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1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,
Than a house full of feasting with strife.
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2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame,
And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
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3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold;
But Jehovah trieth the hearts.
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4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips;
And a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
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5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker;
And he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
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6 Children’s children are the crown of old men;
And the glory of children are their fathers.
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7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool;
Much less do lying lips a prince.
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8 The bribe is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it;
Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
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9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love;
But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
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10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding
Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
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11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion;
Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
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12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man,
Rather than a fool in his folly.
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13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good,
Evil shall not depart from his house.
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14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water:
Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
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15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous,
Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
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Justifieth the wicked – Because they prefer evil, they attempt to deceive themselves and others into the idea that wrong is right and right is wrong. R657:3
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16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom,
Seeing he hath no understanding?
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17 A friend loveth at all times;
And a brother is born for adversity.
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Loveth at all times – No friendship can be surely counted upon until after it has been tried. R5664:2
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18 A man void of understanding striketh hands,
And becometh surety in the presence of his neighbor.
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Becometh surety – By endorsing notes or going on a bond. F568
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19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife:
He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
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20 He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good;
And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
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21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow;
And the father of a fool hath no joy.
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22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine;
But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
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23 A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom,
To pervert the ways of justice.
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24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding;
But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
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25 A foolish son is a grief to his father,
And bitterness to her that bare him.
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A foolish son – As was Absalom. R3267:3, R3268:5
In training their children, parents are laying out for themselves either joys or sorrows for the future. R3268:5
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26 Also to punish the righteous is not good,
Nor to smite the noble for their uprightness.
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27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge;
And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
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28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise;
When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent. |
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