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

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

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

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

5 ¶ Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he that is glad regarding the calamity of someone else shall not go unpunished.

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

6 ¶ Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the honour of the children are their fathers.

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

7 ¶ Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool: much less lying lips for a prince!

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

8 ¶ A bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.

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

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

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

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

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

11 ¶ The rebellious man seeks only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

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

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.

13 ¶ Whosoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

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

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

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

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 a brother is born for adversity.

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

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

A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

24 ¶ 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.

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

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

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

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

Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

27 ¶ He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent 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 is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips 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.