1 (A)Better is a dry morsel and quietness with itThan a house full of (a)feasting with strife.

1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

1 Better a dry crust with peacethan a house full of feasting with strife.(A)

1 Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal with strife.

1 Better is a dry morsel [of food served] with quietness and peaceThan a house full of feasting [served] with strife and contention.

2 A servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful sonand share an inheritance among brothers.

2 A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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 (B)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,But (C)the Lord tests hearts.

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

3 A crucible for silver, and a smelter for gold,(B)and the Lord is the tester of hearts.(C)

3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold but the LORD assays hearts.

3 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,But the Lord tests hearts.(A)

4 An (D)evildoer listens to wicked lips;A (b)liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

4 A wicked person listens to malicious talk;(a)a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

4 Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk.

4 An evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.

5 He who mocks the (E)poor taunts his Maker;He who (F)rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Maker,(D)and one who rejoices over calamitywill not go unpunished.(E)

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster will not go unpunished.

5 Whoever mocks the poor taunts his Maker,And he who rejoices at [another’s] disaster will not go unpunished.(B)

6 (G)Grandchildren are the crown of old men,And the (H)glory of sons is their fathers.

6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly,and the pride of sons is their fathers.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the pride of children is their parents.

6 Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,And the glory of children is their fathers [who live godly lives].(C)

The Consequences Of Being A Fool

7 (c)(I)Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool,Much less are (J)lying lips to a prince.

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

7 Eloquent words are not appropriate on a fool’s lips;how much worse are lies for a ruler.

7 Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince!

7 Excellent speech does not benefit a fool [who is spiritually blind],Much less do lying lips benefit a prince.

8 A (K)bribe is a (d)charm in the sight of its owner;Wherever he turns, he prospers.

8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

8 A bribe(F) seems like a magic stone to its owner;wherever he turns, he succeeds.(G)

8 A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers.

8 A bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;Wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 He who (L)conceals a transgression seeks love,But he who repeats a matter (M)separates intimate friends.

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love,(H)but whoever gossips about it separates friends.(I)

9 Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends.

9 He who covers and forgives an offense seeks love,But he who repeats or gossips about a matter separates intimate friends.

10 A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understandingThan a hundred blows into a fool.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

10 A rebuke cuts into a perceptive personmore than a hundred lashes into a fool.

10 A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool.

10 A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spiritThan a hundred lashes into a fool.(D)

11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,So a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

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

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

11 A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

11 A rebellious man seeks only evil;Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a (N)man meet a (O)bear robbed of her cubs,Rather than a fool in his folly.

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

12 Better for a man to meet a bear robbed of her cubs(K)than a fool in his foolishness.

12 It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity.

12 Let a man meet a [ferocious] bear robbed of her cubsRather than the [angry, narcissistic] fool in his folly.(E)

13 He who (P)returns evil for good,(Q)Evil will not depart from his house.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

13 If anyone returns evil for good,(L)evil will never depart from his house.(M)

13 The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home.

13 Whoever returns evil for good,Evil will not depart from his house.(F)

14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water,So (R)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

14 To start a conflict is to release a flood;stop the dispute before it breaks out.(N)

14 Starting a quarrel is like spilling water so drop the dispute before it escalates.

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 (S)justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the just(O)both are detestable to the Lord.

15 Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both detestable to the LORD.

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteousAre both repulsive to the Lord.(G)

16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to (T)buy wisdom,When (e)he has no sense?

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

16 Why does a fool have money in his handwith no intention of buying wisdom?(P)

16 What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom, but is senseless?

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 (U)friend loves at all times,And a brother is born for adversity.

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

17 A friend loves at all times,(Q)and a brother is born for a difficult time.

17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble.

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

18 A man lacking in (f)sense (g)(V)pledgesAnd becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

18 One without sense enters an agreement(c)and puts up security for his friend.(R)

18 A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan, becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

18 A man lacking common sense gives a pledgeAnd becomes guarantor [for the debt of another] in the presence of his neighbor.

19 He who (W)loves transgression loves strife;He who (X)raises his door seeks destruction.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

19 One who loves to offend loves strife;(S)one who builds a high threshold invites injury.

19 The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

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 (h)mind (Y)finds no good,And he who is (Z)perverted in his language falls into evil.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.(T)

20 The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

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 (AA)sires a fool does so to his sorrow,And the father of a fool has no joy.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;the father of a fool has no joy.(U)

21 The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow the father of a fool has no joy.

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 (AB)joyful heart (i)is good medicine,But a broken spirit (AC)dries up the bones.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

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

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one's strength.

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 (AD)bribe from the bosomTo (AE)pervert the ways of justice.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

23 A wicked man secretly takes a bribe(W)to subvert the course of justice.(X)

23 The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe from the [hidden] pocketTo pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is in the presence of the one who has understanding,But the (AF)eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

24 Wisdom is the focus of the perceptive,but a fool’s eyes(Y) roam to the ends of the earth.

24 A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only to earthly goals.

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.

How Fools Live

25 A (AG)foolish son is a grief to his fatherAnd (AH)bitterness to her who bore him.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

25 A foolish son is grief to his fatherand bitterness to the one who bore him.(Z)

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.

25 A foolish son is a grief and anguish to his fatherAnd bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

26 It is also not good to (AI)fine the righteous,Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

26 It is certainly not good to fine an innocent personor to beat a noble for his honesty.(d)(AA)

26 Furthermore, it isn't good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

26 It is also not good to fine the righteous,Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

27 He who (AJ)restrains his words (j)has knowledge,And he who has a (AK)cool spirit is a man of understanding.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

27 The intelligent person restrains his words,(AB)and one who keeps a cool head(e)is a man of understanding.

27 Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

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 fool, when he (AL)keeps silent, is considered wise;When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool is considered wise when he keeps silent,discerning when he seals his lips.(AC) >

28 Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

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.

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