A wise son loves discipline,
a mocker will not listen to reproof.
When a man has good things to eat, it is the fruit of his own words,
but the appetite of the treacherous feeds on violence.
He keeps his life who guards his mouth,
he who talks to much is lost.
The idler yearns, but there is no food for him;
hard workers get their fill.
The virtuous man hates lying words,
but the wicked man sladers and defames.
Virtue preserves the man of honest life,
wickedness proves the ruin of the sinner.
There are some who, on nothing, pretend to be rich,
some, with great wealth, pretend to be poor.
A man's wealth may ransom his life,
but the poor man sees no threat.
The light of the virtuous men burns bright,
the lamp of the wicked one goes out.
Insolence breeds disputes;
with the humble is wisdom found.
A sudden fortune will dwindle away,
he grows rich who accumulates little by little.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
desire fulfilled is the tree of life.
He who despises the word will destroy himself,
he who respects the commandments will be safe.
The wise man's teaching is a life-giving fountain,
for eluding the snares of death.
Intelligent prudence secures favour,
the way of the treacherous is hard.
Every man of discretion acts by the light of knowledge,
the fool parades his folly.
A malicious messenger means a fall into misfortune,
a trusty envoy heals.
For the man who rejects discipline: poverty and disgrace;
for the man who accepts correction: honour.
Desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul;
fools are loth to turn from evil.
Make the wise your companions and you grow wise yourself;
make fools your friends and suffer for it.
Misfortune dogs the sinner;
good fortune rewards the virtuous.
The good man bequeaths his heritage to his children's children,
the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the virtuous.
The poor man's fallow yields food in plenty;
there are some who perish when justice falls.
The man who falls to use the stick hates his son;
the man who is free with his correction loves him.
The virtuous man eats to his heart's content,
the belly of the wicked goes empty.
