^1. BETTER is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of [1] feasting with strife.

^2. A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully, And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

^3. The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests hearts.

^4. An evildoer listens to wicked lips; A [2] liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

^5. He who mocks the poor taunts his Maker; He who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

^6. Grandchildren are the crown of old men, And the glory of sons is their fathers.

^7. [3] Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool, Much less are lying lips to a prince.

^8. A bribe is a [4] charm in the sight of its owner; Wherever he turns, he prospers.

^9. He who conceals a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.

^10. A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred blows into a fool.

^11. A rebellious man seeks only evil, So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

^12. Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.

^13. He who returns evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.

^14. The beginning of strife is like letting out water, So abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

^15. He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

^16. Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, When [5] he has no sense?

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

^18. A man lacking in [7] sense [6] pledges And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

^19. He who loves transgression loves strife; He who raises his door seeks destruction.

^20. He who has a crooked [8] mind finds no good, And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.

^21. He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.

^22. A joyful heart [9] is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones.

^23. A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice.

^24. Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding, 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. It is also not good to fine the righteous, Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

^27. He who restrains his words [10] has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

^28. Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.