[1] Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with
strife. [2] A slave who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts
shamefully, and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers. [3] The
crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tries
hearts. [4] An evildoer listens to wicked lips; and a liar gives heed to a
mischievous tongue. [5] He who mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is
glad at calamity will not go unpunished. [6] Grandchildren are the crown of
the aged, and the glory of sons is their fathers. [7] Fine speech is not
becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince. [8] A bribe is
like a magic stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns he
prospers. [9] He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a
matter alienates a friend. [10] A rebuke goes deeper into a man of
understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. [11] An evil man seeks only
rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. [12] Let a man
meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly. [13]
If a man returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. [14]
The beginning of strife is like letting out water; so quit before the
quarrel breaks out. [15] He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns
the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD. [16] Why should a
fool have a price in his hand to buy wisdom, when he has no mind? [17] A
friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. [18] A man
without sense gives a pledge, and becomes surety in the presence of his
neighbor. [19] He who loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his
door high seeks destruction. [20] A man of crooked mind does not prosper,
and one with a perverse tongue falls into calamity. [21] A stupid son is a
grief to a father; and the father of a fool has no joy. [22] A cheerful
heart is a good medicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones. [23] A
wicked man accepts a bribe from the bosom to pervert the ways of justice.
[24] A man of understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a
fool are on the ends of the earth. [25] A foolish son is a grief to his
father and bitterness to her who bore him. [26] To impose a fine on a
righteous man is not good; to flog noble men is wrong. [27] He who
restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of
understanding. [28] Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when
he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
