3
1The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
2and the LORD tests hearts.
4
An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5
Whoever mocks the poor
3insults his Maker; he who is
4glad at calamity will not go
5unpunished.
6
6Grandchildren are
7the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7
Fine speech is not
8becoming to a fool; still less is
9false speech to a prince.
8
10A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.
9
Whoever
11covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter
12separates close friends.
10
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
11
An evil man seeks only rebellion, and
13a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
Let a man meet
14a she-bear robbed of her cubs
15rather than a fool in his folly.
13
If anyone
16returns evil for good,
17evil will not depart from his house.