1 B etter is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

3 T he refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts.

4 A n evildoer gives heed to wicked lips; and a liar listens to a mischievous tongue.

5 W hoever 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 is their fathers.

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

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

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

11 A n 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.

13 W hoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

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

15 H e who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination to the Lord.

16 O f 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 loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

27 H e who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit.

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