1 Labāk sauss kumoss ar rimtumu
nekā upurdzīres ar ķildu.
2 Prātīgs vergs valdīs pār necienīgu dēlu
un ar tā brāļiem dalīs mantojumu.
3 Tīģelis – sudrabam un krāsns – zeltam,
bet sirdis pārbauda Kungs.
4 Ļaundaris ieklausās posta runās,
un melis klausās nelaimes valodās.
5 Kas nabagu izsmej, tas pulgo viņa Radītāju,
kas līksmo par nelaimi, netiks attaisnots.
6 Vecuma vainags – mazdēli,
un dēlu godība – viņu tēvi.
7 Nepiedien nelgam augstas runas,
nedz augstmanim sīki meli.
8 Kukulis devējam kā burvju akmens –
griezies, kur gribi, viss izdosies!
9 Kas nepiemin vainu, tas iemanto mīlestību,
kas neliekas mierā, tas zaudē draugu.
10 Saprātīgam bāriens kož dziļāk
nekā muļķim simtreiz ar pletni.
11 Ļaundaris domā tik uz dumpi,
bet tam uzsūtīs negantu soģi!
12 Labāk sastapt lāceni, kam atņemti bērni,
nekā muļķi viņa muļķībā!
13 Ja kāds atdara labu ar ļaunu,
ļaunums neatstāsies no viņa nama!
14 Kā ūdeni palaist, ir strīdu sākt –
pirms ķilda vaļā, aizdari slūžas!
15 Kas ļaundari attaisno, kas taisno nopeļ –
riebj Kungam tie abi!
16 Ko līdz nauda muļķa rokā,
ka pirktu gudrību – bet prāta nav!
17 Draugs vienmēr mīl draugu,
bet brālis tev dots posta dienai.
18 Vīrs bez prāta, kas līgst un galvo,
un dod ķīlu par savu kaimiņu!
19 Tas grēku mīl, kas mīl ķildu!
Kas slej augstas durvis, grauj savu namu!
20 Kam greiza sirds, tam neredzēt laba,
kam viltus mēle, tas iekritīs nelaimē.
21 Kas muļķi dzemdina – tik sev par likstu,
un neba priecīgs, kam dēls nejēga!
22 Līksma sirds dziedina,
sirdssāpes kaltē kaulus.
23 Ļaundaris velk no azotes kukuli –
ka tik sagrozīt tiesas gaitu!
24 Saprātīgam gudrība acu priekšā,
bet muļķa acis pasaules malā!
25 Tēvam par sāpēm dēls muļķis,
par sūrumu tai, kas šo dzemdējusi!
26 Taisno sodīt – pat tas nav labi,
šaustīt cildenos – gauža nelietība!
27 Kas prot muti turēt, tas kaut ko jau zina,
kam vēss prāts, tas sapratis!
28 Pat muļķis šķiet prātīgs, kamēr klusē,
kamēr lūpas šim ciet, liekas gudrs!
Our Thoughts Are Tested by the Lord
1 A dry crust of bread eaten
in peace and quiet
is better than a feast eaten
where everyone argues.
2 A wise slave
will be placed in charge
of a no-good child,
and that slave will be given
the same inheritance
that each child receives.
3 Silver and gold are tested
by flames of fire;
our thoughts are tested
by the Lord.
4 Troublemakers listen
to troublemakers,
and liars listen to liars.
5 By insulting the poor,
you insult your Creator.
You will be punished
if you make fun
of someone in trouble.
6 Grandparents are proud
of their grandchildren,
and children should be proud
of their parents.
7 It sounds strange for a fool
to talk sensibly,
but it's even worse
for a ruler to tell lies.
8 A bribe works miracles
like a magic charm
that brings good luck.
9 You will keep your friends
if you forgive them,
but you will lose your friends
if you keep talking about
what they did wrong.
10 A sensible person
accepts correction,
but you can't beat sense
into a fool.
11 Cruel people want to rebel,
and so vicious attackers
will be sent against them.
12 A bear robbed of her cubs
is far less dangerous
than a stubborn fool.
13 You will always have trouble
if you are mean to those
who are good to you.
14 The start of an argument
is like a water leak—
so stop it before
real trouble breaks out.
15 The Lord doesn't like those
who defend the guilty
or condemn the innocent.
16 Why should fools have money
for an education
when they refuse to learn?
17 A friend is there to help,
in any situation,
and relatives are born
to share our troubles.
18 It's stupid to guarantee
someone else's loan.
19 The wicked and the proud
love trouble and keep begging
to be hurt.
20 Dishonesty does you no good,
and telling lies
will get you in trouble.
21 It's never pleasant
to be the parent of a fool
and have nothing but pain.
22 If you are cheerful,
you feel good;
if you are sad,
you hurt all over.
23 Crooks accept secret bribes
to keep justice
from being done.
24 Anyone with wisdom knows
what makes good sense,
but fools can never
make up their minds.
25 Foolish children bring sorrow
and pain to their parents.
26 It isn't fair
to punish the innocent
and those who do right.
27 It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
and to stay calm.
28 Even fools seem smart
when they are quiet.
