1  ^rBetter is a dry morsel with quiet

than a house full of feasting¹ with strife.

2  A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully

and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3  ^sThe crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,

and the Lord tests hearts.

4  An evildoer listens to wicked lips,

and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5  ^tWhoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;

^uhe who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

6  Grandchildren are ^vthe crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their fathers.

7  Fine speech is ^wnot becoming to a fool;

still less is false speech to a prince.

8  ^xA bribe is like a magic² stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;

wherever he turns he prospers.

9  Whoever ^ycovers an offense seeks love,

but ^zhe who repeats a matter separates close friends.

10  ^aA rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding

than a hundred blows into a fool.

11  An evil man seeks only rebellion,

and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12  Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs

rather than a fool in his folly.

13  If anyone ^breturns evil for good,

evil will not depart from his house.

14  ^cThe beginning of strife is like letting out water,

so quit before the quarrel breaks out.