17¹ Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting-and conflict.

² A wise servant will rule over the master's disgraceful son and will share the inheritance of the master's children.

³ Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart.

⁴ Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander.

⁵ Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.

⁶ Grandchildren are the crowning glory of the aged; parents are the pride of their children.

⁷ Eloquent words are not fitting for a fool; even less are lies fitting for a ruler.

⁸ A bribe is like a lucky charm; whoever gives one will prosper!

⁹ Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.

¹⁰ A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.

¹¹ Evil people are eager for rebellion, but they will be severely punished.

¹² It is safer to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to confront a fool caught in foolishness.

¹³ If you repay good with evil, evil will never leave your house.

¹⁴ Starting a quarrel is like opening a floodgate, so stop before a dispute breaks out.

¹⁵ Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent- both are detestable to the Lord .

¹⁶ It is senseless to pay to educate a fool, since he has no heart for learning.

¹⁷ A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.

¹⁸ It's poor judgment to guarantee another person's debt or put up security for a friend.

¹⁹ Anyone who loves to quarrel loves sin; anyone who trusts in high walls invites disaster.

²⁰ The crooked heart will not prosper; the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

²¹ It is painful to be the parent of a fool; there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

²² A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.

²³ The wicked take secret bribes to pervert the course of justice.

²⁴ Sensible people keep their eyes glued on wisdom, but a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

²⁵ Foolish children bring grief to their father and bitterness to the one who gave them birth.

²⁶ It is wrong to punish the godly for being good or to flog leaders for being honest.

²⁷ A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered. ²⁸ Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

17¹ A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.

² A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child and is honored as one of the family.

³ As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are assayed by God.

⁴ Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.

⁵ Whoever mocks poor people, insults their Creator; gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

⁶ Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents.

⁷ We don't expect eloquence from fools, nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

⁸ Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone; any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

⁹ Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and - good-bye, friend!

¹⁰ A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

¹¹ Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble won't have to wait long - they'll meet it coming and going!

¹² Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs than a fool hellbent on folly.

¹³ Those who return evil for good will meet their own evil returning.

¹⁴ The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam, so stop it before it bursts.

¹⁵ Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people are equally abhorrent to God.

¹⁶ What's this? Fools out shopping for wisdom! They wouldn't recognize it if they saw it! One Who Knows Much Says Little

¹⁷ Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

¹⁸ It's stupid to try to get something for nothing, or run up huge bills you can never pay.

¹⁹ The person who courts sin, marries trouble; build a wall, invite a burglar.

²⁰ A bad motive can't achieve a good end; double-talk brings you double trouble.

²¹ Having a fool for a child is misery; it's no fun being the parent of a dolt.

²² A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

²³ The wicked take bribes under the table; they show nothing but contempt for justice.

²⁴ The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard; fools look for it everywhere but right here.

²⁵ A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father, a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.

²⁶ It's wrong to penalize good behavior, or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.

²⁷ The one who knows much says little; an understanding person remains calm. ²⁸ Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.