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[1]Boast not thyself of to-morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
[2]Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
[3]A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.
[4]Wrath is cruel, and anger overwhelming; but who is able to stand before jealousy?
[5]Better is open rebuke than love that is hidden.
[6]Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are importunate.
[7]The full soul loatheth a honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
[8]As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
[9]Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.
[10]Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity; better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.
[11]My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that taunteth me.
[12]A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished.
[13]Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; and hold him in pledge that is surety for an alien woman.
[14]He that blesseth his friend with a loud voice, rising early in t morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.
[15]A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike;
[16]He that would hide her hideth the wind, and the ointment of his right hand betrayeth itself.
[17]Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
[18]Whoso keepeth the fig-tree shall eat the fruit thereof; and he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured.
[19]As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man.
[20]The nether-world and Destruction are never satiated; so the eyes of man are never satiated.
[21]The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, and a man is tried by his praise.
[22]Though tho shouldest bray a fool in a mortar with a pestle among groats, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.
[23]Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds;
[24]For riches are not for ever; and doth the crown endure unto all generations?
[25]When the hay is mown, and the tender grass showeth itself, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered in;
[26]The lambs will be for thy clothing, and the goats the price for a field.
[27]And there will be goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household; and maintenance for thy maidens.
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