1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A slave who deals wisely will have rule over a son who causes shame, And will have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Yahweh tries the hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; [And] he who is glad at calamity will not be unpunished.
6 Sons of sons are the crown of old men; And the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech does not become a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love; But he who harps on a matter separates best friends.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is [as] when one lets out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are disgusting to Yahweh.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
17 A companion 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 fellow man.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife: He who raises his gate high seeks destruction.
20 He who has a wayward heart finds no good; And he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 He who begets a fool [does it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to strike the noble for [their] uprightness.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge; And he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise; When he shuts his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.