1 The idler is like a dirty stone, his disgrace
is laughed at.
2 The idler is like a heap of dung, all who touch it shake it off their
hands.
3 Badly brought up sons are the shame of their father, and daughters, a
humiliation.
4 A sensible daughter is a treasure to her husband, but the disgraceful one
is a burden to her father.
5 A shameless daughter brings disgrace on her father as well as her husband;
both hate her.
6 The untimely word is like music at a funeral but beating and correction
guided by wisdom are never out of place.
9 Teaching a fool is like gluing a broken jar, it is easier to awaken a man
from deep sleep.
10 Reasoning with a fool is like reasoning with a drowsy man; in the end, he
will ask you, ¡°What is it all about?¡±
11 Weep for the dead man since the light has deserted him, weep for the fool
because understanding has deserted him.
Cry less for the dead man; he has found his rest but the fool¡¯s life is
worse than death.
12 Mourning the dead lasts seven days, but it lasts a lifetime for the fool
and godless man.
13 Do not waste words on the fool or go with the stupid man; beware of him
lest he bring you trouble and his contact leave you contaminated. Stay away
from him if you want rest and do not want to be worn out by his requests.
14 What is heavier than lead? What is its name but ¡°Fool¡±?
15 Sand, salt and a load of iron are easier to bear than a fool.
16 The wooden joint in a building is not dislodged by an earthquake; a
determined heart, after careful reflection, will not be moved when crises
come.
17 A decision based on serious re flection stands like plaster on a firm
wall.
18 Stakes set on a height do not resist the wind; the fool¡¯s heart,
frightened by his own imaginings, cannot withstand fear.
19 Striking the eye brings tears; if you strike the heart, lucidity will
come forth.
20 Whoever throws stones at birds scares them off; reproach a friend and you
will kill the friendship.
21 If you have drawn your sword against a friend, do not despair, it can be
put back;
22 if you have spoken harshly to a friend, do not fear, reconciliation is
possible; but in the event of insult, contempt, betrayal of a confidence or
treacherous blow, any friend would desert you.
23 Win your neighbor¡¯s confidence when he is poor so that you may enjoy his
goods with him when he grows rich; be loyal in his hour of trouble and you
will win, in the end, a share in his inheritance.
24 Smoke and fumes precede the fire; so, too, insults herald the blows.
25 I will not be ashamed of protecting a friend nor will I avoid him;
26 if evil comes to me from him, all who hear of it will beware of him.
27 Who will put a guard on my mouth and effectively lock up my lips to
prevent me from sinning and my tongue from hastening my ruin?