22
1 A slothful man is compared to a filthy stone,
And everyone 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 evil-nurtured son is the dishonor of his father that begot 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 dishonoreth both her father and her husband,
And they both shall despise her.
6 A tale out of season is as music in mourning:
But stripes and correction of wisdom are never out of time.
9 Whoso teacheth a fool is as one that glueth a potsherd together,
And as he that waketh one from a sound sleep.
10 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?
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, are easier to bear,
Than a man without understanding.
16 As timber girded and bound together in a building cannot be loosed with shaking:
So the heart that is established by advised counsel shall fear at no time.
17 A heart settled upon a thought of understanding
Is as a fair plastering on the wall of a gallery.
18 Pales set on a 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 show 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 favor.
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 neighbor in his poverty,
That thou mayest rejoice in his prosperity:
Abide steadfast unto him in the time of his trouble,
That thou mayest be heir with him in his heritage.
24 As the vapor 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,
Everyone 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?