1 E s mejor un mendrugo de pan, en paz, que carne en abundancia, en medio de peleas.

Better is a dry morsel with quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 E l criado astuto se vuelve patrón del hijo vago, y comparte la herencia con los otros hermanos.

A wise servant shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall share in the inheritance among the brothers.

3 E l crisol pone a prueba la plata, el horno pone a prueba el oro, y el Señor pone a prueba los corazones.

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

4 E l malvado está atento a los labios inicuos; el mentiroso hace caso de la lengua infamante.

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

5 E l que ofende al pobre ofende a su Creador; no queda impune el que se alegra de su mal.

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

6 L os nietos son la corona de los ancianos, Y los padres son la honra de los hijos.

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

7 N o le queda al necio la grandilocuencia, y menos aún al príncipe el hablar con mentira.

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

8 Q uien practica el soborno, lo considera valioso pues le va bien en todo lo que hace.

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 E l que perdona el pecado, busca afecto; el que lo divulga, aleja al amigo.

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

10 G ana más con un regaño quien es inteligente, que lo que gana el necio que recibe cien azotes.

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

11 E l que es rebelde no busca más que el mal, pero un día se enfrentará a un emisario cruel.

An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a stern and pitiless messenger shall be sent against him.

12 E s mejor enfrentarse con una osa furiosa que lidiar con la obstinación de un necio.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Q uien paga mal el bien recibido, merece que el mal no se aparte de su casa.

Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 E l comienzo de un conflicto pronto se vuelve un río desbordado; es mejor controlarlo, antes de que se desborde.

The beginning of strife is as when water first trickles; therefore stop contention before it becomes worse and quarreling breaks out.

15 J ustificar al malvado y condenar al justo es igual de repugnante para el Señor.

He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both an abomination to the Lord.

16 ¿ Cómo puede el necio adquirir sabiduría, si tiene dinero pero no tiene entendimiento?

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 E l amigo ama en todo momento; en tiempos de angustia es como un hermano.

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

18 ¡ Qué poco inteligente es comprometerse y salir fiador en favor de un amigo!

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

19 ¿ Quieres pelear? ¡Quieres pecar! ¿Quieres darte importancia? ¡Quieres problemas!

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 E l de corazón malvado nunca da con el bien; el que se enreda con su lengua cae en desgracia.

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 S er padre de un necio es motivo de tristeza; ser padre de un necio no es motivo de alegría.

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

22 U n corazón alegre es la mejor medicina; un ánimo triste deprime a todo el cuerpo.

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

23 E l impío acepta soborno y se lo guarda para corromper las sendas de la justicia.

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

24 E l rostro inteligente refleja sabiduría, pero el necio vaga con la mirada perdida.

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 E l hijo necio pone triste a su padre y le amarga la vida a su madre.

A self-confident and foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 N o se debe condenar al que es inocente, ni castigar a quien es honorable y honrado.

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

27 S abio es quien cuida sus palabras; inteligente es quien tiene un espíritu prudente.

He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding has a cool spirit.

28 C uando el necio calla, pasa por sabio; cuando no abre la boca, pasa por inteligente.

Even a fool when he holds his peace is considered wise; when he closes his lips he is esteemed a man of understanding.