English Standard Version

International Standard Version

1Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

1Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal with strife.

2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

2A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.

3The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold— but the LORD assays hearts.

4An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk.

5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the pride of children is their parents.

7Fine speech is not becoming to a fool; still less is false speech to a prince.

7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince!

8A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.

8A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers.

9Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

9Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends.

10A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

11A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

12Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs rather than a fool in his folly.

12It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity.

13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house.

13The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home.

14The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out.

14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water— so drop the dispute before it escalates.

15He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.

15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both detestable to the LORD.

16Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense?

16What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless?

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble.

18One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.

18A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan, becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

19Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who makes his door high seeks destruction.

19The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

20The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

21He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

21The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one's strength.

23The wicked accepts a bribe in secret to pervert the ways of justice.

23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice.

24The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only to earthly goals.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.

26To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

26Furthermore, it isn't good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

27Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.

28Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.

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