For wisdom’s profit is better than the profit of silver,
And her gain is better than fine gold.

But in the end she is bitter like [the extract of] wormwood,
Sharp as a two-edged sword.

“For wisdom is better than rubies;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.

“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield is better than choicest silver.

Better is he who is lightly esteemed and has a servant,
Than he who [boastfully] honors himself [pretending to be what he is not] and lacks bread.

Better is a little with the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord
Than great treasure and trouble with it.

Better is a dinner of vegetables and herbs where love is present
Than a fattened ox served with hatred.

Better is a little with righteousness
Than great income [gained] with injustice.

How much better it is to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver.

It is better to be humble in spirit with the lowly
Than to divide the spoil with the proud (haughty, arrogant).

He who is slow to anger is better and more honorable than the mighty [soldier],
And he who rules and controls his own spirit, than he who captures a city.

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

Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity
Than a [rich] man who is twisted in his speech and is a [shortsighted] fool.

That which is desirable in a man is his loyalty and unfailing love,
But it is better to be a poor man than a [wealthy] liar.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.

It is better to dwell in a desert land
Than with a contentious and troublesome woman.

A wise man is strong,
And a man of knowledge strengthens his power;

For it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,”
Than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince,
Whom your eyes have seen.

It is better to live in a corner of the housetop [on the flat roof, exposed to the weather]
Than in a house shared with a quarrelsome (contentious) woman.

Better is an open reprimand [of loving correction]
Than love that is hidden.

He who is satisfied loathes honey,
But to the hungry soul any bitter thing is sweet.

Do not abandon your own friend and your father’s friend,
And do not go to your brother’s house in the day of your disaster.
Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother who is far away.

Better is the poor who walks in his integrity
Than he who is crooked and two-faced though he is rich.

Surely the churning of milk produces butter,
And wringing the nose produces blood;
So the churning of anger produces strife.

Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away,
And wine to him whose life is bitter.