False Friends
1 Anyone can claim to be your friend, but some people are friends in name only. 2 The grief caused when a close friendship turns sour is as bad as death. 3 This evil impulse we have! Why was it ever formed? How did it manage to cover the earth with deceit? 4 Some people will be your friend as long as things are going well, but they will turn against you when trouble comes. 5 A real friend will help you against your enemies and protect you in the fight. 6 Never forget such companions in battle; share the results of your victory with them.
Caution in Taking Advice
7 Anyone can give advice, but some people do so only in their own interest. 8 Be careful when somebody offers you advice. Find out first what his interest in the matter is, because you can be sure that he is thinking primarily of himself. Why should he come out on top instead of you? 9 He will assure you that things look good, and then stand back to watch what happens to you.
10 Don't ask advice of anyone who doesn't trust you, and don't give advice to anyone who is jealous of you.
11 Don't ask a woman for advice about a rival of hers,
a coward about war,
a merchant about a bargain,
a buyer about selling,
a stingy person about gratitude,
a cruel person about kindness,
a lazy person about work,
a casual worker about finishing a job,
a lazy slave about a difficult task.
Pay no attention to any advice they may give.
12 Instead, rely on someone who is religious and known to keep the Lord's commands, someone who is sympathetic with you, who will be sorry to see you fail. 13 And trust your own judgment; no one's advice is more reliable. 14 Sometimes your own intuition can tell you more than seven watchmen on a high tower. 15 Above all, pray to the Most High that he will show you the right thing to do.
Wisdom and Confidence
16 Planning and thought lie behind everything that is done. 17-18 The mind concerns itself with four things: these are good and evil, life and death. They all begin in the mind, but the tongue is their absolute ruler.
19 Someone may have the ability to teach, but still not be of much use to himself. 20 He may be clever with words, but end up starving because people hate him. 21 This may happen if he doesn't have good sense, if the Lord has not given him tact. 22 Someone may consider himself wise and let you know that he is certain about what he knows. 23 Anyone who really is wise will be the teacher of his people, and they can be certain that what he teaches is the truth. 24 Everyone will praise such a person and speak of him as fortunate. 25 A person's life has only a limited number of days, but the life of Israel cannot be measured in days at all. 26 The wise will win the confidence of others, and will be remembered forever.
Controlling the Appetite
27 My child, as you go through life, keep your appetite under control, and don't eat anything that you know is bad for you. 28 All food doesn't agree with everyone, and everyone doesn't like the same kinds of food. 29 Don't feel that you just have to have all sorts of fancy food, and don't be a glutton over any food. 30 If you eat too much, you'll get sick; if you do it all the time, you'll always have stomach trouble. 31 Gluttony has been the death of many people. Avoid it and live longer.
Draugu izvēle
1 Ikviens draugs saka: “Es taču arī esmu draugs!” –
bet dažs labs tikai vārda pēc ir draugs.
2 Vai tad nav skumji, nāvīgi skumji, ja biedrs
un draugs pārvēršas par naidnieku?
3 Ak, nekrietnā doma, no kurienes radusies –
applūdināt sauszemi ar viltu!
4 Ir biedrs, kas, draugam līksmojoties, priecājas,
bet nostājas pret viņu, kad uznāk grūtības;
5 ir biedrs, kas sastrādājas ar draugu vēdera dēļ,
bet, kaujai tuvojoties, vairogu tver.
6 Atceries draugu sirdī,
bet, bagāts kļuvis, viņu neaizmirsti!
Padomdevēju izvēle
7 Padomu slavē katrs padomdevējs,
bet ir arī tāds, kas dod padomu savā labā.
8 No padomdevēja uzmanies!
Jau iepriekš zini, kas tam vajadzīgs,
jo arī viņš dos padomu savā labā,
lai tu neizrādītos likme, tam kauliņus metot
9 un apgalvojot, ka esi uz pareizā ceļa.
Iztālēm stāvot, viņš noskatīsies:
kas tad ar tevi atgadīsies.
10 Neapspriedies ar tiem,
kuri raugās uz tevi ar aizdomām!
Neatklāj savus nodomus tiem,
kuri ir greizsirdīgi uz tevi:
11 nedz sievietei – par viņas sāncensi,
nedz gļēvajam – par karu,
nedz tirgotājam – par maiņu,
nedz tirdziniekam – par pārdošanu,
nedz nenovīdīgajam – par pateicību,
nedz nepateicīgajam – par labestību,
nedz svārstīgajam – par kādu darbu,
nedz līgtajam uz gadu – par līguma izbeigšanu,
nedz laiskam kalpam – par daudzajiem darbiem!
Nevienam no tiem neprasi padomu!
12 Turpretī uzturi attiecības ar dievbijīgu vīru,
kuru zini ievērojam baušļus,
kurš ir tāds pats kā tu savā sirdī,
kurš jutīs tev līdzi, ja solis tev aizmetīsies;
13 kā arī augstu vērtē padomu, ko dod tava sirds!
Ne uz ko citu tu taču nevari tik ļoti paļauties,
14 jo dvēsele cilvēkam nereti vēsta vairāk
nekā sargtornī septiņi vērotāji.
15 Turklāt vēl pie visa minētā – lūdz Visuaugstāko,
lai viņš tevi vada pa patiesības ceļiem.
Ārēja izveicība un patiesa gudrība
16 Ik darba pamatā – vārds,
ik rīcības pamatā – nodoms.
17 Pārvērtības sirdī atspoguļojas,
sakuplodamas četros zaros:
18 labajā, ļaunajā, dzīvībā un nāvē,
un visu četru valdītāja pastāvīgi ir mēle.
19 Gadās cilvēks, kas ir izveicīgs, daudziem skolotājs, bet attiecībās pats ar sevi – pagalam nederīgs.
20 Gadās tāds, kas vārdos tēlo gudro, bet nav ieredzēts:
tas paliks bez jebkādas iztikas,
21 jo no Kunga nav saņēmis žēlastību,
un tādēļ tam trūkst jebkādas gudrības.
22 Tam, kas attiecībās pats ar sevi ir gudrs,
uz lūpām ir paša izprastais,
uz viņa izpratnes augļiem var paļauties.
23 Pats savu tautu māca gudrs vīrs,
uz viņa izpratnes augļiem var paļauties.
24 Gudru vīru cildina pārpārēm;
kas viņu redz, teic svētlaimīgu.
25 Cilvēka mūžu skaita dienām,
turpretī Israēla dienām nav skaita.
26 Savā tautā gudrais iemantos uzticību,
un viņa vārds dzīvos mūžam.
Atturība un sāts
27 Pārbaudi pats savu dzīvi, bērns!
Ievēro, kas tev nenāk par labu, un izvairies pats no tā,
28 jo ne viss visiem der
un ne visiem viss tīk.
29 Neesi nesātīgs visu izbaudīt,
neesi negausīgs ēdienos,
30 jo no pārliecīgas ēšanas izraisās slimības
un no nesātības – līdz vēmienam šķebina.
31 No alkatības daudzi ņēmuši galu.
Kas izsargājas no tās, dara garāku savu mūžu.
