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

A dry piece of food with peace and quiet is better than a house full of food with fighting.

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

A servant who is wise in what he does will rule over a son who acts in shame. He will share in what is given as one of the brothers.

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

The melting-pot is for silver and the hot fire is for gold, but the Lord tests hearts.

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

A wrong-doer listens to sinful lips. A liar listens to a tongue that destroys.

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

He who laughs at the poor brings shame to his Maker. He who is glad at trouble will be punished.

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

Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old men and a son is proud of his father.

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

Fine speaking is not right for a fool. Even worse are lying lips to a ruler.

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

Being paid in secret for wrong-doing is like a stone of much worth to the one who has it. Wherever he turns, he does well.

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

He who covers a sin looks for love. He who tells of trouble separates good friends.

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

A man of understanding learns more from being told the right thing to do than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.

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

A man who will not obey looks only for what is bad. So one who has no loving-pity will be sent against him.

12 L et a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

A man meeting a bear robbed of her little ones is better than meeting a fool in his foolish way.

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

If a man returns bad for good, trouble will not leave his house.

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

The beginning of trouble is like letting out water. So stop arguing before fighting breaks out.

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

He who says that the sinful are right, and he who says those who do right are wrong, both are hated by the Lord.

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

It does a fool no good to try to buy wisdom, when he has no understanding.

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

A friend loves at all times. A brother is born to share troubles.

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

A man without good thinking makes promises, and becomes a trust for what another man owes his neighbor.

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

He who loves sin loves making trouble. He who opens his door wide for trouble is looking for a way to be destroyed.

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

He who has a sinful heart finds no good. He who has a sinful tongue falls into sin.

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

A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and the father of a fool has no joy.

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

A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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

A sinful man receives pay in secret to change the right way into wrong-doing.

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 with the one who has understanding, 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 who bore him.

A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and trouble to her who gave birth to him.

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

It is not good to punish those who are right with God, and it is wrong to beat men of honor for being faithful.

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

He who is careful in what he says has much learning, and he who has a quiet spirit is a man of understanding.

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 keeps quiet, is thought to be wise. When he closes his lips, he is thought of as a man of understanding.