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!
