Proverbs

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

1A dry crust of bread eaten in peace is better than a house full of food where people fight.

2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

2A wise servant will end up in charge of a son who brings shame, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.

3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.

3Silver is tested in a melting pot, and gold in a furnace. But the LORD is the one who tests hearts.

4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

4A person who does wrong listens to evil talk. A liar pays close attention to a harmful tongue.

5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

5Whoever makes fun of the poor insults God, who made them. Whoever is happy when trouble hits someone will be punished.

6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

6Grandchildren are the crown of older people. And children are proud of their fathers.

7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

7Fine speech does not fit a fool. Lying words fit a ruler even less.

8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

8The person handing out a bribe thinks it works like magic. Wherever he turns, he seems to get his way.

9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

9Whoever covers over an offense is looking for love. Whoever keeps bringing it up drives close friends apart.

10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

10One correction sinks deeper into a wise person than a hundred lashes sink into a fool.

11An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

11An evil man is only looking to rebel. So a harsh messenger will be sent against him.

12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

12Better to meet a mother bear whose cubs have been stolen than to meet a fool doing something foolish.

13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

13If someone pays back good with evil, evil will never leave his house.

14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

14Starting a fight is like making the first crack in a dam. Stop the argument before it bursts open.

NoteThe KJV says a quarrel starts "as when one letteth out water," and to stop it "before it be meddled with." The picture is water breaking through a barrier: once it starts, it cannot be called back.

15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

15Letting the guilty go free and punishing the innocent: the LORD hates them both.

16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

16Why does a fool hold money to buy wisdom, when he has no real desire to learn?

17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born to help in hard times.

18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

18A person with no sense shakes hands on a deal and promises to pay his neighbor's debts.

Note"Striketh hands" means shaking hands to seal a promise. Becoming "surety" means agreeing to pay someone else's debt if they cannot.

19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

19Whoever loves to fight loves doing wrong. Whoever builds his gate high is asking for ruin.

20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

20A person with a twisted heart finds nothing good. A person with a lying tongue falls into trouble.

21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

21A man who fathers a fool brings himself sorrow. The father of a fool has no joy.

22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

22A happy heart works like good medicine. A crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

23An evil man takes a bribe passed to him in secret, to bend justice the wrong way.

24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

24A person with understanding keeps his eyes on wisdom. A fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to the mother who gave birth to him.

26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

26It is certainly not good to punish an innocent person, or to beat honest leaders for doing right.

27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

27A person who knows things holds back his words. A person with understanding stays calm.

28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

28Even a fool seems wise when he keeps quiet. When he shuts his mouth, people think he understands.