1 B etter is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

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

3 T he refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests the hearts.

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

4 A n evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

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

5 W hoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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

6 C hildren’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.

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

7 A rrogant speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

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

8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

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 H e who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

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

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

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

11 A n evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

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

12 L et a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

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

13 W hoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

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

14 T he beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

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

15 H e who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

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

16 W hy is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

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

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

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

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

19 H e who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

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 O ne who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

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 H e who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

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

22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

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

23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

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

24 W isdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

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 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

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

26 A lso to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

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

27 H e who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

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

28 E ven a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

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