20 Help your neighbour according to your power,
and be careful not to fall yourself.
21 The essentials of life are water, bread,
a garment, and a house for privacy.
22 Better is the life of a poor man under a shelter of logs
than sumptuous fare in another man’s house.
23 With little or with much, be well satisfied.†
24 It is a miserable life to go from house to house.
Where you are a guest, you dare not open your mouth.
25 You will entertain, serve drinks, and have no thanks.
In addition to this, you will hear bitter words.
26 “Come here, you sojourner, set a table,
and if you have anything in your hand, feed me with it.”
27 “Leave, you sojourner, for an honoured guest is here.
My brother has come to be my guest. I need my house.”
28 These things are grievous to a man of understanding:
The scolding about lodging and the insults of creditors.
30
1 He who loves his son will continue to lay stripes upon him,
that he may have joy from him in the end.
2 He who chastises his son will have profit from him,
and will brag about him amongst his acquaintances.
3 He who teaches his son will provoke his enemy to jealousy.
Before friends, he will rejoice in him.
4 His father dies, and is as though he had not died;
for he has left one behind him like himself.
5 In his life, he saw his son and rejoiced.
When he died, it was without regret.
6 He left behind him an avenger against his enemies,
and one to repay kindness to his friends.
7 He who makes too much of his son will bind up his wounds.
His heart will be troubled at every cry.
8 An unbroken horse becomes stubborn.
An unrestrained son becomes headstrong.
9 Pamper your child, and he will make you afraid.
Play with him, and he will grieve you.
10 Don’t laugh with him, lest you have sorrow with him,
and you gnash your teeth in the end.
11 Give him no liberty in his youth,
and don’t ignore his follies.†
12 ‡Bow down his neck in his youth,
and beat him on the sides while he is a child,
lest he become stubborn, and be disobedient to you,
and there be sorrow to your soul.§
13 Chastise your son, and give him work,
lest his shameless behaviour be an offence to you.
14 Better is a poor man who is healthy and fit,
than a rich man who is afflicted in his body.
15 Health and fitness are better than all gold,
and a strong body better than wealth without measure.
16 There is no wealth better than health of body.
There is no gladness above the joy of the heart.
17 Death is better than a bitter life,
and eternal rest than a continual sickness.
18 Good things poured out upon a mouth that is closed
are like food offerings laid upon a grave.
19 What does an offering profit an idol?
For it can’t eat or smell.
So is he who is punished by the Lord,
20 seeing with his eyes and groaning,
like a eunuch embracing a virgin and groaning.
21 Don’t give your soul to sorrow.
Don’t afflict yourself deliberately.
22 Gladness of heart is the life of a man.
Cheerfulness of a man lengthens his days.
23 Love your own soul, and comfort your heart.
Remove sorrow far from you,
for sorrow has destroyed many,
and there is no profit in it.
24 Envy and wrath shorten life.
Anxiety brings old age before its time.
25 Those who are cheerful and merry
will benefit from their food.
31
1 Wakefulness that comes from riches consumes the flesh,
and anxiety about it takes away sleep.
2 Wakeful anxiety will crave slumber.
In a severe disease, sleep will be broken.
3 A rich man toils in gathering money together.
When he rests, he is filled with his good things.
4 A poor man toils in lack of substance.
When he rests, he becomes needy.
5 He who loves gold won’t be justified.
He who follows destruction will himself have his fill of it.
6 Many have been given over to ruin for the sake of gold.
Their destruction meets them face to face.
7 It is a stumbling block to those who sacrifice to it.
Every fool will be taken by it.
8 Blessed is the rich person who is found blameless,
and who doesn’t go after gold.
9 Who is he, that we may call him blessed?
For he has done wonderful things amongst his people.
10 Who has been tried by it, and found perfect?
Then let him boast.
Who has had the power to transgress, and has not transgressed?
And to do evil, and has not done it?
11 His prosperity will be made sure.
The congregation will proclaim his alms.
12 Do you sit at a great table? Don’t be greedy there.
Don’t say, “There is a lot of food on it!”
13 Remember that a greedy eye is a wicked thing.
What has been created more greedy than an eye?
Therefore it sheds tears from every face.
14 Don’t stretch your hand wherever it looks.
Don’t thrust yourself with it into the dish.
15 Consider your neighbour’s feelings by your own.
Be discreet in every point.
16 Eat like a human being those things which are set before you.
Don’t eat greedily, lest you be hated.
17 Be first to stop for manners’ sake.
Don’t be insatiable, lest you offend.
18 And if you sit amongst many,
Don’t reach out your hand before them.
19 How sufficient to a well-mannered man is a very little.
He doesn’t breathe heavily in his bed.
20 Healthy sleep comes from moderate eating.
He rises early, and his wits are with him.
The pain of wakefulness, colic,
and griping are with an insatiable man.
21 And if you have been forced to eat,
rise up in the middle of it, and you shall have rest.
22 Hear me, my son, and don’t despise me,
and in the end you will appreciate my words.
In all your works be skilful,
and no disease will come to you.
23 People bless him who is liberal with his food.
The testimony of his excellence will be believed.
24 The city will murmur at him who is a stingy with his food.
The testimony of his stinginess will be accurate.
25 Don’t show yourself valiant in wine,
for wine has destroyed many.
26 The furnace tests the temper of steel by dipping;
so does wine test hearts in the quarrelling of the proud.
27 Wine is as good as life to men,
if you drink it in moderation.
What life is there to a man who is without wine?
It has been created to make men glad.
28 Wine drunk in season and in moderation
is joy of heart and gladness of soul:
29 Wine drunk excessively is bitterness of soul,
with provocation and conflict.
30 Drunkenness increases the rage of a fool to his hurt.
It diminishes strength and adds wounds.
31 Don’t rebuke your neighbour at a banquet of wine.
Don’t despise him in his mirth.
Don’t speak a word of reproach to him.
Don’t distress him by making demands of him.
32
1 Have they made you ruler of a feast?
Don’t be lifted up.
Be amongst them as one of them.
Take care of them first, and then sit down.
2 And when you have done all your duties, take your place,
that you may be gladdened on their account,
and receive a wreath for your good service.
3 Speak, you who are older, for it’s your right, but with sound knowledge;
and don’t interrupt the music.
4 Don’t pour out talk where there is a performance of music.
Don’t display your wisdom at the wrong time.
5 As a ruby signet in a setting of gold,
so is a music concert at a wine banquet.
6 As an emerald signet in a work of gold,
so is musical melody with pleasant wine.
7 Speak, young man, if you are obliged to,
but no more than twice, and only if asked.
8 Sum up your speech, many things in few words.
Be as one who knows and yet holds his tongue.
9 When amongst great men, don’t behave as their equal.
When another is speaking, don’t babble.
10 Lightning speeds before thunder.
Approval goes before one who is modest.
11 Rise up in good time, and don’t be last.
Go home quickly and don’t loiter
12 Amuse yourself there and do what is in your heart.
Don’t sin by proud speech.
13 For these things bless your Maker,
who gives you to drink freely of his good things.
14 He who fears the Lord will receive discipline.
Those who seek him early will find favour.
15 He who seeks the law shall be filled with it,
but the hypocrite will stumble at it.
16 Those who fear the Lord will find true judgement,
and will kindle righteous acts like a light.
17 A sinful man shuns reproof,
and will find a judgement according to his will.
18 A sensible person won’t neglect a thought.
An insolent and proud man won’t crouch in fear,
even after he has done a thing by himself without counsel.
19 Do nothing without counsel,
but when you have acted, don’t regret it.
20 Don’t go in a way of conflict.
Don’t stumble in stony places.
21 Don’t be overconfident on a smooth road.
22 Beware of your own children.
23 In every work guard your own soul,
for this is the keeping of the commandments.
24 He who believes the law gives heed to the commandment.
He who trusts in the Lord will suffer no loss.
33
1 No evil will happen to him who fears the Lord,
but in trials once and again he will deliver him.
2 A wise man will not hate the law,
but he who is a hypocrite about it is like a boat in a storm.
3 A man of understanding will put his trust in the law.
And the law is faithful to him, as when one asks a divine oracle.
4 Prepare your speech, and so you will be heard.
Bind up instruction, and make your answer.
5 The heart of a fool is like a cartwheel.
His thoughts are like a rolling axle.
6 A stallion horse is like a mocking friend.
He neighs under every one who sits upon him.
7 Why does one day excel another,
when all the light of every day in the year is from the sun?
8 They were distinguished by the Lord’s knowledge,
and
