–19–
1 Don't be jealous of crooks
or want to be their friends.
2 All they think about
and talk about
is violence and cruelty.
–20–
3 Use wisdom and understanding
to establish your home;
4 let good sense fill the rooms
with priceless treasures.
–21–
5 Wisdom brings strength,
and knowledge gives power.
6 Battles are won
by listening to advice
and making a lot of plans.
–22–
7 Wisdom is too much for fools!
Their advice is no good.
–23–
8 No one but troublemakers
think up trouble.
9 Everyone hates senseless fools
who think up ways to sin.
–24–
10 Don't give up and be helpless
in times of trouble.
–25–
11 Don't fail to rescue those
who are doomed to die.
12 Don't say, “I didn't know it!”
God can read your mind.
He watches each of us
and knows our thoughts.
And God will pay us back
for what we do.
–26–
13 Honey is good for you,
my children,
and it tastes sweet.
14 Wisdom is like honey
for your life—
if you find it,
your future is bright.
–27–
15 Don't be a cruel person
who attacks good people
and hurts their families.
16 Even if good people
fall seven times,
they will get back up.
But when trouble strikes
the wicked,
that's the end of them.
–28–
17 Don't be happy
to see your enemies trip
and fall down.
18 The Lord will find out
and be unhappy.
Then he will stop
being angry with them.
–29–
19 Don't let evil people
worry you
or make you jealous.
20 They will soon be gone
like the flame of a lamp
that burns out.
–30–
21 My children, you must respect
the Lord and the king,
and you must not make friends
with anyone who rebels
against either of them.
22 Who knows what sudden disaster
the Lord or a ruler
might bring?
More Sayings That Make Good Sense
23 Here are some more sayings
that make good sense:
When you judge,
you must be fair.
24 If you let the guilty
go free,
people of all nations
will hate and curse you.
25 But if you punish the guilty,
things will go well for you,
and you will prosper.
26 Giving an honest answer
is a sign
of true friendship.
27 Get your fields ready
and plant your crops
before starting a home.
28 Don't accuse anyone
who isn't guilty.
Don't ever tell a lie
29 or say to someone,
“I'll get even with you!”
30 I once walked by the field
and the vineyard
of a lazy fool.
31 Thorns and weeds
were everywhere,
and the stone wall
had fallen down.
32 When I saw this,
it taught me a lesson:
33 Sleep a little. Doze a little.
Fold your hands
and twiddle your thumbs.
34 Suddenly poverty hits you
and everything is gone!
1 Neapskaud ļaundarus,
nealksti būt ar viņiem,
2 jo viņu sirds perina varmācību
un viņu lūpas nes postu!
3 Kam gudrība, tas uzceļ namu,
kam saprašana, tas to nostiprina,
4 kam zināšana, tam istabas pilnas
dārgām un tīkamām mantām!
5 Gudrs vīram ir spēks,
un zinātājs stiprāks par spēkoni,
6 jo karā vajag gudras ziņas,
ir uzvara tur, kur netrūkst padomdevēju!
7 Par augstu muļķim līdz gudrībai –
pilsētas vārtos šim mute neveras!
8 Kas gudro uz ļaunu,
tam vārdā – viltusvērpējs!
9 Muļķīgo stiķi – grēks,
ļaužu dzimumam riebj mēdītāji!
10 Palaidies tik posta dienā –
cauri būs tavs spēks!
11 Izglāb tos, kurus ved nāvē,
kas velkas uz kaušanu, tos izrauj!
12 Ja teiksi: mēs taču nezinājām! –
vai tas, kurš vērtē sirdis, nemanīs?
Tas, kurš uzrauga tavu dvēseli, zinās,
viņš dos katram pēc nopelniem!
13 Ēd, dēls, medu, jo tas ir labs,
medus kāres ir saldas tavām aukslējām –
14 tāpat gudrība tavai dvēselei,
ja to atradīsi, tev būs nākotne
un tava cerība nezudīs!
15 Neuzglūni kā ļaundaris taisnā miteklim,
negrasies postīt viņa mājokli,
16 jo septiņreiz kritīs taisnais un celsies,
bet ļaundarus gāzīs posts!
17 Ja tavs naidnieks krīt, tad nepriecājies,
ja viņš klūp, lai tev nelīksmo sirds, –
18 ka Kungs neierauga, jo viņam nepatiks
un viņš atraus tam savas dusmas!
19 Nepukojies nekrietnā dēļ,
neapskaud ļaundarus,
20 jo nebūs nākotnes nekrietnajiem,
ļaundaru gaismeklis dzisīs!
21 Bijā Kungu, mans dēls, un ķēniņu –
pret šiem diviem tu nesacelies –
22 jo pēkšņi var nelaime nākt no tiem,
posts no abiem – vai tad ne?!
Gudro izteicieni
23 Arī tā teikuši gudrie:
dot priekšroku tiesā nav labi!
24 Kas ļaundarim saka: tu taisns! –
to tautas nolādēs un ciltis nīdīs,
25 bet, kas šo norāj, tam jauki iet –
nāk pār tādiem dāsna svētība!
26 Taisni vārdi – kā skūpsts uz lūpām!
27 Padari ārā savus darbus,
nostrādā godam, kas laukā veicams, –
tad nāc un cel sev namu!
28 Neej pret kaimiņu liecināt tukšu –
vai tad gribi saukties par mēlnesi?
29 Nesaki: kā viņš man, tā es viņam!
Tam atdarīšu, ko viņš man! –
30 Gar sliņķa lauku es gāju
un gar bezprāša vīnadārzu –
31 redzi, viss aizaudzis dzelkšņiem,
no vienas vietas klāts dadžiem,
sabrukusi akmens sēta.
32 Un es raudzījos un ņēmu vērā,
es skatījos un guvu mācību:
33 mazliet nomiega, mazliet snaudas,
mazliet saņemt rokas un atlaisties –
34 un jau piestaigā trūkums pie tevis
un nabadzība kā varmāka!
