17¹ Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it Than a house full of feasting with strife .

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

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

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

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

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

⁷ Excellent speech is not fitting for a fool , Much e less are lying lips to a prince .

⁸ A bribe is a charm e in the sight of its owner ; Wherever e e he turns , he prospers .

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁵ He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous , Both e of them alike are an abomination to the Lord .

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

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

¹⁸ A man lacking in sense pledges e And becomes guarantor in the presence of his neighbor .

¹⁹ He who loves transgression loves strife ; He who raises his door seeks destruction .

²⁰ He who has a crooked mind finds no good , And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil .

²¹ He who sires a fool does so to his sorrow , And the father of a fool has no joy .

²² A joyful heart is good medicine , But a broken spirit dries up the bones .

²³ A wicked man receives a bribe from the bosom To pervert the ways of justice .

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

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father And bitterness to her who bore him.

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

²⁷ He who restrains his words has knowledge , And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding . ²⁸ Even a fool , when he keeps silent , is considered wise ; When he closes his lips , he is considered prudent .

Exhortations to Obedience

3¹ My son , do not forget my teaching , But let your heart keep my commandments ; ² For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you. ³ Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck , Write them on the tablet of your heart . ⁴ So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man . ⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding . ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight .

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes ; Fear the Lord and turn away from evil . ⁸ It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones . ⁹ Honor the Lord from your wealth And from the first of all your produce ; ¹⁰ So your barns will be filled with plenty And your vats will overflow with new wine . ¹¹ My son , do not reject the discipline of the Lord Or loathe His reproof , ¹² For whom the Lord loves He reproves , Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights .

¹³ How blessed is the man who finds wisdom And the man who gains understanding . ¹⁴ For her profit is better than the profit of silver And her gain better than fine gold . ¹⁵ She is more precious than jewels ; And nothing e you desire compares with her. ¹⁶ Long life is in her right hand ; In her left hand are riches and honor . ¹⁷ Her ways are pleasant ways And all her paths are peace . ¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who hold her fast . ¹⁹ The Lord by wisdom founded the earth , By understanding He established the heavens . ²⁰ By His knowledge the deeps were broken up And the skies drip with dew .

²¹ My son , let them not vanish from your sight ; Keep sound wisdom and discretion , ²² So they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck . ²³ Then you will walk in your way securely And your foot will not stumble . ²⁴ When you lie down , you will not be afraid ; When you lie down , your sleep will be sweet . ²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden fear Nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes ; ²⁶ For the Lord will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught .

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due , When it is in your power to do it. ²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor , "Go , and come back , And tomorrow I will give it," When you have it with you. ²⁹ Do not devise harm against your neighbor , While he lives securely beside you. ³⁰ Do not contend with a man without cause , If he has done you no harm . ³¹ Do not envy a man of violence And do not choose any of his ways . ³² For the devious are an abomination to the Lord ; But He is intimate with the upright . ³³ The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked , But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous . ³⁴ Though He scoffs at the scoffers , Yet He gives grace to the afflicted . ³⁵ The wise will inherit honor , But fools display dishonor .