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 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 servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in 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 refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

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

An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous 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 calamity 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 bribe 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 harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

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

A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a 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 there is quarrelling.

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 righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

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 buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

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 neighbor.

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

He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high 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 wayward 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 cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

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

A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, 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.

Wisdom is before the face of 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 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 that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

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; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.