1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.

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

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

2 A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage 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 servant who acts wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully,And will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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.

3 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

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

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

4 A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.

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

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

5 Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.

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

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

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

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

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

The Consequences Of Being A Fool

7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.

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

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

8 An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.

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

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

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.

9 He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.

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

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

10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

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

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

11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.

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

11 A rebellious man seeks only evil,So a cruel messenger will 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.

12 It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.

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

12 Let a (N)man meet a (O)bear robbed of her cubs,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.

13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.

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

13 He who (P)returns evil for good,(Q)Evil will 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.

14 The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.

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

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

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.

15 He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

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

15 He who (S)justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous,Both of them alike are an 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.

16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that 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 is there a price in the hand of a fool to (T)buy wisdom,When (e)he has no sense?

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?

17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.

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

17 A (U)friend loves 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.

18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.

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

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

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.

19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.

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

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

20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

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

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 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.

21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

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

21 He who (AA)sires a fool does so to his sorrow,And the father of a fool has 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.

22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

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

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

23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.

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

23 A wicked man receives a (AD)bribe from the bosomTo (AE)pervert the ways of justice.

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.

24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish 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 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 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.

How Fools Live

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.

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

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

26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.

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

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

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.

27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.

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

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

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.

28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

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

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.

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

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