Read the Bible

¹ A meal of bread and water in contented peace
    is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels.

² A wise servant takes charge of an unruly child
    and is honored as one of the family.

³ As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan,
    so our lives are assayed by God.

⁴ Evil people relish malicious conversation;
    the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip.

⁵ Whoever mocks poor people insults their Creator;
    gloating over misfortune is a punishable crime.

⁶ Old people are distinguished by grandchildren;
    children take pride in their parents.

⁷ We don't expect eloquence from fools,
    nor do we expect lies from our leaders.

⁸ Receiving a gift is like getting a rare gemstone;
    any way you look at it, you see beauty refracted.

⁹ Overlook an offense and bond a friendship;
    fasten on to a slight and—good-bye, friend!

¹⁰ A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense
    does more than a whack on the head of a fool.

¹¹ Criminals out looking for nothing but trouble
    won't have to wait long—they'll meet it coming and going!

¹² Better to meet a grizzly robbed of her cubs
    than a fool hellbent on folly.

¹³ Those who return evil for good
    will meet their own evil returning.

¹⁴ The start of a quarrel is like a leak in a dam,
    so stop it before it bursts.

¹⁵ Whitewashing bad people and throwing mud on good people
    are equally abhorrent to God.

¹⁶ What's this? Fools out shopping for wisdom!
    They wouldn't recognize it if they saw it!

¹⁷ Friends love through all kinds of weather,
    and families stick together in all kinds of trouble.

¹⁸ It's stupid to try to get something for nothing,
    or run up huge bills you can never pay.

¹⁹ The person who courts sin marries trouble;
    build a wall, invite a burglar.

²⁰ A bad motive can't achieve a good end;
    double-talk brings you double trouble.

²¹ Having a fool for a child is misery;
    it's no fun being the parent of a dolt.

²² A cheerful disposition is good for your health;
    gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.

²³ The wicked take bribes under the table;
    they show nothing but contempt for justice.

²⁴ The perceptive find wisdom in their own front yard;
    fools look for it everywhere but right here.

²⁵ A surly, stupid child is sheer pain to a father,
    a bitter pill for a mother to swallow.

²⁶ It's wrong to penalize good behavior,
    or make good citizens pay for the crimes of others.

²⁷ The one who knows much says little;
    an understanding person remains calm.

²⁸ Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise;
    as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart.