1  ^bDo not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

2  ^cLet another praise you, and not your own mouth;

a stranger, and not your own lips.

3  A stone is heavy, and sand is weighty,

^dbut a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4  Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming,

but who can stand before jealousy?

5  Better is ^eopen rebuke

than hidden love.

6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

7  One who is full loathes honey,

but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet.

8  Like a bird that strays from its nest

is a man who strays from his home.

9  Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel.¹

10  ^fDo not forsake your friend and your father’s friend,

and do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is near

than a brother who is far away.

11  Be wise, my son, ^gand make my heart glad,

that I may ^hanswer him who reproaches me.

12  ⁱThe prudent sees danger and hides himself,

but the simple go on and suffer for it.

13  Take a man’s garment when he has ^jput up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.²