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

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

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

A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.

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

The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.

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

An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.

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

He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

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 is their father.

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

Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.

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

A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

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

He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.

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

Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.

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

An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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

Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

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

Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will 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 strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.

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

He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

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

Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?

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

A friend loves 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 man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.

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

He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.

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

He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

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

He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

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

A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.

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

A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.

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

Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on 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 who bore him.

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

Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.

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

He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

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

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.