1Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

2A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.

3A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.

4An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

5Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

6Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.

7Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

8A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

10Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

11An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

12The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.

13Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

14The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

15Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.

16Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

17At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

18A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.

19Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.

20The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.

21Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.

22A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

23A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.

24The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.

25A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.

26Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.

27One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.

28Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!