Wisdom and human knowledge
(James 4:13-17)
1
Do not boast about tomorrow, || For you do not know what a day brings forth.
2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, || A stranger, and not your own lips.
3
A stone [is] heavy, and the sand [is] heavy, || And the anger of a fool || Is heavier than them both.
4
Fury [is] fierce, and anger [is] overflowing, || And who stands before jealousy?
5
Better [is] open reproof than hidden love.
6
The wounds of a lover are faithful, || And the kisses of an enemy [are] abundant.
7
A satiated soul treads down a honeycomb, || And every bitter thing [is] sweet [to] a hungry soul.
8
As a bird wandering from her nest, || So [is] a man wandering from his place.
9
Perfume and incense make the heart glad, || And the sweetness of one’s friend—from counsel of the soul.
10
Do not forsake your own friend and the friend of your father, || And do not enter the house of your brother in a day of your calamity, || A near neighbor [is] better than a brother far off.
11
Be wise, my son, and make my heart glad, || And I return a word [to] my reproacher.
12
The prudent has seen the evil, he is hidden, || The simple have passed on, they are punished.
13
Take his garment when a stranger has been guarantor, || And pledge it for a strange woman.
14
Whoever is greeting his friend with a loud voice, || Rising early in the morning, || It is reckoned a light thing to him.
15
A continual dropping in a day of rain, || And a woman of contentions are alike,
16
Whoever is hiding her has hidden the wind, || And the ointment of his right hand calls out.
The discontent of man
17
Iron is sharpened by iron, || And a man sharpens the face of his friend.
18
The keeper of a fig tree eats its fruit, || And the preserver of his master is honored.
19
As [in] water the face [is] to face, || So the heart of man to man.
20
Sheol and destruction are not satisfied, || And the eyes of man are not satisfied.
21
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, || And a man according to his praise.
22
If you beat the foolish in a mortar, || Among washed things—with a pestle, || His folly does not turn aside from off him.
23
Know the face of your flock well, || Set your heart to the droves,
24
For riches [are] not for all time, || Nor a crown to generation and generation.
25
The hay was revealed, and the tender grass seen, || And the herbs of mountains gathered.
26
Lambs [are] for your clothing, || And the price of the field [are] male goats,
27
And a sufficiency of goats’ milk [is] for your bread, || For bread to your house, and life to your girls!
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