- Boast not of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what the next day
shall bring forth.
- Let thy neighbour, and not thine own mouth, praise thee; a
stranger, and not thine own lips.
- A stone is heavy, and sand cumbersome; but a fool's wrath is
heavier than both.
- Wrath is mercileses, and anger sharp: but envy can bear nothing.
- Open reproofs are better than secret love.
- The wounds of a friend are more to be trusted than the spontaneous
kisses of an enemy.
- A full soul scorns honeycombs; but to a hungry soul even bitter
things appear sweet.
- As when a bird flies down from its own nest, so a man is brought
into bondage whenever he estranges himself from his own place.
- The heart delights in ointments and wines and perfumes: but the
soul is broken by calamities.
- Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; and when
thou art in distress go not into thy brother's house: better is a
friend that is near than a brother living far off.
- Son, be wise, that thy heart may rejoice; and remove thou from
thyself reproachful words.
- A wise man, when evils are approaching, hides himself; but fools
pass on, and will be punished.
- Take away the man's garment, (for a scorner has passed by) whoever
lays waste another's goods.
- Whosoever shall bless a friend in the morning with a loud voice,
shall seem to differ nothing from one who curses him.
- On a stormy day drops of rain drive a man out of his
house; so also does a railing woman drive a man out of his
own house.
- The north wind is sharp, but it is called by name propitious.
- Iron sharpens iron; and a man sharpens his friend's
countenance.
- He that plants a fig-tree shall eat the fruits of it: so he that
waits on his own master shall be honoured.
- As faces are not like other faces, so neither are the
thoughts of men.
- Hell and destruction are not filled; so also are the eyes of men
insatiable. [[a] He that fixes his eye is
an abomination to the Lord; and the uninstructed do not restrain their
tongue.]
- Fire is the trial for silver and gold; and a man is tried
by the mouth of them that praise him. The heart of the transgressor
seeks after mischiefs; but an upright heart seeks knowledge.
- Though thou scourge a fool, disgracing him in the midst of the
council, thou wilt still in no wise remove his folly from
him.
- Do thou thoroughly know the number of thy flock, and pay attention
to thine herds.
- For a man has not strength and power for ever; neither
does he transmit it from generation to generation.
- Take care of the herbage in the field, and thou shalt cut grass,
and gather the mountain hay;
- that thou mayest have wool of sheep for clothing: pay
attention to the land, that thou mayest have lambs.
- My son, thou hast from me words very useful for thy life,
and for the life of thy servants.
[a] Heb. omits to ver. 21.
[English translation of the Septuagint by Sir Lancelot Charles Lee
Brenton (1807-1862) originally published by Samuel Bagster & Sons,
Ltd., London, 1851]