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17
1 Better is a dry crust of bread where there is quietness
than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will rule
over an heir who behaves shamefully,
and will share the inheritance along with the relatives.
3 The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold,
likewise the Lord tests hearts.
4 One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel;
a liar listens to a malicious tongue.
5 The one who mocks the poor insults his Creator;
whoever rejoices over disaster will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are like a crown to the elderly,
and the glory of children is their parents.
7 Excessive speech is not becoming for a fool;
how much less are lies for a ruler!
8 A bribe works like a charm for the one who offers it;
in whatever he does he succeeds.
9 The one who forgives an offense seeks love,
but whoever repeats a matter separates close friends.
10 A rebuke makes a greater impression on a discerning person
than a hundred blows on a fool.
11 An evil person seeks only rebellion,
and so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 It is better for a person to meet a mother bear being robbed of her cubs,
than to encounter a fool in his folly.
13 As for the one who repays evil for good,
evil will not leave his house.
14 Starting a quarrel is like letting out water;
stop it before strife breaks out!
15 The one who acquits the guilty and the one who condemns the innocent –
both of them are an abomination to the Lord.
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 relative is born to help in adversity.
18 The one who lacks wisdom strikes hands in pledge,
and puts up financial security for his neighbor.
19 The one who loves a quarrel loves transgression;
whoever builds his gate high seeks destruction.
20 The one who has a perverse heart does not find good,
and the one who is deceitful in speech falls into trouble.
21 Whoever brings a fool into the world does so to his grief,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart brings good healing,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked person receives a bribe secretly
to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is directly in front of the discerning person,
but the eyes of a fool run to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish child is a grief to his father,
and bitterness to the mother who bore him.
26 It is terrible to punish a righteous person,
and to flog honorable men is wrong.
27 The truly wise person restrains his words,
and the one who stays calm is discerning.
28 Even a fool who remains silent is considered wise,
and the one who holds his tongue is deemed discerning.

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