The proverbs of Shelomo. A wise son makes a glad father: but a foolish son is the grief of his mother.

The analogues of Solomon: The wise son rejoices his Father, and the foolish one [e.g., Yeravam ben Nevat] is the sorrow of his mother [(the congregation of Israel)].

Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivers from death.

Treasures of wickedness will not avail, but charity rescues from death. [(And if you would ask: Whence is he who is profuse in his charity to derive sustenance?)]

The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he thrusts away the desire of the wicked.

The L-rd will not cause the soul of the righteous one to hunger, and the destructiveness of the wicked will cast [them] down.

A slack hand causes poverty: but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

The poor man makes a deceitful scale [(One who is poor in Torah renders false decisions)], and the hand of the diligent [(one who diligently seeks out the truth)] prospers [(in his judgments)].

He that gathers in summer is a wise son: but a son that sleeps in harvest brings shame.

The wise son gathers in [his grain] in the summer, but the shameful one sleeps in harvest time.

Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

Blessings [will descend] upon the head of the righteous one, but [their] violence will smother the mouth of the wicked [and kill them].

The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

Remembrance [i.e., mention] of the righteous one will be [accompanied by] a blessing, but the name of the wicked one will rot [(from lack of mention)].

The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall be punished.

The wise of heart will take hold of mitzvoth [(e.g., (Exodus 13:19), While Israel busied themselves with the plunder of Egypt, Moses busied himself with taking the bones of Joseph for burial)], but the fool will weary his lips [(with talking, and do nothing)].

He that walks uprightly walks surely: but he that perverts his ways shall be found out.

He who walks in innocence will walk securely, but he who perverts his ways will be broken.

He that winks with the eye causes sorrow: and a prating fool shall fall.

He who winks his eye [(inciting to evil)] produces grief [(when the wink is acted upon)], but the fool wearies [his purpose] with his lips.

The mouth of a righteous man is a fountain of life: but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

A well of life is the mouth of the righteous one, but the mouth of the wicked conceals [their intended] violence.

Hatred stirs up strifes: but love covers all sins.

[Present] hatred awakens [long-forgotten] quarrels, but love conceals all offense.

In the lips of him that has understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

In the lips of the understanding one there will be found wisdom [e.g., David admitted "I have sinned," when reproved by Nathan (II Samuel 12:14)], but [only] a rod [will suffice] for the back of the one void of understanding.

Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the fool brings ruin near.

The wise conceal wisdom [(in their heart, to guard it)], but the mouth of the fool [brings] destruction near.

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the ruin of the poor is their poverty.

The wealth of the rich one [(in Torah)] is the city of his strength, but the breaking of the poor is their poverty [(in Torah)].

The wage of the righteous brings life: the gain of the wicked leads to sin.

The act of the righteous one is a source of life, but the produce of the wicked one is [a source of] shortening [of life].

He that keeps instruction is in the way of life: but he that refuses reproof leads astray.

The heeding of mussar is a path to life, but he who abandons chastisement causes [himself and others] to stray.

He who hides hatred uses lying lips, and he that utters a slander, is a fool.

The concealer of hatred [in his heart] has lying [(flattering)] lips, and he who utters slander is a fool.

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking: but he who restrains his lips is wise.

With an abundance of words, offense will not cease, and he who spares his lips is wise.

The tongue of the just is like choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

Choice silver is the tongue [i.e., the reproof] of the righteous one, but the understanding of the wicked is minute [(and they pay no heed to his reproof)].

The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

The lips of the righteous one [(in prayer)] will feed many, but the fools, void of understanding [(and paying him no heed)], will die.

The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.

The blessing of the L-rd, by itself, enriches, and [requires] no further toil along with it.

It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: and likewise is it to a man of understanding to practise wisdom.

As play to the fool is acting upon evil counsel, as [acting upon] wisdom is [play] to the man of understanding.

What the wicked dreads shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

The fear of the wicked one will come upon him [e.g., (Genesis 11:4 and 8)], and He will fulfill the desire of the righteous.

When the storm wind passes, the wicked is no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

When the tempest passes, the wicked one is no more, but the righteous one is the foundation of the world.

As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send him.

As vinegar to the teeth and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to his senders.

The fear of the Lord prolongs days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The fear of the L-rd will increase days, but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

The hope of the righteous is gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

The hope of the righteous [will culminate in] joy, but the hope of the wicked will go lost.

The way of the Lord is a stronghold to the upright, but destruction to the workers of iniquity.

The way of the L-rd is a stronghold to the innocent, and [(their not pursuing it)], a breaking to the workers of iniquity.

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

The righteous one will not stoop forever, [(but ultimately will rise)], and the wicked shall not endure in the land.

The mouth of the just brings forth wisdom: but the perverse tongue shall be cut off.

The mouth of the righteous one will utter wisdom, but the tongue of contraries will be cut off.

The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked is crookedness.

The lips of the righteous one know [how to] conciliate [G-d and man], but the mouth of the wicked [speaks] contraries.