1 Better a dry crust with quietthan a house full of feasting with quarrels.
2 An insightful servant rules over a disgraceful sonand will divide an inheritancewith the brothers.
3 A crucible is for silver and a furnace for gold,but the Lord tests the heart.
4 An evildoer pays attention to guilty lips;a liar listens to a destructive tongue.
5 Those who mock the poor insult their maker;those who rejoice in disaster won’t go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Too much talking isn’t right for a fool;even less so false speech for an honorable person.
8 A bribe seems magical in the eyes of those who give it,granting success to all who use it.
9 One who seeks love conceals an offense,but one who repeats it divides friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper to an understanding personthan a hundred lashes to a fool.
11 Evil people seek only rebellion;a cruel messenger will be sent against them.
12 Safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubsthan fools in their folly.
13 Evil will never depart from the houseof those who return evil for good.
14 The start of a quarrel is like letting out water,so drop the dispute before it breaks out.
15 Judging the righteous wicked and the wicked righteous—the Lord detests both of these.
16 Why should a fool have moneyto pay for wisdom? He has no mind.
17 Friends love all the time,and kinsfolk are born for times of trouble.
18 One with no sense shakes hands on a deal,securing a loan for a friend.
19 Those who love an offense love a quarrel;those who build a high doorway invite a collapse.
20 Those with crooked hearts won’t prosper,and those with twisted tongues will fall into trouble.
21 Having a fool for a son brings grief;there’s no joy for a scoundrel’s father.
22 A joyful heart helps healing,but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked take secret bribesto twist the way of justice.
24 Wisdom is right in front of those with understanding,but the eyes of fools are off to the edges of the earth.
25 A foolish son is irritating to his fatherand bitter to her who gave birth to him.
26 It isn’t good to punish the righteous,to strike the honorable for their integrity.
27 Wise are those who restrain their talking;people with understanding are coolheaded.
28 Fools who keep quiet are deemed wise;those who shut their lips are smart.