Warnings and Instructions
1 Do not boast about tomorrow,
For you do not know what a day may bring.
2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
A stranger, and not your own lips.
3 Stone is heavy and the sand weighty,
But a fool’s [unreasonable] wrath is heavierandmore burdensome than both of them.
4 Wrath is cruel and anger is an overwhelming flood,
But who is able to endureandstand before [the sin of] jealousy?
5 Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]
Than love that is hidden.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern],
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda].
7 He who is satisfied loathes honey,
But to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.
8 Like a bird that wanders from her nest [with its comfort and safety],
So is a man who wanders from his home.
9 Oil and perfume make the heart glad;
So does the sweetness of a friend’s counsel that comes from the heart.
10 Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.
11 My son, be wise, and make my heart glad,
That I may reply to him who reproaches (reprimands, criticizes) me.
12 A prudent man sees evil and hides himselfandavoids it,
But the naive [who are easily misled] continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].
13 [The judge tells the creditor,] “Take the garment of one who is surety (guarantees a loan) for a stranger;
And hold him in pledge when he is surety for an immoral woman [for it is unlikely the debt will be repaid].”
14 He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning,
It will be counted as a curse to him [for it will either be annoying or his purpose will be suspect].
15 A constant dripping on a day of steady rain
And a contentious (quarrelsome) woman are alike;
16 Whoever attempts to restrain her [criticism] might as well try to stop the wind,
And grasps oil with his right hand.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
So one man sharpens [and influences] another [through discussion].
18 He who tends the fig tree will eat its fruit,
And he who faithfully protectsandcares for his master will be honored.
19 As in water facereflectsface,
So the heart of man reflects man.
20 Sheol (the place of the dead) and Abaddon (the underworld) are never satisfied;
Nor are the eyes of man ever satisfied.
21 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal],
And each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud].
22 Even though you pound a [hardened, arrogant] fool [who rejects wisdom] in a mortar with a pestle like grain,
Yet his foolishness will not leave him.
23 Be diligent to know the condition of your flocks,
And pay attention to your herds;
24 For riches are not forever,
Nor does a crownendureto all generations.
25 When the grass is gone, the new growth is seen,
And herbs of the mountain are gathered in,
26 The lambs willsupply woolfor your clothing,
And the goats will bring the price of a field.
27 Andthere will beenough goats’ milk for your food,
For the food of your household,
And for the maintenance of your maids.