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

Better a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of 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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.

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

A refining pot for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts Jehovah.

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

An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

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

Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

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

Sons' sons the crown of old men, And the glory of sons their fathers.

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

Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

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

A stone of grace the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

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

Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

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

Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

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

An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

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

The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.

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

Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 contention a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

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

Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these an abomination to Jehovah.

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

Why this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

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

At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

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

A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.

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

Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.

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

The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.

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

Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.

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

A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

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

A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside 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.

The face of the intelligent to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.

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

A provocation to his father a foolish son, 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 fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.

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

One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper 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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!