1.懒惰者 懒惰的人可比作污秽的石头，人人都对他的耻辱嗤之以鼻。The Idler The indolent may be compared to a filthy stone, and every one hisses at his disgrace.
2.懒惰人可比作粪堆的污物；任何拾起它的，都必从手上甩脱。The indolent may be compared to the filth of dunghills; any one that picks it up will shake it off his hand.
3.败坏的儿女
教养无方的儿子是父亲的耻辱，生女儿也是损失。Degenerate Children It is a disgrace to be the father of an undisciplined son, and the birth of a daughter is a loss.
4.聪明的女儿得其夫为荣，行为可耻者却使其父忧伤。A sensible daughter obtains her husband, but one who acts shamefully brings grief to her father.
5.放肆的女儿使父亲和丈夫都蒙羞，也必被他们二人厌弃。An impudent daughter disgraces father and husband, and will be despised by both.
6.哀痛时奏乐，正像在不该说话的时候讲述故事；但责备和管教，却是任何时候的智慧。Like music in mourning is a tale told at the wrong time, but chastising and discipline are wisdom at all times.
7.智慧与愚昧
教导愚昧的人，如同粘合破瓦片，或唤醒沉睡不醒的人。Wisdom and Folly He who teaches a fool is like one who glues potsherds together, or who rouses a sleeper from deep slumber.
8.向愚人述说故事，犹如对昏睡之人讲话；讲到末了，他必说："这是什么意思？"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.为亡者哀哭，因他已失光明；为愚者哀哭，因他缺乏悟性。不必为亡者哀哭过甚，因他已得安息；惟愚人的生涯比死亡更为凄惨。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 life of the fool is worse than death.
12.为死者举哀七日，愚顽不敬之人却哀悼终生。Mourning for the dead lasts seven days, but for a fool or an ungodly man it lasts all his life.
13.不要与愚昧人多言，也不要拜访无知的人；要防备他，以免遭遇患难；当他就近你时，你也不会被沾染；要避开他，你就得享安息，也不会因他的癫狂而疲倦。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.
14.什么比铅更重呢？除了“愚人”这名称，它还能叫什么呢？What is heavier than lead? And what is its name except “Fool”?
15.沙土、盐块和一块铁，都比愚昧人更易忍受。Sand, salt, and a piece of iron are easier to bear than a stupid man.
16.建筑中嵌入牢固的木梁，地震袭来时不会松脱；同样，心灵若坚定于明智的忠告，危难临头时也不会惧怕。A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building will not be torn loose by an earthquake; so the mind firmly fixed on a reasonable counsel will not be afraid in a crisis.
17.专注于睿智思想的头脑，犹如柱廊墙壁上的灰泥装饰。A mind settled on an intelligent thought is like the stucco decoration on the wall of a colonnade.
18.设于高处的篱笆，不能抵挡风的吹袭；怀有愚妄之念的怯懦之心，也同样无法在任何恐惧面前坚定不移。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.
19.友谊的维系
刺人眼者，必使人泪流；刺人心者，必使其动情。The Preservation of Friendship A man who pricks an eye will make tears fall, and one who pricks the heart makes it show feeling.
20.以石投飞鸟，鸟必惊散；辱骂朋友，友谊必断。One who throws a stone at birds scares them away, and one who reviles a friend will break off the friendship.
21.即便你曾拔剑指向朋友，也请不要绝望，因为友情仍有重修于好的可能。Even if you have drawn your sword against a friend, do not despair, for a renewal of friendship is possible.
22.若你曾开口攻击你的朋友，不必忧虑，因为仍可和解；但若是辱骂、傲慢、泄露秘密，或阴险的陷害——在这种情况下，任何朋友都会离去。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.在你邻舍贫穷时，取得他的信任，使你在他亨通时与他一同欢乐；在他遭难时与他站在一起，使你与他一同承受他的产业。Gain the trust of your neighbor 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.炉中的蒸气和烟先于火；侮辱的话语先于流血。The vapor and smoke of the furnace precede the fire; so insults precede bloodshed.
25.我不会以保护朋友为耻，也不会躲避他；I will not be ashamed to protect a friend, and I will not hide from him;
26.但若因他我遭遇什么祸患，凡听见的就都防备他。but if some harm should happen to me because of him, whoever hears of it will beware of him.
27.求助免于犯罪的祷文
唯愿有人守护我的口，在我唇上加盖审慎的封印，使我不致跌倒，免得我的舌头毁灭我！A Prayer for Help against Sinning O that a guard were set over my mouth, and a seal of prudence upon my lips, that it may keep me from falling, so that my tongue may not destroy me!