Better a dry crust and with it peace
than a house where feast and dispute go together.
Where the son is profligate the shrewd slave is master,
with the other brothers, he will share the inheritance.
A crucible for silver, a furnace for gold,
but Yahweh for the testing of hearts!
An evil-doer pays attention to malicious lips,
a liar listens to a slanderous tongue.
To mock the poor is to insult his creator,
he who laughs at distress shall not go unpunished.
The crown of the aged is their children's children;
the children's glory in their father.
Fine words do not become the foolish,
false words become a prince still less.
A gift works like a talisman for him who gives it:
he prospers whichever way he turns.
He who covers an offense promotes love,
he who raises the matter again divides friends.
On a man of discernment a reproof makes more impression
than a hundred strokes on a fool.
The wicked man thinks of nothing but rebellion,
hence a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Rather come on a bear robbed of her cubs
than on a fool in his folly.
He who returns evil for good
will not rid his house of evil.
As well loose a flood as initiate legal proceedings;
break off before the dispute begins.
To absolve the guilty and condemn the virtuous,
both alike are abhorrent to Yahweh.
What good is money in a foolish hand?
To purchase wisdom, when he has no sense?
A friend is a friend at all times,
it is for adversity that a brother is born.
He lacks sense who offers guarantees
and goes surety for his neighbour.
He who has a taste for dispute has a taste for blows,
the man of haughty speech courts destruction.
The contrary heart does not find happiness,
the deceitful tongue falls into distress.
He who begets a stupid son begets him to his sorrow,
the father of a fool knows no joy.
A glad heart is excellent medicine,
a spirit depressed wastes the bones away.
Under cover of the cloak a venal man takes the gift
to pervert the course of justice.
The man of discernment has wisdom there before him,
but the eyes of the fool range to the ends of the earth.
A foolish son is his father's sorrow,
and the grief of her who gave him birth.
To fine the innocent is not right,
to strike the noble is still worse.
A man who can control his tongue has knowledge,
a man of discernment keeps his temper cool.
If a fool can hold his tongue, even he can pass for wise,
and pass for clever if he keeps his lips tight shut.
