| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 1Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness than a house full of feasting with strife. | 1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife. |
| 2A servant who acts wisely will rule over an heir who behaves shamefully, and will share the inheritance along with the relatives. | 2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son and will share the inheritance as one of the family. |
| 3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the LORD tests hearts. | 3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart. |
| 4One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. | 4A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue. |
| 5The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator; whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished. | 5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker; whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished. |
| 6Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly, and the glory of children is their parents. | 6Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children. |
| 7Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool; how much less are lies for a ruler! | 7Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool-- how much worse lying lips to a ruler! |
| 8A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it; in whatever he does he succeeds. | 8A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it; they think success will come at every turn. |
| 9The one who forgives an offense seeks love, but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends. | 9Whoever would foster love covers over an offense, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends. |
| 10A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person than a hundred blows on a fool. | 10A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool. |
| 11An evil person seeks only rebellion, and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him. | 11Evildoers foster rebellion against God; the messenger of death will be sent against them. |
| 12It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs, than to encounter a fool in his folly. | 12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool bent on folly. |
| 13As for the one who repays evil for good, evil will not leave his house. | 13Evil will never leave the house of one who pays back evil for good. |
| 14Starting a quarrel is like letting out water; stop it before strife breaks out! | 14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. |
| 15The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent--both of them are an abomination to the LORD. | 15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent-- the LORD detests them both. |
| 16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom? | 16Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? |
| 17A friend loves at all times, and a relative is born to help in adversity. | 17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. |
| 18The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge, and puts up financial security for his neighbor. | 18One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor. |
| 19The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression; whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction. | 19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin; whoever builds a high gate invites destruction. |
| 20The one who has a perverse heart does not find good, and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble. | 20One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper; one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble. |
| 21Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief, and the father of a fool has no joy. | 21To have a fool for a child brings grief; there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool. |
| 22A cheerful heart brings good healing, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. | 22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. |
| 23A wicked person receives a bribe secretly to pervert the ways of justice. | 23The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. |
| 24Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person, but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth. | 24A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth. |
| 25A foolish child is a grief to his father, and bitterness to the mother who bore him. | 25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who bore him. |
| 26It is terrible to punish a righteous person, and to flog honorable men is wrong. | 26If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good, surely to flog honest officials is not right. |
| 27The truly wise person restrains his words, and the one who stays calm is discerning. | 27The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. |
| 28Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise, and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning. | 28Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues. |
|
    |