“How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded?
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?

“Do not forsake her, and she will guard you;
Love her, and she will watch over you.

As a loving hind and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
Be exhilarated always with her love.

“Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;
Let us delight ourselves with caresses.

“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.

To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

“But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”

Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you,
Reprove a wise man and he will love you.

Hatred stirs up strife,
But love covers all transgressions.

The poor is hated even by his neighbor,
But those who love the rich are many.

A scoffer does not love one who reproves him,
He will not go to the wise.

Better is a dish of vegetables where love is
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

He who conceals a transgression seeks love,
But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Do not love sleep, or you will become poor;
Open your eyes, and you will be satisfied with food.

Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.