Good News Translation GNT
World English Bible WEB
1 Better to eat a dry crust of bread with peace of mind than have a banquet in a house full of trouble.
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Better is a dry morsel with quietness, Than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A shrewd servant will gain authority over a master's worthless son and receive a part of the inheritance.
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A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, And shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Gold and silver are tested by fire, and a person's heart is tested by the Lord.
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The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, But Yahweh tests the hearts.
4 Evil people listen to evil ideas, and liars listen to lies.
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An evil-doer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 If you make fun of poor people, you insult the God who made them. You will be punished if you take pleasure in someone's misfortune.
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Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Grandparents are proud of their grandchildren, just as children are proud of their parents.
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Children's children are the crown of old men; The glory of children are their parents.
7 Respected people do not tell lies, and fools have nothing worthwhile to say.
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Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, Much less do lying lips fit a prince.
8 Some people think a bribe works like magic; they believe it can do anything.
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A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; Wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 If you want people to like you, forgive them when they wrong you. Remembering wrongs can break up a friendship.
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He who covers an offense promotes love; But he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.
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A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding Than a hundred lashes into a fool.
11 Death will come like a cruel messenger to wicked people who are always stirring up trouble.
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An evil man seeks only rebellion; Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a mother bear robbed of her cubs than to meet some fool busy with a stupid project.
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Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If you repay good with evil, you will never get evil out of your house.
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Whoever rewards evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The start of an argument is like the first break in a dam; stop it before it goes any further.
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The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, Therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
15 Condemning the innocent or letting the wicked go - both are hateful to the Lord.
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He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 It does a fool no good to spend money on an education, because he has no common sense.
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Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he has no understanding?
17 Friends always show their love. What are relatives for if not to share trouble?
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A friend loves at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.
18 Only someone with no sense would promise to be responsible for someone else's debts.
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A man void of understanding strikes hands, And becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 To like sin is to like making trouble. If you brag all the time, you are asking for trouble.
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He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 Anyone who thinks and speaks evil can expect to find nothing good - only disaster.
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One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, And one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 There is nothing but sadness and sorrow for parents whose children do foolish things.
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He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.
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A cheerful heart makes good medicine, But a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 Corrupt judges accept secret bribes, and then justice is not done.
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A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, To pervert the ways of justice.
24 An intelligent person aims at wise action, but a fool starts off in many directions.
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Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, But the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 Foolish children bring grief to their fathers and bitter regrets to their mothers.
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A foolish son brings grief to his father, And bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is not right to make an innocent person pay a fine; justice is perverted when good people are punished.
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Also to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 Those who are sure of themselves do not talk all the time. People who stay calm have real insight.
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He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
28 After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut.
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Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.