9Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,

and the pleasantness of one’s friend springs from his earnest counsel.

10Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father,

and do not go to your brother’s house when disaster strikes you—

better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.

11Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart;

then I can answer anyone who treats me with contempt.

12The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

13Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger;

hold it in pledge if he does it for a wayward woman.

14If a man loudly blesses his neighbor early in the morning,

it will be taken as a curse.

15A quarrelsome wife is like

a constant dripping on a rainy day;

16restraining her is like restraining the wind

or grasping oil with the hand.

17As iron sharpens iron,

so one man sharpens another.

18He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and he who looks after his master will be honored.

19As water reflects a face,

so a man’s heart reflects the man.

20Death and Destruction^a are never satisfied,

and neither are the eyes of man.

21The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,

but man is tested by the praise he receives.

22Though you grind a fool in a mortar,

grinding him like grain with a pestle,

you will not remove his folly from him.

23Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,

give careful attention to your herds;

24for riches do not endure forever,

and a crown is not secure for all generations.

25When the hay is removed and new growth appears

and the grass from the hills is gathered in,

26the lambs will provide you with clothing,

and the goats with the price of a field.

27You will have plenty of goats’ milk

to feed you and your family

and to nourish your servant girls.