[1] Never brag about what will happen in the future. You don’t know what will happen tomorrow.
[2] Never praise yourself. Let other people do it.
[3] A stone is heavy, and sand is hard to carry. But ˻the trouble caused by˼ an angry fool is much harder to bear.
[4] Anger is cruel and mean. It causes destruction. But jealousy is much worse.
[5] Open criticism is better than hidden love.
[6] A friend might hurt you sometimes, but he does not want to do this. An enemy is different. Even when an enemy is kind to you, he wants to hurt you.
[7] If you are not hungry, then you will not eat even honey. But if you are hungry, you will eat anything—even if it tastes bad.
[8] A man away from home is like a bird away from its nest.
[9] Perfume and sweet-smelling things make you feel happy. And a kind word from a friend is more welcome than life-saving advice.
[10] Don’t forget your friends and your father’s friends. And if you have trouble, don’t go far away to your brother’s house for help. It is better to ask a neighbor that is near you than to go far away to your brother.
[11] My son, be wise. This will make me happy. Then I will be able to answer any person that criticizes me.
[12] Wise people see trouble coming and get out of its way. But a fool goes straight to the trouble and suffers because of it.
[13] You will lose your shirt if you make yourself responsible for another man’s debts.
[14] Don’t wake up your neighbor early in the morning with a shout of, “Good morning!” He will treat it like a curse, not a blessing.
[15] A wife that always wants to argue is like water that never stops dripping on a rainy day.
[16] Trying to stop that woman is like trying to stop the wind. It is like trying to grab oil with your hand.
[17] People use pieces of iron to sharpen iron knives. In the same way, people learn from other people, making each other sharp.
[18] A person who cares for fig trees will be able to eat their fruit. In the same way, a person who cares for his master will be rewarded. His master will care for him.
[19] When a person looks into the water he can see his own face. In the same way, a man’s heart shows what the man is really like.
[20] People are just like the grave. That place of death and destruction always wants more than it already has.
[21] People use fire to make gold and silver pure. In the same way, a man is tested by the praise people give him.
[22] You can grind a fool to powder, and still you will not force the foolishness out of him.
[23] Watch your sheep and goats carefully. Be sure you care for them the best you can.
[24] Wealth doesn’t last forever. Even nations don’t last forever.
[25] Cut the hay, and new grass will grow. Then you can gather the plants growing on the hills.
[26] Cut the wool from your lambs and make your clothes. Sell some of your goats and buy some land.
[27] Then there will be plenty of goat milk for you and your family and enough to keep servant girls healthy.