1 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.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,

but Yahweh tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips.

A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.

He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;

the glory of children is their parents.

7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,

much less do lying lips fit a prince.

8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;

wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who covers an offense promotes love;

but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding

than a hundred lashes into a fool.

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion;

therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,

rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good,

evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,

therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,

both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.

16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,

since he has no understanding?

17 A friend loves at all times;

and a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands,

and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He who loves disobedience loves strife.

One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

20 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,

and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.

The father of a fool has no joy.

22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,

to pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,

but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father,

and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good,

nor to flog officials for their integrity.

27 He who spares his words has knowledge.

He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.

When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

1 Better [is] a dry morsel in peace than the house of contention full of sacrifices [for a feast].

2 A prudent servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

3 The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tries the hearts.

4 An evil doer gives heed to false lips, [and] a liar gives ear to the tongue which curses.

5 Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, [and] he that is glad regarding the calamity [of someone else] shall not go unpunished.

6 Children's children [are] the crown of old men, and the honour of the children [are] their fathers.

7 Excellent speech is not suitable for a fool: much less lying lips for a prince!

8 A bribe [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.

9 He that covers a transgression seeks love, but he that repeats a matter separates [very] friends.

10 Reproof is of more benefit to a wise man than a hundred stripes to a fool.

11 The rebellious [man] seeks only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

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

14 To release the [waters (to speak rashly)] is the beginning of contention; therefore, leave off strife before it gets started.

15 He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.

16 Of what good is the price to buy wisdom in the hand of the fool, seeing [he has] no heart [to understand]?

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

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands [and] becomes surety in the presence of his friend.

19 Transgression loves him that loves strife, [and] he that exaltes his gate seeks destruction.

20 He that has a perverse heart shall never find good, and he that stirs up [trouble] with his tongue shall fall into evil.

21 He that begets a fool [does it] to his sorrow, and the father of a fool shall have no joy.

22 A joyful heart shall do good [like] a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.

23 A wicked [man] takes a gift in secret to pervert the paths of judgment.

24 Wisdom [appears] upon the countenance of him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool [manifest his folly] unto the ends of the earth.

25 The foolish son [is] a grief to his father and bitterness to her that bore him.

26 It is certainly not good to condemn the just, nor to smite princes for doing that which is upright.

27 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.: