International Standard Version

New Living Translation

1Dry crumbs in peace are better than a full meal with strife.

1Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house filled with feasting—and conflict.

2A prudent servant will rule in place of a disgraceful son and will share in the inheritance among brothers.

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

3The crucible is for silver and the furnace for gold— but the LORD assays hearts.

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

4Whoever practices evil pays attention to wicked speech, and the liar listens to malicious talk.

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

5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their maker, and whoever is happy about disaster will not go unpunished.

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

6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the pride of children is their parents.

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

7Appropriate speech is inconsistent with the fool; how much more are deceitful statements with a prince!

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

8A bribe works wonders in the eyes of its giver; wherever he turns he prospers.

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

9Anyone who overlooks an offense promotes love, but someone who gossips separates close friends.

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

10A rebuke is more effective with a man of understanding than a hundred lashes to a fool.

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

11A rebellious person seeks evil; a cruel emissary will be sent to oppose him.

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

12It's better to meet a mother bear who has lost her cubs than a fool in his stupidity.

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

13The person who repays good with evil will never see evil leave his home.

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

14Starting a quarrel is like spilling water— so drop the dispute before it escalates.

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

15Exonerating the wicked and condemning the righteous are both detestable to the LORD.

15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— both are detestable to the LORD.

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

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

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is there for times of trouble.

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

18A man who lacks sense cosigns a loan, becoming a guarantor for his neighbor.

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

19The person who loves transgression loves strife; the person who builds a high gate invites destruction.

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

20The person whose mind is perverse does not find good, and anyone with perverted speech falls into trouble.

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

21The man who fathers a fool does so to his sorrow— the father of a fool has no joy.

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

22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit drains one's strength.

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

23The wicked man takes a bribe in secret in order to pervert the course of justice.

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

24A person with understanding has wisdom as his objective, but a fool looks only to earthly goals.

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

25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to his mother.

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

26Furthermore, it isn't good to fine the righteous, or to beat an official because of his uprightness.

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

27Whoever controls what he says is knowledgeable; anyone who has a calm spirit is a man of understanding.

27A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

28Even a fool is thought to be wise when he remains silent; he is thought to be prudent when he keeps his mouth shut.

28Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.

The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.