| NET Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness 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 acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. | 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 refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts. | 3Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart. |
| 4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. | 4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander. |
| 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster 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 like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. | 6Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children. |
| 7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler! | 7Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler. |
| 8A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds. | 8A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper! |
| 9The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. | 9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. |
| 10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool. |
| 11An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished. |
| 12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly. | 12It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness. |
| 13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house. | 13If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house. |
| 14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out! | 14Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out. |
| 15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent--both of them are an abomination to the LORD. | 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD. |
| 16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom? | 16It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning. |
| 17A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity. | 17A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need. |
| 18The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor. | 18It’s poor judgment to guarantee another person’s debt or put up security for a friend. |
| 19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. | 19Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster. |
| 20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble. | 20The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble. |
| 21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, 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 cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | 22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength. |
| 23A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice. | 23The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to 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 child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. | 25Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth. |
| 26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong. | 26It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest. |
| 27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. | 27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. |
| 28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. | 28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent. |
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