22 1 The slothful man is likea a filthy stoneb,

S cEvery one fleeth from the stench thereofc.

G 2 dA slothful man is likea the filth of a dunghilld,

He who etaketh it upe shaketh out his hand.

(f) 22:3–6. The shame and grief of evil children

(= 3 + 1 distichs).

3 [There is] shame to a father in eethe begetting ofee an uninstructed (son),

And a daughter is born to his loss.

4 fA prudent daughter ffis a treasureff gto her husbandg,

Butgg she that bringeth shame is a grief to him that begat herf.

5 She that is boldh bringeth shame on father and husbandi,

And she is despised of both.

6 Ask music in (time of) mourning, (so) is unseasonable talkl,

Butm stripes and correction are at all times wisdomn.

(g) 22:7–18. The Futility of the Fool

(= 2 + 3 + 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 2 distichs).

G 7 He who teacheth a fool is (as) one that glueth together a potsherdo,

(Or) asp one that awakeneth a sleeper out of a deep sleep.

8 qHe that discourseth to a foolqq is as one discoursing to him that slumberethq,

And at the end he saith, ‘What is it?’

11 Mourn for the dead, rfor hiss light hath failedr;

And mournt for a fool, for understanding hath failed (him).

uWeep gentlyv for the deadu, for he hath found rest;

wButx the life of a fool is yworse thany deathw.

12 The mourning for the dead (lasts) seven days,

But zthe mourning for a foolz all the days of his life.

13 Talk not much with a foolish man,

And consort not with a piga:

Beware of him, lest thou have trouble,

And thou becomest defiled bwhen he shaketh himselfb;

Turn from him, and thou wilt find rest,

And (so) shalt thou not be wearied with his follyc.

14 dWhat is heavier than leadd?

And what is its name but ‘Fool’?

15 Sand and salt and a weight of iron

(Are) easiere to bear than fa senseless manf.

16 Asg timber girt and fixed into the wallh

kIs not loosened by an earthquakek,

G So a heart established on well-advised counsel

lWill not be afraidl in timem [of danger].

17 mmA heart fixed on thoughtful understanding

Is as an ornament gravenn upono a polished wallmm.

18 pSmall stonesp lying upon a high place

Will not remain against the wind,

qSo will the fearsome heart (bent) on foolish imagination

Be unable to withstand any terrorq.

(h) 22:19–26. How Friendship is dissolved; the duty of a friend

(= 2 + 3 + 2[ + 1] + 2 distichs):

19 A wound rin the eye maketh tears to flow,

And a (heart)-woundr ssevereth friendships.

20 tHe that throweth a stone at birds scareth them away,

And he that reproachethu a friend dissolveth friendship.

21 Even if thou draw the sword against a friend,

Despair not, for there is va way outv;

22 Andw if thou open thyx mouth against a friend,

Fear not, for there is a (way of) reconciliation;

yBut reproach and arrogance, and betrayal of a secret, and a deceitful blow,—

In (face of) these every friend will departy.

23 Supportz thy neighbour in his poverty,

That in his prosperitya thou mayst rejoiceb;

Remain truec to him in the time of hisd affliction,

That thou mayst be heir with him in his inheritancee.

24 [eeBefore the fire is the smoke of the furnacef,

So revilings before bloodshed].ee

S 25 gBe not ashamed of a friend who becometh poorg,

G hAnd ihide not thyselfi from his faceh;

26 kFor kkif evil happen unto himl through theell k,

Whosoever heareth it will beware of theem.

(i) 22:27–23:6. The Need of Self-control

(= 2 + 4 + 1 + 2 distichs).

G 27 n oO that one would set a watch over my moutho,

And a seal of shrewdness upon my lips,

That I fall notp by means ofq themr,

And that my tongue destroy me nots!