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

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

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

¶ A prudent slave shall have rule over a son that causes 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 tries the hearts.

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

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

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

¶ Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he that is glad regarding the calamity of someone else shall not go 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 honour of the children are their fathers.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¶ The rebellious man seeks only evil; 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.

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

13 H e who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

¶ Whosoever rewards 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.

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

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 justifies the wicked and he that condemns 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?

¶ Of what good is the price to buy wisdom in the hand of the fool, seeing he has no heart to understand?

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

¶ A friend loves 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 strikes hands and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.

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

¶ Transgression loves him that loves strife, and he that exalts his gate seeks 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 has a perverse heart shall never find good, and he that stirs up trouble with his tongue shall fall into evil.

21 H e who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

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

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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

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

¶ A wicked man takes a gift in secret to pervert the paths 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 appears upon the countenance of him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool manifest his folly unto the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him.

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

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

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

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

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