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

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it 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 who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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 the Lord tests hearts.

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

An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive 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.

He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

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

Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

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

Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to 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 a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

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

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

A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.

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

A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will 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 man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

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

He who returns evil for good, Evil will 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 like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

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

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are 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?

Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When he has no sense?

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

A friend loves 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 lacking in sense pledges And becomes guarantor 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 who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks 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 who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

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

He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a 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.

A joyful heart is good medicine, 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.

A wicked man receives a bribe from 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 in the presence of the one who has understanding, 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.

A 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.

It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

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

He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has 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 keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.