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

A dry piece of food with peace and quiet is better than a house full of food with fighting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

He who laughs at the poor brings shame to his Maker. He who is glad at trouble will be punished.

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

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

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

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

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

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 E l que cubre la falta busca amistad; Mas el que la divulga, aparta al amigo.

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

10 L a reprensión aprovecha al entendido, Más que cien azotes al necio.

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

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

A man meeting a bear robbed of her little ones is better than meeting a fool in his foolish way.

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

If a man returns bad for good, trouble will not leave 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 trouble is like letting out water. So stop arguing before fighting breaks out.

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

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 ¿ De qué sirve el precio en la mano del necio para comprar sabiduría, No teniendo entendimiento?

It does a fool no good to try to buy wisdom, when he has no understanding.

17 E n todo tiempo ama el amigo, Y es como un hermano en tiempo de angustia.

A friend loves at all times. A brother is born to share troubles.

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

A man without good thinking makes promises, and becomes a trust for what another man owes 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 sin loves making trouble. He who opens his door wide for trouble is looking for a way to be destroyed.

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 sinful heart finds no good. He who has a sinful tongue falls into sin.

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

A foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and the father of a fool has no joy.

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

A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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

A sinful man receives pay in secret to change the right way into wrong-doing.

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

Wisdom is with the one who has understanding, 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 foolish son is a sorrow to his father, and trouble to her who gave birth to him.

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

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

He who is careful in what he says has much learning, and he who has a quiet spirit is a man of understanding.

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

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.