Proverbs

17 Better a dry morsel and peace therewith, Than a house full of contentious sacrifices.

2 A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame, And in the midst of brothers shall he share the inheritance.

3 Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, But he that trieth hearts is Yahweh.

4 Discord giveth heed to the aggrieving lip,—Falsehood giveth ear to the destroying tongue.

5 He that mocketh the poor hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress shall not be held innocent.

6 The crown of old men consists of children’s children, And the adornment of children is their fathers.

7 Unseemly in an unworthy man is the lip of excellence, Much more in one of noble mind the lip of falsehood.

8 A gift in the eyes of its owner is a stone of beauty, Whithersoever it turneth it bringeth prosperity.

9 He that hideth a transgression seeketh love, But he that repeateth a matter separateth intimate friends.

10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man Than a hundred stripes into a dullard!

11 Nothing less than rebellion doth a wicked man seek, And a relentless messenger shall be sent out against him.

12 Let a bereaved bear encounter a man, Rather than a dullard with his folly!

13 He that returneth evil for good Evil shall not depart from his house.

14 A letting forth of water is the beginning of strife, Therefore before it breaketh out abandon contention.

15 He that justifieth the lawless and he that condemneth the righteous An abomination to Yahweh are they both.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? That he who is without sense may acquire wisdom.

17 At all times doth a friend love, And a brother for distress must be born.

18 A man lacking sense is one who striketh hands, Giving security before his neighbour.

19 A lover of transgression is one who loveth strife, He that heighteneth his door seeketh grievous harm.

20 The crooked in heart shall not find good, And he that is perverse with his tongue shall fall into wickedness.

21 He that begetteth a dullard it is to his own grief, Neither can the father of the base rejoice.

22 A joyful heart worketh an excellent cure,—But a stricken spirit drieth up the bone.

23 A bribe out of his bosom doth a lawless man take, To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Before the face of the discerning is wisdom, But the eyes of a dullard are in the ends of the earth.

25 A vexation to his father is the son that is a dullard, And a bitterness to her that bare him.

26 Surely to chastise the righteous is not good, To smite the noble-minded for equity.

27 Sparing of his words is one who valueth knowledge, And of a thoughtful spirit is a man of intelligence.

28 Even a fool holding his peace is accounted wise,—He that closeth his lips [is thought] to have understanding.