English Standard Version

New Living Translation

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

1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.

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

2A wise servant will rule over the master’s disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master’s children.

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

3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.

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

4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

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

5Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

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

6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

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

7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

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

8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!

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

9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

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

10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

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

11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.

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

12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

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

13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.

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

14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

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

15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.

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

16It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.

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

17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

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

18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend.

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

19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

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

20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

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

21It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

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

22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

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

23The wicked take secret bribes 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.

24Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

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

25Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

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

26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.

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

27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

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

28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

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.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.