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

2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

8 A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

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

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

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

14 The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

17 A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

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

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath no joy.

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

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

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.

27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.

Exhortations to Obedience

31 My son, forget not my law; But let thy heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and years of life, And peace, will they add to thee. 3 Let not kindness and truth forsake thee: Bind them about thy neck; Write them upon the tablet of thy heart: 4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, And lean not upon thine own understanding: 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, And he will direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes; Fear Jehovah, and depart from evil: 8 It will be health to thy navel, And marrow to thy bones. 9 Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase: 10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, And thy vats shall overflow with new wine. 11 My son, despise not the chastening of Jehovah; Neither be weary of his reproof: 12 For whom Jehovah loveth he reproveth; Even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, And the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the gaining of it is better than the gaining of silver, And the profit thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: And happy is every one that retaineth her. 19 Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding he established the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the depths were broken up, And the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let them not depart from thine eyes; Keep sound wisdom and discretion: 22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, And grace to thy neck. 23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, And thy foot shall not stumble. 24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. 25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh: 26 For Jehovah will be thy confidence, And will keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, When it is in the power of thy hand to do it. 28 Say not unto thy neighbor, Go, and come again, And to-morrow I will give; When thou hast it by thee. 29 Devise not evil against thy neighbor, Seeing he dwelleth securely by thee. 30 Strive not with a man without cause, If he have done thee no harm. 31 Envy thou not the man of violence, And choose none of his ways. 32 For the perverse is an abomination to Jehovah; But his friendship is with the upright. 33 The curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked; But he blesseth the habitation of the righteous. 34 Surely he scoffeth at the scoffers; But he giveth grace unto the lowly. 35 The wise shall inherit glory; But shame shall be the promotion of fools.