1 B etter is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

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

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

4 A n evildoer listens to wicked lips; A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

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

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

6 G randchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

7 E xcellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.

Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

8 A bribe is a charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

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

He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

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

A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

11 A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 L et a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, 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 H e who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

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

14 T he beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

15 H e who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

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

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

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 lacking in sense pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 H e who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

20 H e who has a crooked mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 H e who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a 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 joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice.

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

24 W isdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

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

25 A 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 I t is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

27 H e who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 E ven a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.