1 B etter a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting strife.

2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.

A wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

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

The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.

4 A n evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 W hoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

Whoso mocketh a poor reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.

6 S ons' sons the crown of old men, And the glory of sons their fathers.

Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

7 N ot comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

Excellent speech becometh not a vile; how much less do lying lips a noble!

8 A stone of grace the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.

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

He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.

10 R ebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11 A n evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

An evil seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 T he meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.

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

13 W hoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

14 T he beginning of contention a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

The beginning of contention is when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.

15 W hoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these an abomination to Jehovah.

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.

16 W hy this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing hath no sense?

17 A t all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

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

A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.

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

He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.

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

He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

21 W hoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.

He that begetteth a fool to his sorrow, and the father of a vile hath no joy.

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

A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.

A wicked taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.

24 T he face of the intelligent to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.

Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25 A provocation to his father a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.

A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

26 A lso, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.

To punish a righteous is not good, nor to strike nobles because of uprightness.

27 O ne acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper a man of understanding.

He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.

28 E ven a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!

Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.