Proverbs

Better a Dry Morsel in Quietness

1Better a dry morsel in quietnessthan a house full of feastingwith strife.

2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful sonand share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold,but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

4A wicked man listens to evil lips;a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker;whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,and the glory of a son is his father.

7Eloquent words are unfit for a fool;how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

8A bribe is a charm to its giver;wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,but he who brings it up separates friends.

10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernmentdeeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion;a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubsthan a fool in his folly.

13If anyone returns evil for good,evil will never leave his house.

14To start a quarrel is to release a flood;so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous—both are detestable to the LORD.

16Why should the fool have money in his handwith no intention of buying wisdom?

17A friend loves at all times,and a brother is born for adversity.

18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledgeand puts up security for his neighbor.

19He who loves transgression loves strife;he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

20The one with a perverse heart finds no good,and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

21A man fathers a fool to his own grief;the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine,but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man takes a covert bribeto subvert the course of justice.

24Wisdom is the focus of the discerning,but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son brings grief to his fatherand bitterness to her who bore him.

26It is surely not good to punish the innocentor to flog a noble for his honesty.

27A man of knowledge restrains his words,and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent,and discerning when he holds his tongue.

1Better is a dry morsel with quietness,than a house full of feasting with strife.

2A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame,and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold,but the LORD tests the hearts.

4An evildoer heeds wicked lips.A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

5Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

6Children’s children are the crown of old men;the glory of children is their parents.

7Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool,much less do lying lips fit a prince.

8A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it;wherever he turns, he prospers.

9He who covers an offense promotes love;but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

10A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understandingthan a hundred lashes into a fool.

11An evil man seeks only rebellion;therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

12Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man,rather than a fool in his folly.

13Whoever rewards evil for good,evil shall not depart from his house.

14The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam,therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

15He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous,both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,since he has no understanding?

17A friend loves at all times;and a brother is born for adversity.

18A man void of understanding strikes hands,and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

19He who loves disobedience loves strife.One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

20One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity,and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

21He who becomes the father of a fool grieves.The father of a fool has no joy.

22A cheerful heart makes good medicine,but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man receives a bribe in secret,to pervert the ways of justice.

24Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding,but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father,and bitterness to her who bore him.

26Also to punish the righteous is not good,nor to flog officials for their integrity.

27He who spares his words has knowledge.He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise.When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.