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

¶ Better is a dry morsel in peace than the house of contention full of sacrifices for a feast.

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

¶ A prudent slave shall have rule over a son that causes shame and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

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

¶ The fining 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 evil doer gives heed to false lips, and a liar gives ear to the tongue which curses.

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

¶ Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he that is glad regarding the calamity of someone else shall not 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 honour of the children are their fathers.

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

¶ Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool: much less lying lips for 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 as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.

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

¶ He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.

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

¶ Reproof is of more benefit to a wise man than a hundred stripes to a fool.

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

¶ The rebellious man seeks only evil; therefore a cruel 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.

¶ It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

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

¶ Whosoever 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.

¶ To release the waters (to speak rashly) is the beginning of contention; therefore, leave off strife before it gets started.

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

¶ He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both are 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 good is the price to buy wisdom in the hand of the fool, seeing he has no heart to understand?

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

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

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

¶ A man void of understanding strikes hands and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.

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

¶ Transgression loves him that loves strife, and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.

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

¶ He that has a perverse heart shall never find good, and he that stirs up trouble with his tongue shall fall into evil.

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

¶ He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of a fool shall have no joy.

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

¶ A joyful heart shall do good like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

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

¶ A wicked man takes a gift in secret to pervert the paths of judgment.

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

¶ Wisdom appears upon the countenance of him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool manifest his folly unto the ends of the earth.

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

¶ The foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bore him.

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

¶ It is certainly not good to condemn the just, nor to smite princes for doing that which is upright.

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 is of an excellent 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 is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.