17 Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peace
Than a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.
² 
A wise servant will rule over the [unworthy] son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace [to the family]
And [the worthy servant] will share in the inheritance among the brothers.
³ 
The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But the Lord tests hearts.^(A)
4 
An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.
⁵ 
Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,
And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.^(B)
6 
Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].^(C)
7 
Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],
Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.
⁸ 
A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.
⁹ 
He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.
¹⁰ 
A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit
Than a hundred lashes into a fool.^(D)
11 
A rebellious man seeks only evil;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
¹² 
Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.^(E)
13 
Whoever returns evil for good,
Evil will not depart from his house.^(F)
14 
The beginning of strife is like letting out water [as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes];
Therefore ^[a]abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.
¹⁵ 
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous
Are both repulsive to the Lord.^(G)
16 
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?
¹⁷ 
A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.
¹⁸ 
A man lacking common sense gives a pledge
And becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.
¹⁹ 
He who loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who [proudly] raises his gate seeks destruction [because of his arrogant pride].
²⁰ 
He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.^(H)
21 
He who becomes the parent of a fool [who is spiritually blind] does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool [who is spiritually blind] has no joy.
²² 
A happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit dries up the bones.^(I)
23 
A wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocket
To pervert the ways of justice.
²⁴ 
[Skillful and godly] wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding [and he recognizes it],
But the eyes of a [thickheaded] fool are on the ends of the earth.
²⁵ 
A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And bitterness to her who gave birth to him.
²⁶ 
It is also not good to fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
²⁷ 
He who has knowledge restrains and is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a cool spirit (self-control, an even temper).^(J)
28 
Even a [callous, arrogant] fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.