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

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

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

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

5 H e who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad 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 C hildren’s children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.

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

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

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

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

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

10 R ebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on 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 n evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore 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 W hoever rewards 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 releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

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

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

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

A glad heart is good medicine, 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 sinful man receives pay in secret to change the right way into wrong-doing.

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 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 A lso, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes 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 has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

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 is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

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.