The Complete Jewish Bible CJB
New King James Version NKJV
1 Better a dry piece of bread with calm than a house full of food but also full of strife.
1
Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 An intelligent slave will rule a shameful son and share the inheritance with the brothers.
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A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, And will share an inheritance among the brothers.
3 The crucible [tests] silver, and the furnace [tests] gold, but the one who tests hearts is ADONAI.
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The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips; a liar listens to destructive talk.
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An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor insults his maker; he who rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
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He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, while the glory of children is their ancestors.
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Children's children are the crown of old men, And the glory of children is their father.
7 Fine speech is unbecoming to a boor, and even less lying lips to a leader.
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Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, Much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A bribe works like a charm, in the view of him who gives it -wherever it turns, it succeeds.
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A present is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 He who conceals an offense promotes love, but he who harps on it can separate even close friends.
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He who covers a transgression seeks love, But he who repeats a matter separates friends.
10 A rebuke makes more impression on a person of understanding than a hundred blows on a fool.
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Rebuke is more effective for a wise man Than a hundred blows on a fool.
11 An evil person seeks only rebellion, but a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
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An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Rather meet a bear robbed of its cubs than encounter a fool in his folly.
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Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Evil will not depart from the house of him who returns evil for good.
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Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil will not depart from his house.
14 Starting a fight is like letting water through [a dike] -better stop the quarrel before it gets worse.
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The beginning of strife is like releasing water; Therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.
15 He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous -both alike are an abomination to ADONAI.
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He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, Both of them alike are an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why would a fool wish to pay for wisdom when he has no desire to learn?
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Why is there in the hand of a fool the purchase price of wisdom, Since he has no heart for it?
17 A friend shows his friendship at all times -it is for adversity that [such] a brother is born.
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A friend loves at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 He who gives his hand to guarantee a loan for his neighbor lacks good sense.
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A man devoid of understanding shakes hands in a pledge, And becomes surety for his friend.
19 Those who love quarreling love giving offense; those who make their gates tall are courting disaster.
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He who loves transgression loves strife, And he who exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 A crooked-hearted person will find nothing good, and the perverse of speech will end in calamity.
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He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.
21 He who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow, and the father of a boor has no joy.
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He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow, And the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A happy heart is good medicine, but low spirits sap one's strength.
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A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 From under a cloak a bad man takes a bribe to pervert the course of justice.
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A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice.
24 The discerning person focuses on wisdom there before him, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
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Wisdom is in the sight of him who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A son who is a fool means anger for his father and bitterness for the mother who gave him birth.
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A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 To punish the innocent is not right, likewise to flog noble people for their uprightness.
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Also, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to strike princes for their uprightness.
27 A knowledgeable person controls his tongue; a discerning person controls his temper.
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He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool, if he stays silent, is thought wise; he who keeps his mouth shut can pass for smart.
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Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.