Better a Dry Crust
1Better a dry crust with quiet than a house full of feasting with quarreling. 2A servant who acts with insight will rule over a son who brings shame, and will share the inheritance among the brothers. 3The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold, but Yahweh tests hearts. 4An evildoer listens to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a ruinous tongue. 5Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. 6Grandchildren are the crown of the old, and the glory of children is their fathers. 7Fine speech does not suit the godless fool—much less do lying lips a noble. 8A bribe is a charmed stone in the eyes of its owner: wherever he turns, he succeeds. 9Whoever covers over an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. 10A rebuke sinks deeper into a discerning man than a hundred blows into a fool. 11A rebel seeks nothing but evil, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him. 12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly. 13Whoever returns evil for good—evil will never leave his house.
Letting Out Water
14The start of strife is letting out water; drop the quarrel before it breaks open. 15Whoever acquits the guilty and whoever condemns the innocent—both alike are an abomination to Yahweh. 16What good is money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, when he has no sense? 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18A man who lacks sense strikes hands in pledge and puts up security before his neighbor. 19Whoever loves an offense loves strife; whoever builds his gate high is asking for ruin. 20The crooked in heart finds no good, and the twisted of tongue falls into evil. 21Whoever fathers a fool fathers grief, and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 22A glad heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones. 23The wicked man takes a bribe out of the fold of a robe to twist the paths of justice. 24Wisdom is there before the face of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth. 25A foolish son is a vexation to his father and bitterness to the one who bore him. 26To fine the innocent is not good, nor to flog nobles for their honesty. 27Whoever has knowledge holds back his words, and a man of understanding is of a rare spirit.* 28Even the senseless, when silent, is thought wise; when he shuts his lips, discerning.
Notes
- 17:27 — The Hebrew text is written “and cool of spirit” (weqar-ruah); the Masoretic tradition directs that it be read “precious of spirit” (yeqar-ruah), that is, noble or sparing of spirit. Many versions translate what is written, “of a cool spirit.” This translation follows what is read.
