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

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

2 A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in 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 Jehovah trieth the hearts.

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

4 T he evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

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

5 W hoso mocketh a poor reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

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 vile; how much less do lying lips a noble!

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

8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: 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 transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again 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 deeply into him that hath understanding than a 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 seeketh only rebellion; but 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 contention is when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

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 righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.

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

16 T o what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing hath no sense?

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 T he 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 senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

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 a quarrel; he that maketh high 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 perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

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 to his sorrow, and the father of a vile 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 joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up 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 taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths 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 bore him.

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

26 T o punish a righteous is not good, nor to strike nobles because of uprightness.

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 a cool 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 reckoned wise, he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.

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