1 M ejor es un bocado seco, y en paz, Que casa de contiendas llena de provisiones.

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

2 E l siervo prudente se enseñoreará del hijo que deshonra, Y con los hermanos compartirá la herencia.

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 para la plata, y la hornaza para el oro; Pero Jehová prueba los corazones.

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

4 E l malo está atento al labio inicuo; Y el mentiroso escucha la lengua detractora.

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

5 E l que escarnece al pobre afrenta a su Hacedor; Y el que se alegra de la calamidad no quedará sin castigo.

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

6 C orona de los viejos son los nietos, Y la honra de los hijos, sus padres.

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

7 N o conviene al necio la altilocuencia;!! Cuánto menos al príncipe el labio mentiroso!

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

8 P iedra preciosa es el soborno para el que lo practica; Adondequiera que se vuelve, halla prosperidad.

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 cubre la falta busca amistad; Mas el que la divulga, aparta 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 L a reprensión aprovecha al entendido, Más que cien azotes al necio.

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

11 E l rebelde no busca sino el mal, Y mensajero cruel será enviado contra él.

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

12 M ejor es encontrarse con una osa a la cual han robado sus cachorros, Que con un fatuo en su necedad.

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

13 E l que da mal por bien, No se apartará el mal de su casa.

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

14 E l que comienza la discordia es como quien suelta las aguas; Deja, pues, la contienda, antes que se enrede.

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

15 E l que justifica al impío, y el que condena al justo, Ambos son igualmente abominación a Jehová.

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

16 ¿ De qué sirve el precio en la mano del necio para comprar sabiduría, No teniendo 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 n todo tiempo ama el amigo, Y es como un hermano en tiempo de angustia.

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

18 E l hombre falto de entendimiento presta fianzas, Y sale por fiador en presencia de su amigo.

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

19 E l que ama la disputa, ama la transgresión; Y el que abre demasiado la puerta busca su ruina.

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 perverso de corazón nunca hallará el bien, Y el que revuelve con su lengua caerá en el mal.

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 E l que engendra al insensato, para su tristeza lo engendra; Y el padre del necio no se alegrará.

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

22 E l corazón alegre constituye buen remedio; Mas el espíritu triste seca los huesos.

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

23 E l impío toma soborno del seno Para pervertir las sendas de la justicia.

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

24 E n el rostro del entendido aparece la sabiduría; Mas los ojos del necio vagan hasta el extremo de la tierra.

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 es pesadumbre de su padre, Y amargura a la que lo dio a luz.

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

26 C iertamente no es bueno condenar al justo, Ni herir a los nobles que hacen lo recto.

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

27 E l que ahorra sus palabras tiene sabiduría; De espíritu prudente es el hombre entendido.

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

28 A un el necio, cuando calla, es contado por sabio; El que cierra sus labios es entendido.

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