271 Boast not thyself of to-morrow, For thou knowest not what a day bringeth forth.

2 Let another praise thee, and not thine own mouth, A stranger, and not thine own lips.

3 A stone 'is' heavy, and the sand 'is' heavy, And the anger of a fool Is heavier than they both. 4 Fury 'is' fierce, and anger 'is' overflowing, And who standeth before jealousy?

5 Better 'is' open reproof than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a lover, And abundant the kisses of an enemy.

7 A satiated soul treadeth down a honeycomb, And 'to' a hungry soul every bitter thing 'is' sweet.

8 As a bird wandering from her nest, So 'is' a man wandering from his place.

9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, And the sweetness of one's friend—from counsel of the soul. 10 Thine own friend, and the friend of thy father, forsake not, And the house of thy brother enter not In a day of thy calamity, Better 'is' a near neighbour than a brother afar off.

11 Be wise, my son, and rejoice my heart. And I return my reproacher a word.

12 The prudent hath seen the evil, he is hidden, The simple have passed on, they are punished.

13 Take his garment, when a stranger hath been surety, And for a strange woman pledge it.

14 Whoso is saluting his friend with a loud voice, In the morning rising early, A light thing it is reckoned to him.

15 A continual dropping in a day of rain, And a woman of contentions are alike, 16 Whoso is hiding her hath hidden the wind, And the ointment of his right hand calleth out.

17 Iron by iron is sharpened, And a man sharpens the face of his friend.

18 The keeper of a fig-tree eateth its fruit, And the preserver of his master is honoured.

19 As 'in' water the face 'is' to face, So the heart of man to man.

20 Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, And the eyes of man are not satisfied.

21 A refining pot 'is' for silver, and a furnace for gold, And a man according to his praise.

22 If thou dost beat the foolish in a mortar, Among washed things—with a pestle, His folly turneth not aside from off him.

23 Know well the face of thy flock, Set thy heart to the droves, 24 For riches 'are' not to the age, Nor a crown to generation and generation. 25 Revealed was the hay, and seen the tender grass, And gathered the herbs of mountains. 26 Lambs 'are' for thy clothing, And the price of the field 'are' he-goats, 27 And a sufficiency of goats' milk 'is' for thy bread, For bread to thy house, and life to thy damsels!

The Wicked and the Righteous

281 The wicked have fled and there is no pursuer. And the righteous as a young lion is confident.

2 By the transgression of a land many 'are' its heads. And by an intelligent man, Who knoweth right—it is prolonged.

3 A man—poor and oppressing the weak, 'Is' a sweeping rain, and there is no bread.

4 Those forsaking the law praise the wicked, Those keeping the law plead against them.

5 Evil men understand not judgment, And those seeking Jehovah understand all.

6 Better 'is' the poor walking in his integrity, Than the perverse of ways who is rich.

7 Whoso is keeping the law is an intelligent son, And a friend of gluttons, Doth cause his father to blush.

8 Whoso is multiplying his wealth by biting and usury, For one favouring the poor doth gather it.

9 Whoso is turning his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer 'is' an abomination.

10 Whoso is causing the upright to err in an evil way, Into his own pit he doth fall, And the perfect do inherit good.

11 A rich man is wise in his own eyes, And the intelligent poor searcheth him.

12 In the exulting of the righteous the glory 'is' abundant, And in the rising of the wicked man is apprehensive.

13 Whoso is covering his transgressions prospereth not, And he who is confessing and forsaking hath mercy.

14 O the happiness of a man fearing continually, And whoso is hardening his heart falleth into evil.

15 A growling lion, and a ranging bear, 'Is' the wicked ruler over a poor people.

16 A leader lacking understanding multiplieth oppressions, Whoso is hating dishonest gain prolongeth days.

17 A man oppressed with the blood of a soul, Unto the pit fleeth, none taketh hold on him.

18 Whoso is walking uprightly is saved, And the perverted of ways falleth at once.

19 Whoso is tilling his ground is satisfied 'with' bread, And whoso is pursuing vanity, Is filled 'with' poverty.

20 A stedfast man hath multiplied blessings, And whoso is hasting to be rich is not acquitted.

21 To discern faces is not good, And for a piece of bread doth a man transgress.

22 Troubled for wealth 'is' the man 'with' an evil eye, And he knoweth not that want doth meet him.

23 Whoso is reproving a man afterwards findeth grace, More than a flatterer with the tongue.

24 Whoso is robbing his father, or his mother, And is saying, 'It is not transgression,' A companion he is to a destroyer.

25 Whoso is proud in soul stirreth up contention, And whoso is trusting on Jehovah is made fat.

26 Whoso is trusting in his heart is a fool, And whoso is walking in wisdom is delivered.

27 Whoso is giving to the poor hath no lack, And whoso is hiding his eyes multiplied curses.

28 In the rising of the wicked a man is hidden, And in their destruction the righteous multiply!

291 A man often reproved, hardening the neck, Is suddenly broken, and there is no healing.

2 In the multiplying of the righteous the people rejoice, And in the ruling of the wicked the people sigh.

3 A man loving wisdom rejoiceth his father, And a friend of harlots destroyeth wealth.

4 A king by judgment establisheth a land, And one receiving gifts throweth it down.

5 A man taking a portion above his neighbour, Spreadeth a net for his own steps.

6 In the transgression of the evil 'is' a snare, And the righteous doth sing and rejoice.

7 The righteous knoweth the plea of the poor, The wicked understandeth not knowledge.

8 Men of scorning ensnare a city, And the wise turn back anger.

9 A wise man is judged by the foolish man, And he hath been angry, And he hath laughed, and there is no rest.

10 Men of blood hate the perfect, And the upright seek his soul.

11 A fool bringeth out all his mind, And the wise till afterwards restraineth it.

12 A ruler who is attending to lying words, All his ministers 'are' wicked.

13 The poor and the man of frauds have met together, Jehovah is enlightening the eyes of them both.

14 a king that is judging truly the poor, His throne for ever is established.

15 A rod and reproof give wisdom, And a youth let away is shaming his mother.

16 In the multiplying of the wicked transgression multiplieth, And the righteous on their fall do look.

17 Chastise thy son, and he giveth thee comfort, Yea, he giveth delights to thy soul.

18 Without a Vision is a people made naked, And whoso is keeping the law, O his happiness!

19 By words a servant is not instructed though he understand, And there is nothing answering.

20 Thou hast seen a man hasty in his words! More hope of a fool than of him.

21 Whoso is bringing up his servant delicately, from youth, 'At' his latter end also he is continuator.

22 An angry man stirreth up contention, And a furious man is multiplying transgression.

23 The pride of man humbleth him, And humility of spirit upholdeth honour.

24 Whoso is sharing with a thief is hating his own soul, Execration he heareth, and telleth not.

25 Fear of man causeth a snare, And the confident in Jehovah is set on high.

26 Many are seeking the face of a ruler, And from Jehovah 'is' the judgment of each.

27 An abomination to the righteous 'is' the perverse man, And an abomination to the wicked 'is' the upright in the way!