1 B etter is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall share in the inheritance among the brothers.

3 T he fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips; and a liar listens to a mischievous tongue.

5 W hoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent or go unpunished.

6 C hildren’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.

7 E xcellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Fine or arrogant speech does not befit fool—much less do lying lips befit a prince.

8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

A bribe is like a bright, precious stone that dazzles the eyes and affects the mind of him who gives it; he prospers, whichever way he turns.

9 H e that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

A reproof enters deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 A n evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a stern and pitiless messenger shall be sent against him.

12 L et a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.

13 W hoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 T he beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.

15 H e that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination to the Lord.

16 W herefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool to buy skillful and godly Wisdom—when he has no understanding or heart for it?

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

A man void of good sense gives a pledge and becomes security for another in the presence of his neighbor.

19 H e loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

He who loves strife and is quarrelsome loves transgression and involves himself in guilt; he who raises high his gateway and is boastful and arrogant invites destruction.

20 H e that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

He who has a wayward and crooked mind finds no good, and he who has a willful and contrary tongue will fall into calamity.

21 H e that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

He who becomes the parent of a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom (pocket) to pervert the ways of justice.

24 W isdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

A man of understanding sets skillful and godly Wisdom before his face, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

A self-confident and foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 A lso to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

Also, to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

27 H e that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit.

28 E ven a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.