1Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.

2An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.

3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.

4An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.

5Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.

6The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.

7High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.

8As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.

10A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.

12A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.

13Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.

14As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.

15He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.

16Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?

17A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.

18A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.

19He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.

20He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.

21He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.

22A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.

23A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.

24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.

26To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.

27He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.