1 الإنسانُ يسعَى وراءَ رغباتِهِ،
ويُشاكِسُ كُلَّ رأيٍ صالحٍ.
2 البليدُ لا يحتَفِظُ بما يتَبَيَّنُ لهُ،
بل يكشِفُ كُلَّ ما في قلبِهِ.
3 معَ الشِّرِّ هُناكَ الاحتقارُ،
ومعَ الهوانِ يكونُ العارُ.
4 كَلامُ الإنسانِ مياهٌ عميقةٌ،
ويُنبوعُ الحِكمةِ نهرٌ فائضٌ.
5 مُحاباةُ الشِّرِّيرِ لا تَجوزُ،
ولا حِرمانُ الصِّدِّيقِ مِنَ العدالةِ.
6 كَلامُ البليدِ يُثيرُ الخُصومةَ،
ويَجلِبُ عليهِ الضَّرْبَ.
7 كَلامُ البليدِ هلاكُهُ،
فهوَ يُوقِعُهُ في الشَّرَكِ.
8 كَلِماتُ النَمَّامِ كطَعامٍ شهِـيٍّ،
يَنزِلُ إلى أعماقِ البَطْنِ.
9 المُتراخي في كُلِّ ما يعمَلُ،
هوَ والشَّحَّاذونَ سَواءٌ.
10 إسمُ الرّبِّ بُرْجٌ مَنيعٌ،
يُهرَعُ إليهِ الصِّدِّيقُ فيأمَنُ.
11 مالُ الغنيِّ مدينتُهُ المَنيعةُ،
وهوَ في ظَنِّهِ سُورٌ مُرتَفِـعٌ.
12 قَبلَ الخَيـبةِ تَشامُخُ القلبِ،
وقَبلَ الكرامةِ التَّواضُعُ.
13 من يُجيـبُ قَبلَ أن يسمَعَ،
فحَظُّهُ الحماقَةُ والهَوانُ.
14 روحُ الإنسانِ تَسنُدُ ضَعفَهُ،
فإذا انكسَرت فمَنْ يُحْيـيها.
15 قلبُ الفهيم يكتَسِبُ المَعرِفةَ،
وأذُنُ الحُكماءِ تَطلبُ العِلمَ.
16 العطيَّةُ تُوَسِّعُ طريقَ الإنسانِ،
وتَهديهِ إلى مَقامِ العُظماءِ.
17 أوَّلُ المُتكلِّمينَ صادِقٌ في تُهمَتِهِ،
إلى أنْ يُناقِشَهُ آخرُ.
18 القُرعَةُ تُبطِلُ الخُصوماتِ،
وتَفصِلُ بَينَ الأقوياءِ.
19 الأخُ مدينةٌ منيعةٌ،
تُخاصِمُهُ فيُغلِقُها دونَكَ.
20 مَنْ طابَ كَلامُهُ يُجازَى خَيرا،
ومِنْ غَلَّةِ ما يقولُهُ يشبَعُ.
21 الموتُ والحياةُ في يدِ اللِّسانِ،
ومَنْ أحبَّ الثَّرثَرَةَ أكلَ ثمَرَها.
22 مَنْ وجَدَ زَوجةً وجَدَ خَيرا،
ونالَ رِضىً مِنَ الرّبِّ.
23 الفقيرُ يتكلَّمُ بِتَضَرُّعٍ،
والغنيُّ يُجاوبُ باعْتِزازٍ.
24 كثرَةُ الأصحابِ تَضُرُّ،
وكم مِنْ مُحبٍّ أقربُ مِنْ أخٍ.
1 Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom. 2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. 3 When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach. 4 The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook. 5 It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.
6 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 9 He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 11 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. 13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it , it is folly and shame unto him. 14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear? 15 The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 16 A man’s gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 17 He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 18 The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 19 A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 20 A man’s belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing , and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 23 The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.