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

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, 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.

A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

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

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

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

An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear 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.

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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

Children's children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers.

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

Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips 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.

A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

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

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

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

A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

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

An evil man seeketh only rebellion; 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.

Let 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.

Whoso rewardeth 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.

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

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

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

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?

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

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

A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

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

A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety 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.

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh 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.

He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

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

He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.

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

A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

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

A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, 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.

Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in 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.

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

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

Also to punish 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.

He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

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.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.