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Contrast the Upright and the Wicked

^1 (C1)Better is a dry morsel of food served with quietness and peace
Than a house full of feasting served with strife and contention.

² A wise servant will rule over the unworthy son who acts shamefully and brings disgrace to the family
And the worthy servant will share in the inheritance among the brothers.

³ The ^(C1)refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold,
But ^(C2)the LORD tests hearts. ^(VR1)

⁴ An ^(C1)evildoer listens closely to wicked lips;
And a liar pays attention to a destructive and malicious tongue.

⁵ Whoever mocks the ^(C1)poor taunts his Maker,
And he who ^(C2)rejoices at another's disaster will not go unpunished. ^(VR1)

^6 (C1)Grandchildren are the crown of aged men,
And the ^(C2)glory of children is their fathers who live godly lives. ^(VR1)

^7 (C1)Excellent speech does not benefit a fool who is spiritually blind,
Much less do ^(C2)lying lips benefit a prince.

⁸ A ^(C1)bribe is like a bright, precious stone in the eyes of its owner;
Wherever he turns, he prospers.

⁹ He who ^(C1)covers and forgives an offense seeks love,
But he who repeats or gossips about a matter ^(C2)separates intimate friends.

¹⁰ A reprimand goes deeper into one who has understanding and a teachable spirit
Than a hundred lashes into a fool. ^(VR1)

¹¹ A rebellious man seeks only evil;
Therefore a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹² Let a ^(C1)man meet a ferocious ^(C2)bear robbed of her cubs
Rather than the angry, narcissistic fool in his folly. ^(VR1)

¹³ Whoever ^(C1)returns evil for good,
^(C2)Evil will not depart from his house. ^(VR1)

¹⁴ The beginning of strife is like letting out water as from a small break in a dam; first it trickles and then it gushes;
Therefore ^(F1)(C1)abandon the quarrel before it breaks out and tempers explode.

¹⁵ He who ^(C1)justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous
Are both repulsive to the LORD. ^(VR1)

¹⁶ Why is there money in the hand of a fool to ^(C1)buy wisdom,
When he has no common sense or even a heart for it?

¹⁷ A ^(C1)friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

¹⁸ A man lacking common sense gives a ^(C1)pledge
And becomes guarantor for the debt of another in the presence of his neighbor.

¹⁹ He who ^(C1)loves transgression loves strife and is quarrelsome;
He who proudly ^(C2)raises his gate seeks destruction because of his arrogant pride.

²⁰ He who has a crooked mind ^(C1)finds no good,
And he who is ^(C2)perverted in his language falls into evil. ^(VR1)

²¹ He who ^(C1)becomes the parent of a fool who is spiritually blind does so to his sorrow,
And the father of a fool who is spiritually blind has no joy.

²² A ^(C1)happy heart is good medicine and a joyful mind causes healing,
But a broken spirit ^(C2)dries up the bones. ^(VR1)

²³ A wicked man receives a ^(C1)bribe from the hidden pocket
To ^(C2)pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴ Skillful and godly wisdom is in the presence of a person of understanding and he recognizes it,
But the ^(C1)eyes of a thickheaded fool are on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A ^(C1)foolish son is a grief and anguish to his father
And ^(C2)bitterness to her who gave birth to him.

²⁶ It is also not good to ^(C1)fine the righteous,
Nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

²⁷ He who has knowledge restrains and ^(C1)is careful with his words,
And a man of understanding and wisdom has a ^(C2)cool spirit (self-control, an even temper). ^(VR1)

²⁸ Even a callous, arrogant fool, when he ^(C1)keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips he is regarded as sensible (prudent, discreet) and a man of understanding.