1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness

than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who acts wisely will rule

over an heir who behaves shamefully,

and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.

3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold,

likewise the Lord tests hearts.

4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel;

a liar listens to a malicious tongue.

5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator;

whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly,

and the glory of children is their parents.

7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool;

how much less are lies for a ruler!

8A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it;

in whatever he does he succeeds.

9The one who forgives an offense seeks love,

but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.

10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person

than a hundred blows on a fool.

11An evil person seeks only rebellion,

and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,

than to encounter a fool in his folly.

13As for the one who repays evil for good,

evil will not leave his house.

14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water;

stop it before strife breaks out!

15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent –

both of them are an abomination to the Lord.

16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool,

since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?

17A friend loves at all times,

and a relative is born to help in adversity.

18The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge,

and puts up financial security for his neighbor.

19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression;

whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.

20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good,

and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.

21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

22A cheerful heart brings good healing,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked person receives a bribe secretly

to pervert the ways of justice.

24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person,

but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.

25A foolish child is a grief to his father,

and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26It is terrible to punish a righteous person,

and to flog honorable men is wrong.

27The truly wise person restrains his words,

and the one who stays calm is discerning.

28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise,

and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.