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

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

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

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

7 E xcellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less 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 present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; 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 covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

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

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

Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on 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, 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 W hoever rewards 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 releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 H e who begets a scoffer 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 merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

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

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

Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.

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

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