Beware Bribes and Rebellion
17 Better is dry crust with peace and quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son
and will share the inheritance with the brothers.
3 A crucible is for silver
and a furnace is for gold,
but Adonai tests the heart.
4 An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
a liar listens to a malicious tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker.
Whoever rejoices at calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the elderly
and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Arrogant lips are not fitting for a fool,
much less lying lips for a ruler.
8 A bribe is a charm in the eyes of its owner.
Wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 Whoever covers up an offense seeks love.[a]
Whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person
than a hundred lashes on a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than to deal with a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good—
evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water—
so stop a quarrel before it breaks out.
15 Acquitting the wicked and condemning the righteous:
both are an abomination to Adonai.
16 Of what use is money in the hand of a fool
since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
17 A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking judgment shakes hands on a deal
and puts up financial security for his neighbor.
19 He who loves sin loves strife.
One who builds a high gate invites destruction.
20 A perverse heart finds nothing good
a devious tongue falls into trouble.
21 Whoever fathers a fool gets grief.
There is no joy for the father of a disgraceful son.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked one receives a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the person of understanding,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is grief to his father
and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also, to punish a righteous person is not good,
nor to beat up an honorable one for his integrity.
27 One with knowledge restrains his words,
and a discerning person stays calm.
28 Even a fool, who keeps quiet, is considered wise,
discerning, if he seals his lips.