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[1] Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
[2] A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
[3] A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
[4] An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
[5] Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
[6] Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
[7] Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
[8] A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
[9] Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
[10] Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
[11] An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
[12] The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And -- not a fool in his folly.
[13] Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
[14] The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
[15] Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
[16] Why [is] this -- a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
[17] At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
[18] A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
[19] Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
[20] The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
[21] Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
[22] A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
[23] A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
[24] The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool -- at the end of the earth.
[25] A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
[26] Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
[27] One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
[28] Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
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