1. People who are afraid to actare like filthy stones;everyone will hiss at their dishonor.
2. People who are afraid to actare like clumps of cow manure;those who pick it upwill shake off their hand.
3. An uneducated son is a disgraceto a father,and a daughter’s birth is a liability.
4. A prudent daughterwill get a husband of her own,and a daughter in disgraceis a grief to her parents.
5. A disrespectful daughtershames her father and her husband,and both will despise her.
6. Ill-timed talk is like party musicduring mourning,but a whipping and disciplineare wisdom at any time.
9. Whoever teaches a foolis gluing together a broken potor waking up someoneout of a deep sleep.
10. Whoever talks with a foolconverses with someone who is drowsy;when the conversation is over,the fool will say, "What is it?
11. Weep for the dead,for they have left the light behind;and weep for fools,for they haveleft understanding behind.Weep sweetly over the dead,because they are at rest,but the life of a fool is worsethan death.
12. Mourn for the dead for seven days,but mourn for the foolish and the ungodly all the days of their lives.
13. Don’t talk a lot with fools,and don’t go to the unintelligent.Be on guard against themso that you don’t have troubleand don’t get dirtywhen they shake themselves off.Stay away from themand you will find rest,and their senselessnesswon’t make you weary.
14. What’s heavier than lead?And what name does it have but "Fool"?
15. Sand, salt, and a lump of ironare easier to bearthan an unintelligent person.
16. A wooden beam fastened into a buildingwon’t be loosened by an earthquake.So a heart firmly seton thoughtful counselwon’t be afraid at any time.
17. A heart fixed on thoughtful understandingis like an engraved ornamenton a smooth wall.
18. A protective barrier set on a high placewill never endure against the wind.So a timid heart backed upby a fool’s planwill never endure against any fear.
19. Whoever pricks an eyewill make tears flow,and whoever pricks a heartreveals its feelings.
20. Whoever throws a stone at birdsscares them off,and whoever insults a friendbreaks up a friendship.
21. If you draw a sword on a friend,don’t despair,because there can be a way back.
22. If you speak harshly to a friend,don’t be concerned,because there can be reconciliation.But in the case of reproach, arrogance,the revealing of a secret,or a treacherous blow,any friend will flee.
23. Gain your neighbors’ trustwhile they are poor,so that when they are prosperous,you will be filled along with them.In a time of distress remain with themso that when they inherit,you will be a joint heir.
24. Before there’s a fire,a furnace has vapor and smoke;so before bloodshed there are insults.
25. I won’t be ashamed to shelter friends,and I won’t hide from them.
26. And if something bad happens to mebecause of them,everyone who hears of itwill be on guard against them.
27. Who will put a guard on my mouthand an effective seal upon my lipsso that I don’t fallbecause of my speechand so that my tonguedoesn’t destroy me?