1
1Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.
2
A servant who deals wisely will rule over 2a son who acts shamefully and 3will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
4The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, 5and the LORD tests hearts.
4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5
Whoever mocks the poor 6insults his Maker; he who is 7glad at calamity will not go 8unpunished.
6
9Grandchildren are 10the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7
Fine speech is not 11becoming to a fool; still less is 12false speech to a prince.
8
13A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.
9
Whoever 14covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter 15separates close friends.
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 16a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
Let a man meet 17a she-bear robbed of her cubs 18rather than a fool in his folly.
13
If anyone 19returns evil for good, 20evil will not depart from his house.
14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so 21quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15
He who 22justifies the wicked and he who 23condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16
Why should a fool have money in his hand 24to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
17
25A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18
One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19
Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who 26makes his door high seeks destruction.
20
27A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21
He who 28sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.