants are wicked.

¹³The indigent and the oppressor meet together; Jehovah lighteneth the eyes of them both.

¹⁴A king that faithfully judgeth the poor, his throne shall be established for ever.

¹⁵The rod and reproof give wisdom; but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

¹⁶When the wicked increase, transgression increaseth; but the righteous shall see their fall.

¹⁷Chasten thy son, and he shall give thee rest, and shall give delight unto thy soul.

¹⁸Where there is no vision the people cast off restraint; but happy is he that keepeth the law.

¹⁹A servant is not corrected by words: he understandeth indeed, but he will not answer.

²⁰Hast thou seen a man hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

²¹He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child, shall in the end have him as a son.

²²An angry man exciteth contention; and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

²³A man’s pride bringeth him low; but the humble in spirit shall obtain honour.

²⁴Whoso shareth with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth the adjuration, and declareth not.

²⁵The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his confidence in Jehovah is protected.

²⁶Many seek the ruler’s face; but a man’s right judgment is from Jehovah.

²⁷An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous; and he that is of upright way is an abomination to the wicked man.

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