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

Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting 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 who causes shame, and shall share in the inheritance among the brothers.

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

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tries the hearts.

4 A n evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips; and a liar listens to a mischievous tongue.

5 H e who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, and he who is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent or go 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 is their fathers.

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

Fine or arrogant speech does not befit fool—much less do lying lips befit a prince.

8 A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

A bribe is like a bright, precious stone that dazzles the eyes and affects the mind of him who gives it; he prospers, whichever way he turns.

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

He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats or harps on a matter separates even close friends.

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

A reproof enters deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 A n evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a stern and pitiless 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.

Whoever rewards 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 water first trickles; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.

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

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an 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?

Of what use is money in the hand of a fool to buy skillful and godly Wisdom—when he has no understanding or heart for it?

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

A friend loves at all times, and is born, as is a brother, for adversity.

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

A man void of good sense gives a pledge and becomes security for another in the presence of his neighbor.

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

He who loves strife and is quarrelsome loves transgression and involves himself in guilt; he who raises high his gateway and is boastful and arrogant invites destruction.

20 H e who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

He who has a wayward and crooked mind finds no good, and he who has a willful and contrary tongue will fall into calamity.

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

He who becomes the parent of a fool does it to his sorrow, and the father of fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom (pocket) to pervert the ways of justice.

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.

A man of understanding sets skillful and godly Wisdom before his face, 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 self-confident and foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 A lso, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

Also, to punish or fine the righteous is not good, nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.

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

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool 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 holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.