✧Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife. ✧2A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren. ✧3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts. ✧4An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue. ✧5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. ✧6Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children are their fathers. ✧7Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince. ✧8A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. ✧9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends. ✧10A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool. ✧11An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. ✧12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly. ✧13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house. ✧14The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling. ✧15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. ✧16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding? ✧17A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity. ✧18A man void of understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor. ✧19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction. ✧20He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. ✧21He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy. ✧22A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones. ✧23A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice. ✧24Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. ✧25A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him. ✧26Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness. ✧27He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. ✧28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.