1Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting, with strife.
2A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance as one of the family.
3The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the Lord tests the heart.
4A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
5Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.
7Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool –
how much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
they think success will come at every turn.
9Whoever would foster love covers over an offence,
but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10A rebuke impresses a discerning person
more than a hundred lashes a fool.
11Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
the messenger of death will be sent against them.
12Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than a fool bent on folly.
13Evil will never leave the house
of one who pays back evil for good.
14Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent –
the Lord detests them both.
16Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
when they are not able to understand it?
17A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for a time of adversity.
18One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
and puts up security for a neighbour.
19Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.
20One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.
21To have a fool for a child brings grief;
there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.
22A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23The wicked accept bribes in secret
to pervert the course of justice.
24A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son brings grief to his father
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
26If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
surely to flog honest officials is not right.
27The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.
28Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
and discerning if they hold their tongues.
1粗茶淡饭但相安无事，
胜过佳肴满桌却勾心斗角。
2精明的仆人必管辖主人的不肖子，
并与他们一同承受家业。
3鼎炼银，炉炼金，
耶和华试炼人心。
4作恶者留心听恶言，
说谎者侧耳听坏话。
5嘲笑穷人等于侮辱造物主，
幸灾乐祸的人必难逃惩罚。
6子孙是老人的华冠，
父母是儿女的荣耀。
7愚人高谈阔论不相称，
统治者说谎更不合适。
8行贿者视贿赂为法宝，
可以使他无往不利。
9饶恕过犯，促进友爱；
重提旧恨，破坏友情。
10责备哲士一句，
胜过杖打愚人百下。
11恶人一心反叛，
残忍的使者必奉命来惩罚他。
12宁愿遇见丢失幼崽的母熊，
也不愿碰上做蠢事的愚人。
13人若以恶报善，
家里必祸患不断。
14争端爆发如洪水决堤，
当在爆发前将其制止。
15放过罪人、冤枉义人，
都为耶和华所憎恶。
16愚人无心求智慧，
手中有钱有何用？
17朋友时时彼此关爱，
手足生来患难与共。
18无知的人才会为他人作保。
19喜爱争斗的喜爱犯罪，
骄傲自大的自招灭亡。
20心术不正，难觅幸福；
口吐谎言，陷入祸患。
21生愚昧子带来忧伤，
愚人之父毫无喜乐。
22喜乐的心乃是良药，
忧伤的灵使骨枯干。
23恶人暗中收受贿赂，
颠倒是非。
24哲士追求智慧，
愚人漫无目标。
25愚昧的孩子令父亲忧虑，让母亲苦恼。
26责罚义人不妥，
杖责君子不义。
27谨言慎行的有知识，
温和冷静的有悟性。
28愚人缄默可算为智慧，
闭口不言可算为明智。
