1 A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone, and every one will hiss him out to his disgrace.
2 A slothful man is compared to the filth of a dunghill: every man that takes it up will shake his hand.
3 An evilnurtured man is the dishonour of his father that begat him: and a foolish daughter is born to his loss.
4 A wise daughter shall bring an inheritance to her husband: but she that liveth dishonestly is her father’s heaviness.
5 She that is bold dishonoureth both her father and her husband, but they both shall despise her.
6 A tale out of season is as musick in mourning: but stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
7 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together, and as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.
8 He that telleth a tale to a fool speaketh to one in a slumber: when he hath told his tale, he will say, What is the matter?
9 If children live honestly, and have wherewithal, they shall cover the baseness of their parents.
10 But children, being haughty, through disdain and want of nurture do stain the nobility of their kindred.
11 Weep for the dead, for he hath lost the light: and weep for the fool, for he wanteth understanding: make little weeping for the dead, for he is at rest: but the life of the fool is worse than death.
12 Seven days do men mourn for him that is dead; but for a fool and an ungodly man all the days of his life.
13 Talk not much with a fool, and go not to him that hath no understanding: beware of him, lest thou have trouble, and thou shalt never be defiled with his fooleries: depart from him, and thou shalt find rest, and never be disquieted with madness.
14 What is heavier than lead? and what is the name thereof, but a fool?
15 Sand, and salt, and a mass of iron, is easier to bear, than a man without understanding.
16 As timber girt and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking: so the heart that is stablished by advised counsel shall fear at no time.
17 A heart settled upon a thought of understanding is as a fair plaistering on the wall of a gallery.
18 Pales set on an high place will never stand against the wind: so a fearful heart in the imagination of a fool cannot stand against any fear.
19 He that pricketh the eye will make tears to fall: and he that pricketh the heart maketh it to shew her knowledge.
20 Whoso casteth a stone at the birds frayeth them away: and he that upbraideth his friend breaketh friendship.
21 Though thou drewest a sword at thy friend, yet despair not: for there may be a returning to favour .
22 If thou hast opened thy mouth against thy friend, fear not; for there may be a reconciliation: except for upbraiding, or pride, or disclosing of secrets, or a treacherous wound: for for these things every friend will depart.
23 Be faithful to thy neighbour in his poverty, that thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity: abide stedfast unto him in the time of his trouble, that thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage: for a mean estate is not always to be contemned: nor the rich that is foolish to be had in admiration.
24 As the vapour and smoke of a furnace goeth before the fire; so reviling before blood.
25 I will not be ashamed to defend a friend; neither will I hide myself from him.
26 And if any evil happen unto me by him, every one that heareth it will beware of him.
27 Who shall set a watch before my mouth, and a seal of wisdom upon my lips, that I fall not suddenly by them, and that my tongue destroy me not?
1 Noķēzītam akmenim līdzinās kūtrais,
kurš katrs to izsvilpj par tādu negodu;
2 čupiņai sūdu līdzinās kūtrais,
kurš to paceļ, skurina roku.
Bērni – vecāku gods un negods
3 Būt neaudzinātā tēvam ir kauns.
Neaudzināta meita ir zaudējums.
4 Saprātīga meita tiks pie vīra,
kauna darītāja vecākus skumdinās.
5 Gan tēvam pārgalvīgā dara kaunu, gan vīram,
ne tēvs tādu godās, ne vīrs.
6 Klāstīšana nelaikā – sēru laikā mūzika;
rīkstes un mācība – ikkatrā laikā gudrība.
7 Labi audzināti bērni, kam labi klājas,
kliedē vecāku necilību;
8 neaudzināti bērni, nicināti un iedomīgi,
aptraipa dzimtas locekļu dižciltību.
Izvairīšanās no muļķa sabiedrības
9 Muļķi mācīt – māla trauku līmēt,
no dziļa miega celt aizmigušo;
10 muļķim klāstīt – snauduļojošam stāstīt,
beigās apjautājas: “Kas ir?”
11 Raudi par mirušo, tam gaisma aptumsusi;
raudi par muļķi – prāts aptumšojies.
Tik rūgti neraudi par mirušo! Tas atpūšas.
Par nāvi ļaunāks muļķa mūžs.
12 Par mirušo sēras ir septiņas dienas,
par muļķi un bezdievīgo – visas viņa mūža dienas.
13 Ar nelgu neielaidies sarunās un neej pie nejēgas,
jo savā trulumā viņš nonievās visu tavējo;
no tāda izvairies, lai neiekultos nepatikšanās:
sprauslājot viņš tevi notašķīs.
No tāda attālinies un varēsi atelpot,
un nebūs jānogurst no viņa stulbuma.
14 Kas ir smagāks par svinu?
Muļķis – kā citādi saukt?
15 Smilts, sāls, dzelzs klucis
panesams vieglāk par nejēgu.
Apņēmība un padoms
16 Kā, uznākot zemestrīcei,
nelūzīs iebūvēts koka spraislis,
tā vajadzīgajā brīdī nebaiļosies sirds,
balstījusies prātīgā padomā.
17 Apņēmība, kurai pamatā – izprasta doma,
ir kā apmetums, kas gludu sienu rotā;
18 kā pret vēju augstienēs nenoturēsies mieti,
tā gļēva sirds muļķīgās iedomās nenoturēsies pret bailēm.
Draudzības saglabāšana
19 Aci bakstot, izsprāgst asaras,
sirdi skarot, izlaužas jūtas;
20 putnus padzen, metot ar akmeni,
mētājoties ar apvainojumiem, satriec draudzību.
21 Ja esi izvilcis zobenu pret draugu,
neļaujies izmisumam: ir atpakaļceļš;
22 ja esi vēris muti pret draugu,
nebaiļojies: ir izlīgšana,
ja vien nav izteikti apvainojumi,
nav bijusi uzpūtība,
nav izpausti noslēpumi,
nav rīcībā nodevības,
ikviens draugs šādos gadījumos bēgs.
23 Iemanto tuvākā uzticību, viņam vēl nabagam esot,
lai kopā baudītu labklājību, kad viņam tā būs;
nepamet viņu, uznākot grūtībām,
lai, viņam saņemot mantojumu, mantotu arī tu,
jo cilvēks stāvokļa dēļ nekad nav nicināms
un bagāts nejēga apbrīnu nepelna.
24 Pirms uguns – tvaiks un dūmi no ēzes,
pirms asinīm – pulgošana.
25 Es nekaunēšos dot pajumti draugam,
es neslēpšos viņa vaiga,
26 bet, ja ar viņa ziņu man atgadīsies kas ļauns,
no viņa vairīsies ikviens, kas to būs dzirdējis.
Savaldība un godprātība
27 Kas manai mutei nozīmēs sardzi,
prasmīgi aizzīmogos man lūpas,
lai mēles dēļ es nepakristu
un tā neaizrautu mani bojā?
