¹Better is a dry morsel with quietness ,

than a house full of feasting with strife .

²A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,

and shall have a part in the inheritance amongst the brothers .

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

but the LORD tests the hearts .

⁴An evildoer heeds wicked lips .

A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue .

⁵Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker .

He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished .

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

the glory of children is their parents.

⁷Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool ,

much less do lying lips fit a prince .

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

wherever he turns , he prospers .

⁹He who covers an offence promotes love;

but he who repeats a matter separates best friends .

¹⁰A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding

than a hundred lashes into a fool .

¹¹An evil man seeks only rebellion ;

therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him .

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

rather than a fool in his folly.

¹³Whoever rewards evil for good ,

evil shall not depart from his house .

¹⁴The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,

therefore stop contention before quarrelling breaks out .

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

both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD .

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

since he has no understanding ?

¹⁷A friend loves at all times ;

and a brother is born for adversity .

¹⁸A man void of understanding strikes hands ,

and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbour .

¹⁹He who loves disobedience loves strife .

One who builds a high gate seeks destruction .

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

and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble .

²¹He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.

The father of a fool has no joy .

²²A cheerful heart makes good medicine ,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones .

²³A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,

to pervert the ways of justice .

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

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

²⁵A foolish son brings grief to his father ,

and bitterness to her who bore him .

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good ,

nor to flog officials for their integrity .

²⁷He who spares his words has knowledge .

He who is even tempered is a man of understanding .

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

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