More Words of Wisdom

1Dry crumbs in peacea are better

than a full mealb with strife.

2A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son

and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

3The crucible is for silver

and the furnace for gold—

but the LORD assays hearts.

4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech,

and the liar listens to malicious talk.

5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker,

and whoever is happy about disaster

will not go unpunished.

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the pride of children is their parents.

7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool;

how much more are deceitful statementsc with a prince!

8A bribe works wondersd in the eyes of its giver;

wherever he turns he prospers.

9Anyone who overlookse an offense promotes love,

but someone who gossips separates close friends.

10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding

than a hundred lashes to a fool.

11A rebellious person seeks evil;

a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

12It’s better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs

than a fool in his stupidity.

13The person who repays good with evil

will never seef evil leave his home.

14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water—

so drop the dispute before it escalates.

15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous

are both detestable to the LORD.

16What is this? A fool has enough money to buy wisdom,

but is senseless?g

17A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is thereh for times of trouble.

18A man who lacks sensei cosigns a loan,j

becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

19The person who loves transgression loves strife;

the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

20The person whose mindk is perverse does not find good,

and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

21The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow—

the father of a fool has no joy.

22A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit drains one’s strength.l

23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret

in order to pervert the course of justice.

24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective,

but a fool looks onlym to earthly goals.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father

and bitterness to his mother.n

26Furthermore, it isn’t good to fine the righteous,

or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable;

anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

28Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent;

he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.