27 Don’t brag about tomorrow.

You don’t know what a day will bring.

2 Let another person praise you, and not your own mouth.

Let someone else praise you, and not your own lips.

3 Stones are heavy. Sand weighs a lot.

But letting a foolish person make you angry is a heavier load than both of them.

4 Anger is mean. Great anger overpowers you.

But who can face jealousy?

5 Being warned openly is better

than being loved in secret.

6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted.

But an enemy kisses you many times.

7 When you are full, you even hate honey.

When you are hungry, even what is bitter tastes sweet.

8 A man who wanders away from his home

is like a bird that wanders from its nest.

9 Perfume and incense bring joy to your heart.

And a friend is sweeter when he gives you honest advice.

10 Don’t desert your friend or your father’s friend.

And don’t go to your family when trouble strikes you.

A neighbor nearby is better than a family member far away.

11 My child, be wise and bring joy to my heart.

Then I can answer anyone who makes fun of me.

12 Wise people see danger and go to a safe place.

But childish people keep on going and suffer for it.

13 Take the coat of one who puts up money for what a stranger owes.

Hold it until you get paid back if he does it for a woman who commits adultery.

14 Suppose you loudly bless your neighbor early in the morning.

Then you might as well be calling down a curse on him.

15 A nagging wife is like

dripping that never stops on a rainy day.

16 Stopping her is like trying to stop the wind.

It’s like trying to grab oil with your hand.

17 As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.

18 A person who takes good care of a fig tree will eat its fruit.

And a person who looks after his master will be honored.

19 When you look into water, you see a likeness of your face.

When you look into your heart, you see what you are really like.

20 Death and the Grave are never satisfied.

A man’s eyes are never satisfied either.

21 Fire tests silver. Heat tests gold.

But a man is tested by the praise he receives.

22 You can grind a foolish person in a mill.

You can grind him as you would grind grain with a tool.

But you can’t remove his foolishness from him.

23 Be sure you know how your flocks are doing.

Pay careful attention to your herds.

24 Riches don’t last forever.

And a crown is not secure for all time to come.

25 The hay is removed, and new growth appears.

The grass from the hills is gathered in.

26 Then your lambs will provide you with clothes.

And the money from selling your goats will buy you a field.

27 You will have plenty of goats’ milk.

It will feed you and your family.

It will also feed your female servants.