7
Fine speech is not 1becoming to a fool; still less is 2false speech to a prince.
8
3A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it; wherever he turns he prospers.
9
Whoever 4covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter 5separates close friends.
10
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.
11
An evil man seeks only rebellion, and 6a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12
Let a man meet 7a she-bear robbed of her cubs 8rather than a fool in his folly.
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If anyone 9returns evil for good, 10evil will not depart from his house.
14
The beginning of strife is like letting out water, so 11quit before the quarrel breaks out.
15
He who 12justifies the wicked and he who 13condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the LORD.
16
Why should a fool have money in his hand 14to buy wisdom when he has no sense?
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15A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18
One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
19
Whoever loves transgression loves strife; he who 16makes his door high seeks destruction.
20
17A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
21
He who 18sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
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19A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit 20dries up the bones.
23
The wicked accepts 21a bribe in secret to 22pervert the ways of justice.
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23The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
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24A foolish son is a grief to his father 25and bitterness to 26her who bore him.
26
27To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27
Whoever 28restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28
Even a fool 29who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.