1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife. 2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren. 3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers. 7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. 8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends. 10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool. 11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. 12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly. 13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house. 14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD. 16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it ? 17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend. 19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction. 20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief. 21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy. 22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment. 24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth. 25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. 26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit. 28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
1 Labāk sauss kumoss ar rimtumu
nekā upurdzīres ar ķildu.
2 Prātīgs vergs valdīs pār necienīgu dēlu
un ar tā brāļiem dalīs mantojumu.
3 Tīģelis – sudrabam un krāsns – zeltam,
bet sirdis pārbauda Kungs.
4 Ļaundaris ieklausās posta runās,
un melis klausās nelaimes valodās.
5 Kas nabagu izsmej, tas pulgo viņa Radītāju,
kas līksmo par nelaimi, netiks attaisnots.
6 Vecuma vainags – mazdēli,
un dēlu godība – viņu tēvi.
7 Nepiedien nelgam augstas runas,
nedz augstmanim sīki meli.
8 Kukulis devējam kā burvju akmens –
griezies, kur gribi, viss izdosies!
9 Kas nepiemin vainu, tas iemanto mīlestību,
kas neliekas mierā, tas zaudē draugu.
10 Saprātīgam bāriens kož dziļāk
nekā muļķim simtreiz ar pletni.
11 Ļaundaris domā tik uz dumpi,
bet tam uzsūtīs negantu soģi!
12 Labāk sastapt lāceni, kam atņemti bērni,
nekā muļķi viņa muļķībā!
13 Ja kāds atdara labu ar ļaunu,
ļaunums neatstāsies no viņa nama!
14 Kā ūdeni palaist, ir strīdu sākt –
pirms ķilda vaļā, aizdari slūžas!
15 Kas ļaundari attaisno, kas taisno nopeļ –
riebj Kungam tie abi!
16 Ko līdz nauda muļķa rokā,
ka pirktu gudrību – bet prāta nav!
17 Draugs vienmēr mīl draugu,
bet brālis tev dots posta dienai.
18 Vīrs bez prāta, kas līgst un galvo,
un dod ķīlu par savu kaimiņu!
19 Tas grēku mīl, kas mīl ķildu!
Kas slej augstas durvis, grauj savu namu!
20 Kam greiza sirds, tam neredzēt laba,
kam viltus mēle, tas iekritīs nelaimē.
21 Kas muļķi dzemdina – tik sev par likstu,
un neba priecīgs, kam dēls nejēga!
22 Līksma sirds dziedina,
sirdssāpes kaltē kaulus.
23 Ļaundaris velk no azotes kukuli –
ka tik sagrozīt tiesas gaitu!
24 Saprātīgam gudrība acu priekšā,
bet muļķa acis pasaules malā!
25 Tēvam par sāpēm dēls muļķis,
par sūrumu tai, kas šo dzemdējusi!
26 Taisno sodīt – pat tas nav labi,
šaustīt cildenos – gauža nelietība!
27 Kas prot muti turēt, tas kaut ko jau zina,
kam vēss prāts, tas sapratis!
28 Pat muļķis šķiet prātīgs, kamēr klusē,
kamēr lūpas šim ciet, liekas gudrs!
