1 Vīns ir mēdītājs, brāga trakule –
kas uz tiem meties, nav gudrs!
2 Kā lauvas rūkšana ķēniņa niknums –
kas šo ērcina, paspēlē dzīvību!
3 Gods tam, kurš izvairās ķildas,
bet muļķis – rauj tik vaļā!
4 Rudenī sliņķis near –
vasarā lūko, bet nekā!
5 Cilvēka nolūki – dziļš ūdens,
bet sapratējs zina, kā pasmelt.
6 Daudzi saukā: es – uzticīgs! –
bet atrodi vienu, uz ko var paļauties!
7 Taisns vīrs pie krietnuma turas –
paliek svētība arī viņa dēliem!
8 Kad ķēniņš apsēžas tiesas krēslā,
acīm vien atsijā ļaunos no labiem.
9 Kurš var sacīt: es sirdī šķīsts,
es tīrs no sava grēka?!
10 Divēji atsvari, divējs mērs –
riebj Kungam šīs lietas!
11 Jau no zēna var noskatīt,
vai būs šķīsts sirdī un taisns darbos.
12 Dzirdīgu ausi un redzīgu aci –
Kungs ir radījis tās abas.
13 Nemīli miegu, ka netiec nabags,
turi acis vaļā, ka staigā sāts!
14 Nekur neder! – tā pircējs saka,
kā prom – sāk ar pirkumu lielīties!
15 Ir zelts, ir daudz pērļu,
bet dārgākā rota – gudra runa!
16 Kas galvo par svešu – ņem tam viņa mēteli!
Kas galvo par ceļavīru – tam atņem visu!
17 Garda cilvēkam melu maize –
vēlāk tam mute pilna zvirgzdu!
18 Pirms ko ieprāto, prasi pēc padoma,
pirms ej ar karu, izprāto visu!
19 Kas staigā tenkodams – izmuld noslēpumu!
Kam mute plata – ar tādu nepinies!
20 Kas lād tēvu un māti,
tā lākturis dzisīs tumsas stundā.
21 Nāk mantojums itin viegli,
vēlāk skaties – svētības nav!
22 Nesaki: es atriebšu ļaunu! –
gaidi uz Kungu, viņš tevi glābs.
23 Kungam riebj divēji atsvari,
un viltoti svari nekur neder.
24 Vīrs staigā, kur Kungs liek,
kā lai cilvēks zina savu ceļu?
25 Svēti apsolīt, bet tik pēc tam apdomāt –
tas cilvēkam slazds.
26 Gudrs ķēniņš ļaundarus vētī,
laiž tiem pāri kuļamo ratu!
27 Kunga gaismeklis – cilvēka gars,
ar to viņš mūs izlūko līdz pašiem dziļumiem.
28 Uzticība un patiesība sargā ķēniņu,
uzticība balsta viņa troni!
29 Jaunekļu rota – viņu spēks,
veču gods – sirma galva.
30 Per, ka pušu, – lai negantums iziet,
lai aizķer līdz pašiem dziļumiem!
Words of Wisdom Are Better than Gold
1 It isn't smart to get drunk!
Drinking makes a fool of you
and leads to fights.
2 An angry ruler
is like a roaring lion—
make either one angry,
and you are dead.
3 It makes you look good
when you avoid a fight—
only fools love to quarrel.
4 If you are too lazy to plow,
don't expect a harvest.
5 Someone's thoughts may be
as deep as the ocean,
but if you are smart,
you will discover them.
6 There are many who say,
“You can trust me!”
But can they be trusted?
7 Good people live right,
and God blesses the children
who follow their example.
8 When rulers decide cases,
they weigh the evidence.
9 Can any of us really say,
“My thoughts are pure,
and my sins are gone”?
10 Two things the Lord hates
are dishonest scales
and dishonest measures.
11 The good or bad
that children do
shows what they are like.
12 Hearing and seeing
are gifts from the Lord.
13 If you sleep all the time,
you will starve;
if you get up and work,
you will have enough food.
14 Everyone likes to brag
about getting a bargain.
15 Sensible words are better
than gold or jewels.
16 You deserve to lose your coat
if you loan it to someone
to guarantee payment
for the debt of a stranger.
17 The food you get by cheating
may taste delicious,
but it turns to gravel.
18 Be sure you have sound advice
before making plans
or starting a war.
19 Stay away from gossips—
they tell everything.
20 Children who curse their parents
will go to the land of darkness
long before their time.
21 Getting rich quick
may turn out to be a curse.
22 Don't try to get even.
Trust the Lord,
and he will help you.
23 The Lord hates dishonest scales
and dishonest weights.
So don't cheat!
24 How can we know
what will happen to us
when the Lord alone decides?
25 Don't fall into the trap
of making promises to God
before you think!
26 A wise ruler severely punishes
every criminal.
27 Our inner thoughts are a lamp
from the Lord,
and they search our hearts.
28 Rulers are protected
by God's mercy and loyalty,
but they must be merciful
for their kingdoms to last.
29 Young people take pride
in their strength,
but the gray hairs of wisdom
are even more beautiful.
30 A severe beating can knock all
of the evil out of you!
