The Idler

1 The indolent may be compared to a filthy stone, and everyone hisses at his disgrace.

² The indolent may be compared to the filth of dunghills; anyone that picks it up will shake it off his hand.

Degenerate Children

³ A father’s disgrace is in the birth of an undisciplined son, and the birth of a daughter is a loss.

⁴ A sensible daughter will obtain her husband, but one who is put to shame brings grief to her father.

⁵ An impudent daughter disgraces father and husband and will be despised by both.

⁶ Like music in mourning is a tale told at the wrong time, but chastising and discipline are wisdom at all times.

Wisdom and Folly

⁹ He who teaches a fool is like one who glues pot sherds together or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.

¹⁰ He who tells a story to a fool tells it to a drowsy man; and at the end he will say, “What is it?”

¹¹ Weep for the dead, for he lacks the light; and weep for the fool, for he lacks intelligence; weep less bitterly for the dead, for he has attained rest; but the wicked life of the fool is worse than death.

¹² Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but for a fool or an ungodly person it lasts all his life.

¹³ Do not talk much with a foolish man and do not visit an unintelligent man; guard yourself from him to escape trouble, and you will not be soiled when he shakes himself off; avoid him and you will find rest, and you will never be wearied by his madness.

¹⁴ What is heavier than lead? And what is its name except “Fool”?

¹⁵ Sand, salt, and a piece of iron are easier to bear than a stupid person.

¹⁶ A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building will not be torn loose by an earthquake; so a heart firmly fixed on a reasonable counsel will not be afraid in a crisis.

¹⁷ A heart settled on an intelligent thought is like the stucco decoration on the wall of a colonnade. ¹⁸ Fences set on a high place will not stand firm against the wind; so a timid heart with a fool’s purpose will not stand firm against any fear.

Preservation of Friendship

¹⁹ One who pricks an eye will make tears fall, and one who pricks the heart bares its feelings.

²⁰ One who throws a stone at birds scares them away, and one who reviles a friend will break off the friendship.

²¹ Even if you have drawn your sword against a friend, do not despair, for a renewal of friendship is possible.

²² If you have opened your mouth against your friend, do not worry, for reconciliation is possible; but as for reviling, arrogance, disclosure of secrets, or a treacherous blow— in these cases any friend will flee.

²³ Gain the trust of your neighbour in his poverty, that you may rejoice with him in his prosperity; stand by him in time of affliction, that you may share with him in his inheritance.

²⁴ The vapour and smoke of the furnace precede the fire; so insults precede bloodshed.

²⁵ I will not be ashamed to protect a friend, and I will not hide from him; 

²⁶ but if some harm should happen to me because of him, whoever hears of it will beware of him.

Prayer for Help against Sinning

²⁷ Who will set a guard over my mouth and a seal of prudence upon my lips, in order that I may not fall on their account, and my tongue may not destroy me?