Read the Bible

¹ A dry crust of bread eaten
    in peace and quiet
    is better than a feast eaten
    where everyone argues.
² A hard-working slave
    will be placed in charge
    of a no-good child,
and that slave will be given
the same inheritance
    that each child receives.
³ Silver and gold are tested
    by flames of fire;
    our thoughts are tested
    by the Lord.
⁴ Troublemakers listen
to troublemakers,
    and liars listen to liars.
⁵ By insulting the poor,
    you insult your Creator.
You will be punished
    if you make fun
    of someone in trouble.
⁶ Grandparents are proud
    of their grandchildren,
    and children should be proud
    of their parents.

⁷ It sounds strange for a fool
    to talk sensibly,
    but it's even worse
    for a ruler to tell lies.
⁸ A bribe works miracles
like a magic charm
    that brings good luck.
⁹ You will keep your friends
    if you forgive them,
but you will lose your friends
    if you keep talking about
    what they did wrong.
¹⁰ A sensible person
    accepts correction,
    but you can't beat sense
    into a fool.

¹¹ Cruel people want to rebel,
    and so vicious attackers
    will be sent against them.
¹² A bear robbed of her cubs
is far less dangerous
    than a stubborn fool.
¹³ You will always have trouble
    if you are mean to those
    who are good to you.
¹⁴ The start of an argument
    is like a water leak—
    so stop it before
    real trouble breaks out.
¹⁵ The Lord doesn't like those
who defend the guilty
    or condemn the innocent.
¹⁶ Why should fools have money
for an education
    when they refuse to learn?

¹⁷ A friend is always a friend,
    and relatives are born
    to share our troubles.
¹⁸ It's stupid to guarantee
    someone else's loan.
¹⁹ The wicked and the proud
love trouble
    and keep begging
    to be hurt.
²⁰ Dishonesty does you no good,
    and telling lies
    will get you in trouble.
²¹ It's never pleasant
to be the parent of a fool
    and have nothing but pain.
²² If you are cheerful,
    you feel good;
    if you are sad,
    you hurt all over.

²³ Crooks accept secret bribes
    to keep justice
    from being done.
²⁴ Anyone with wisdom knows
    what makes good sense,
    but fools can never
    make up their minds.
²⁵ Foolish children bring sorrow
to their father
    and pain to their mother.
²⁶ It isn't fair
to punish the innocent
    and those who do right.
²⁷ It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
    and to stay calm.
²⁸ Even fools seem smart
    when they are quiet.