1 προφασεις ζητει ανηρ βουλομενος χωριζεσθαι απο φιλων εν παντι δε καιρω επονειδιστος εσται | 1 Whoever lives alone fol ows private whims, and is angered by advice of any kind. |
2 ου χρειαν εχει σοφιας ενδεης φρενων μαλλον γαρ αγεται αφροσυνη | 2 A fool takes no pleasure in understanding but only in airing an opinion. |
3 οταν ελθη ασεβης εις βαθος κακων καταφρονει επερχεται δε αυτω ατιμια και ονειδος | 3 When wickedness comes, indignity comes too, and, with contempt, dishonour. |
4 υδωρ βαθυ λογος εν καρδια ανδρος ποταμος δε αναπηδυει και πηγη ζωης | 4 Deep waters, such are human words: a gushing stream, the utterance of wisdom. |
5 θαυμασαι προσωπον ασεβους ου καλον ουδε οσιον εκκλινειν το δικαιον εν κρισει | 5 It is not good to show partiality for the wicked and so to deprive the upright when giving judgement. |
6 χειλη αφρονος αγουσιν αυτον εις κακα το δε στομα αυτου το θρασυ θανατον επικαλειται | 6 The lips of a fool go to the law-courts with a mouth that pleads for a beating. |
7 στομα αφρονος συντριβη αυτω τα δε χειλη αυτου παγις τη ψυχη αυτου | 7 The mouth of the fool works its owner's ruin, the lips of a fool are a snare for their owner's life. |
8 οκνηρους καταβαλλει φοβος ψυχαι δε ανδρογυνων πεινασουσιν | 8 The words of a slanderer are tasty morsels that go right down into the bel y. |
9 ο μη ιωμενος εαυτον εν τοις εργοις αυτου αδελφος εστιν του λυμαινομενου εαυτον | 9 Whoever is idle at work is blood-brother to the destroyer. |
10 εκ μεγαλωσυνης ισχυος ονομα κυριου αυτω δε προσδραμοντες δικαιοι υψουνται | 10 The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the upright runs to it and is secure. |
11 υπαρξις πλουσιου ανδρος πολις οχυρα η δε δοξα αυτης μεγα επισκιαζει | 11 The wealth of the rich forms a stronghold, a high wal , as the rich supposes. |
12 προ συντριβης υψουται καρδια ανδρος και προ δοξης ταπεινουται | 12 The human heart is haughty until destruction comes, before there can be glory there must be humility. |
13 ος αποκρινεται λογον πριν ακουσαι αφροσυνη αυτω εστιν και ονειδος | 13 To retort without first listening is both foolish and embarrassing. |
14 θυμον ανδρος πραυνει θεραπων φρονιμος ολιγοψυχον δε ανδρα τις υποισει | 14 Sickness the human spirit can endure, but when the spirit is broken, who can bear this? |
15 καρδια φρονιμου κταται αισθησιν ωτα δε σοφων ζητει εννοιαν | 15 The heart of the intel igent acquires learning, the ears of the wise search for knowledge. |
16 δομα ανθρωπου εμπλατυνει αυτον και παρα δυνασταις καθιζανει αυτον | 16 A present will open al doors and win access to the great. |
17 δικαιος εαυτου κατηγορος εν πρωτολογια ως δ' αν επιβαλη ο αντιδικος ελεγχεται | 17 The first to plead is adjudged to be upright, until the next comes and cross-examines him. |
18 αντιλογιας παυει κληρος εν δε δυνασταις οριζει | 18 The lot puts an end to disputes and decides between men of power. |
19 αδελφος υπο αδελφου βοηθουμενος ως πολις οχυρα και υψηλη ισχυει δε ωσπερ τεθεμελιωμενον βασιλειον | 19 A brother offended is worse than a fortified city, and quarrels are like the locks of a keep. |
20 απο καρπων στοματος ανηρ πιμπλησιν κοιλιαν αυτου απο δε καρπων χειλεων αυτου εμπλησθησεται | 20 From the fruit of the mouth is a stomach fil ed, it is the yield of the lips that gives contentment. |
21 θανατος και ζωη εν χειρι γλωσσης οι δε κρατουντες αυτης εδονται τους καρπους αυτης | 21 Death and life are in the gift of the tongue, those who indulge it must eat the fruit it yields. |
22 ος ευρεν γυναικα αγαθην ευρεν χαριτας ελαβεν δε παρα θεου ιλαροτητα [22α] ος εκβαλλει γυναικα αγαθην εκβαλλει τα αγαθα ο δε κατεχων μοιχαλιδα αφρων και ασεβης | 22 He who finds a wife finds happiness, receiving a mark of favour from Yahweh. |
| 23 The language of the poor is entreaty, the answer of the rich harshness. |
| 24 There are friends who point the way to ruin, others are closer than a brother. |