1 B etter is a dry morsel with quietness, 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 wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the 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 the hearts.

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

4 A n evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful 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 reproaches his Maker; He who is glad 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 C hildren’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

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

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

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

8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; 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 covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

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

10 R ebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.

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

11 A n evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore 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 W hoever rewards 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 releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

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 just, 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 in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

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 devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.

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

19 H e who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

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

20 H e who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue 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 begets a scoffer 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 merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

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

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back 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 sight of him 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 A lso, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

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

27 H e who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

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

28 E ven a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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