17 It is better to eat a piece of dry bread in a quiet place,
than to eat a big feast in a house full of arguments.
2 A slave who is wise will have authority over a son who does stupid things.
When his master dies, that slave will receive some of his valuable things.
3 You need a hot fire to make silver and gold become pure.
It is the Lord who does that for people,
to show what they are really like.
4 People who do evil things listen to evil advice.
People who tell lies listen to other people's lies.
5 If you laugh at poor people,
you are insulting God, who made them.
If you are happy when trouble happens to other people,
you will receive the punishment that you deserve.
6 Old people should be proud of their grandchildren.
In the same way, children should be proud of their parents.
7 It does not seem right when a fool says clever things.
It is certainly not right when a ruler tells lies.
8 Somebody who offers a bribe thinks that it will work like magic.
It will help him to do whatever he wants to do.
9 If you forgive people when they hurt you,
they will still love you.
But if you continue to talk about what they have done,
they will no longer be your friends.
10 You can warn a wise person once and he will learn what is right.
But a fool never learns, even if you hit him a hundred times.
11 An evil person never obeys authority,
so a cruel messenger will come to punish him.
12 Do not go near a fool who is doing stupid things.
It would be safer to meet a mother bear who has lost her babies.
13 If people are kind to you, do not do evil things in return.
Anyone who does that will always have trouble in his home.
14 It is difficult to stop a quarrel once it has started.
It is like water that pours out of a broken pot. Stop it quickly!
15 If a judge says that a guilty person is not guilty,
the Lord hates it.
If a judge punishes someone who is not guilty,
the Lord hates that too.
16 Money does not help a foolish person,
because he does not want to become wise.
17 A friend will always show that he loves you.
Relatives are there to help you when you are in trouble.
18 Only a stupid person promises to pay someone else's debts,
even if he is a friend or a neighbour.
19 Someone who loves to argue loves sin.
Someone who boasts causes trouble for himself.
20 Anyone who thinks about bad things will not do well in life.
Anyone who deceives people with lies will have a lot of trouble.
21 To have a foolish son makes parents sad.
The father of a fool is never happy.
22 If you are happy in life, you will be healthy.
But if you are sad and upset, your body will be weak.
23 Wicked judges secretly accept bribes.
Then they are not fair when they judge.
24 A person who knows what is right can easily find wisdom.
But a foolish person looks everywhere and never finds it.
25 To have a foolish son makes his father sad.
It makes his mother very upset.
26 It is not right to punish a person who has done nothing wrong.
It is wrong to beat honest people with sticks.
27 A wise person does not talk too much.
Anyone who keeps quiet shows that he understands things.
28 Even a fool seems to be wise if he keeps quiet.
If he keeps his mouth shut, people will think that he is clever.
17 It is better to have nothing but a dry piece of bread to eat in peace than a whole house full of food with everyone arguing.
2 A smart servant will gain control over his master’s foolish son. He will be treated like a son and get a share of the inheritance.
3 Fire is used to make gold and silver pure, but a person’s heart is made pure by the Lord .
4 People who do evil listen to evil ideas. Liars listen to liars.
5 Whoever makes fun of beggars insults their Maker. Whoever laughs at someone else’s trouble will be punished.
6 Grandchildren are the pride and joy of old age, and children take great pride in their parents.
7 You wouldn’t expect to hear a fine speech from a fool, and you shouldn’t expect lies from a ruler.
8 Some people think a bribe is like a lucky charm—it seems to work wherever they go.
9 Forgive someone, and you will strengthen your friendship. Keep reminding them, and you will destroy it.
10 Smart people learn more from a single correction than fools learn from a hundred beatings.
11 Those who are evil only want to cause trouble. In the end, punishment without mercy will be sent to them.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool who is busy doing foolish things.
13 If you do wrong to those who were good to you, you will have trouble the rest of your life.
14 The start of an argument is like a small leak in a dam. Stop it before a big fight breaks out.
15 The Lord hates these two things: punishing the innocent and letting the guilty go free.
16 Money is wasted on fools. They cannot buy wisdom when they have no sense.
17 A friend loves you all the time, but a brother was born to help in times of trouble.
18 Only a fool would promise to pay for someone else’s debts.
19 A troublemaker loves to start arguments. Anyone who likes to brag is asking for trouble.
20 Crooks will not profit from their crimes, and those who plan to cause trouble will be trapped when it comes.
21 A man who has a fool for a son will be disappointed. A fool brings no joy to his father.
22 Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.
23 A wicked judge will accept a bribe, and that keeps justice from being done.
24 Intelligent people think about what needs to be done here and now. Fools are always dreaming about faraway places.
25 Foolish children upset their parents and make them sad.
26 It is wrong to punish an innocent person or attack leaders for doing what is right.
27 Intelligent people choose their words carefully. Those who know what they are doing remain calm. [ a ]
28 Silent fools seem wise. They say nothing and appear to be smart.
17 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord .
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath 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 that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
17 ( A ) Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
Than a house full of [ a ] 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 ( B ) refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But ( C ) the Lord tests hearts.
4 An ( D ) evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A [ b ] liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 One who mocks the ( E ) poor taunts his Maker;
One who ( F ) rejoices at disaster will not go unpunished.
6 ( G ) Grandchildren are the crown of the old,
And the ( H ) glory of sons is their fathers.
7 [ c ] ( I ) Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,
Much less are ( J ) lying lips to a prince.
8 A ( K ) bribe is a [ d ] charm in the sight of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 One who ( L ) conceals an offense seeks love,
But one who repeats a matter ( M ) separates close friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding
Than a hundred blows into a fool.
11 A rebellious person seeks only evil,
So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a ( N ) person meet a ( O ) bear robbed of her cubs,
Rather than a fool in his foolishness.
13 One who ( P ) returns evil for good,
( Q ) Evil will not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
So ( R ) abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.
15 One who ( S ) justifies the wicked and one who condemns the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord .
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to ( T ) buy wisdom,
When [ e ] he has no sense?
17 A ( U ) friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A person lacking in [ f ] sense ( V ) shakes hands
And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.
19 One who ( W ) loves wrongdoing loves strife;
One who ( X ) makes his doorway high seeks destruction.
20 One who has a crooked [ g ] mind ( Y ) finds nothing good,
And one who is [ h ] ( Z ) corrupted in his language falls into evil.
21 He who ( AA ) fathers a fool does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A ( AB ) joyful heart [ i ] is good medicine,
But a broken spirit ( AC ) dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person accepts a ( AD ) bribe [ j ] from an inside pocket
To ( AE ) pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is in the presence of one who has understanding,
But the ( AF ) eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A ( AG ) foolish son is a grief to his father,
And ( AH ) bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
26 It is also not good to ( AI ) fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who ( AJ ) withholds his words [ k ] has knowledge,
And one who has a ( AK ) cool spirit is a person of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he ( AL ) keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.
17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife. ( A )
2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor ( D ) shows contempt for their Maker; ( E )
whoever gloats over disaster ( F ) will not go unpunished. ( G )
6 Children’s children ( H ) are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
how much worse lying lips to a ruler! ( I )
8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn. ( J )
9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, ( K )
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. ( L )
10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly. ( M )
14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. ( P )
16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it? ( S )
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity. ( T )
18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbor. ( U )
19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool. ( V )
24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes ( AA ) wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him. ( AB )
26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, ( AC )
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, ( AD )
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. ( AE )
28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues. ( AF )
