טוֹב פַּת חֲרֵבָה וְשַׁלְוָה־בָהּ מִבַּיִת מָלֵא זִבְחֵי־רִיב

Dry, plain bread, without any condiments, and a life of tranquility with it, is better than a house full of feasts of strife, a home where fancy meals are served but whose residents are constantly quarreling hatefully with each other.

עֶבֶד־מַשְׂכִּיל יִמְשֹׁל בְּבֵן מֵבִישׁ בְתוֹךְ אַחִים יַחֲלֹק נַחֲלָה

This proverb also deals with the difference between what is outwardly visible and true reality: A successful servant, who loyally fulfills his responsibilities, will rule over a shameful son, who fails to fulfill his responsibilities. The dependable servant will eventually elevate himself to a higher status than the son, as the servant is the reliable one. And moreover, the servant will share an inheritance among brothers. He will ultimately receive a portion of the family inheritance, whether officially or otherwise.

מַצְרֵף לַכֶּסֶף וְכוּר לַזָּהָב וּבֹחֵן לִבּוֹת ה'

A refining pot is the utensil used for purifying silver, and a crucible is for melting gold. Through these implements one can determine the metal’s level of purity. And the Lord is the tester of hearts. One’s heart can be evaluated only by God. He alone assesses an individual’s level of purity and discerns any admixture of impure elements. Not even the person himself is always aware of his character deficiencies.

מֵרַע מַקְשִׁיב עַל־שְׂפַת־אָוֶן שֶׁקֶר מֵזִין עַל־לְשׁוֹן הַוֹּת

Evil listens to speech of iniquity; falsehood is nourished by a tongue of ruin. This is not necessarily referring to an evil person; rather, evil in the abstract gives heed to the language of wickedness and of sin. Evil and falsehood will be found in an environment that is characterized by offensive discourse. They listen to these exchanges, so to speak, and enjoy them.

לֹעֵג לָרָשׁ חֵרֵף עֹשֵׂהוּ שָׂמֵחַ לְאֵיד לֹא יִנָּקֶה

He who mocks the poor for any reason, whether for his disheveled clothing or his miserable way of life, not only acts inappropriately in human terms, but he also reviles his, the poor person’s, Maker. Neither the rich nor the poor created themselves or arranged their lot in life; both wealth and poverty are apportioned by heavenly calculations. He who rejoices at the calamity of others will not be absolved. Even if such an individual is not subject to human retribution, God will ensure that he receives his fitting punishment.

עֲטֶרֶת זְקֵנִים בְּנֵי בָנִים ותִפְאֶרֶת בָּנִים אֲבוֹתָם

The crown, the adornment and mark of honor, of elders is grandchildren, as they provide their grandparents with joy and honor. The grandchildren draw confidence from their grandparents, and the grandparents see their grandchildren as their successors. And meanwhile, the glory of children is their fathers. Children glory in the good reputation of their parents and grandparents, while the elders take pride in their grandchildren and their accomplishments.

לֹא־נָאוָה לְנָבָל שְׂפַת־יֶתֶר אַף כִּי לְנָדִיב שְׂפַת־שָׁקֶר

Excessive speech is unbecoming in a scoundrel, or one who is stingy. It is preferable for a miser to remain silent than to speak arrogantly, as his statements will not increase his honor. More so is false speech unbecoming to the noble, an honorable person, the opposite of a scoundrel. Sometimes generous individuals exaggerate the extent of their generosity and even relate stories of their acts of kindness that are entirely false.

אֶבֶן־חֵן הַשֹּׁחַד בְּעֵינֵי בְעָלָיו אֶל־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר יִפְנֶה יַשְׂכִּיל

This proverb describes reality rather than offering instructive advice: A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of its possessor; wherever he turns, he will succeed. Just as a precious stone is beautiful and decorative, so too a bribe is valuable in the eyes of its giver. One who is prepared to smooth his path through bribes thinks he will automatically succeed wherever he turns. Gates will be opened before him, and the law will be removed from his path, as though he had an amulet, a kind of a free entry pass.

מְכַסֶּה־פֶּשַׁע מְבַקֵּשׁ אַהֲבָה ושֹׁנֶה בְדָבָר מַפְרִיד אַלּוּף

He who obscures transgression, whether intentionally or because he simply fails to perceive that the sinner has done anything wrong, does so because he seeks love. In his love for something or someone, he is uninterested in discerning and exposing the flaws of the object or person. And by contrast, he who repeats the thing, and continuously refers to a transgression or flaw, alienates and creates divisiveness between himself and a friend, or an important minister.

תֵּחַת גְּעָרָה בְמֵבִין מֵהַכּוֹת כְּסִיל מֵאָה

The affliction of castigation for he who understands is more than striking a fool a hundred lashes. Not even one hundred lashes will have an impact upon the fool, whereas it is enough to rebuke a man of understanding once. Teachers are well aware that a student’s level of sensitivity is an important factor in his education.

אַךְ מְרִי יְבַקֶּשׁ רָע וּמַלְאָךְ אַכְזָרִי יְשֻׁלַּח־בּוֹ

The evil man seeks only defiance, or angry and bitter statements, and a cruel messenger will ultimately be sent against him.

פָּגוֹשׁ דֹּב שַׁכּוּל בְּאִישׁ וְאַל־כְּסִיל בְּאִוַּלְתּוֹ

Let a man meet a bereaved bear, a frightening and dangerous beast, but not a fool in his folly. An encounter with a dangerous animal is preferable to meeting someone who behaves foolishly, as such a person is likely to be even more dangerous. The fool does not necessarily act with evil intentions, but nevertheless he can draw a person into intractable difficulties.

מֵשִׁיב רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה לֹא־תָמוּשׁ רָעָה מִבֵּיתוֹ

He who repays good with evil, his punishment is that evil will not move from his house. Troubles will constantly pursue him.

פּוֹטֵר מַיִם רֵאשִׁית מָדוֹן וְלִפְנֵי הִתְגַּלַּע הָרִיב נְטוֹשׁ

The beginning of strife is like the release of water. A quarrel often begins with a minor matter, before quickly developing into a broader fight, like the opening of a small dam. The uncontrollable rushing waters soon expand the opening further, until they sweep everything away. Likewise, a dispute can easily escalate out of control, and therefore before the quarrel erupts, leave. Since there are two sides to every squabble, if one party backs off at the right time, the argument will dissipate.

מַצְדִּיק רָשָׁע וּמַרְשִׁיעַ צַדִּיק תּוֹעֲבַת ה'גַּם־שְׁנֵיהֶם

He who exonerates the wicked and he who condemns the righteous, both of them are an abomination to the Lord, as God despises any plainly false judgment.

לָמָּה־זֶּה מְחִיר בְּיַד־כְּסִיל לִקְנוֹת חָכְמָה וְלֶב אָיִן

Why is there payment in the hand of a fool to purchase wisdom, but there is no heart? How will it help a fool to pay to study if he is incapable of understanding? The Sages interpret this verse in reference to individuals who possess Torah knowledge but have no fear of Heaven.

בְּכָל־עֵת אֹהֵב הָרֵעַ וְאָח לְצָרָה יִוָּלֵד

The friend loves at all times. A true friend loves a person regardless of his situation. One who is friendly toward another only when that person is successful is not a real friend. And a brother is born for adversity. In times of trouble, one realizes who truly acts as a brother, as worthless friends and acquaintances scatter and abruptly disappear.

אָדָם חֲסַר־לֵב תֹּקֵעַ כָּף עֹרֵב עֲרֻבָּה לִפְנֵי רֵעֵהוּ

A man lacking heart, common sense, shakes hands, making promises and accepting commitments, and serves as guarantor of a guarantee before his friend. Unless absolutely necessary, it is not recommended to serve as guarantor for another, to avoid becoming enmeshed in superfluous problems. This piece of advice recurs many times in the book of Proverbs (see 6:1, 11:15, 20:16, 22:26, 27:13).

אֹהֵב פֶּשַׁע אֹהֵב מַצָּה מַגְבִּיהַּ פִּתְחוֹ מְבַקֶּשׁ־שָׁבֶר

He who loves transgression loves strife. One who enjoys quarreling in effect loves sin, as strife invariably leads to undesirable consequences. He who elevates his entrance, choosing to be inaccessible, seeks destruction. Sometimes important people make it difficult for others to get close to them, but when they themselves encounter troubles, it becomes clear that they have lost their friends. Ultimately, people who are always quarreling, as well as those who endeavor to avoid any contact with others, will not receive help in their time of need.

עִקֶּשׁ־לֵב לֹא יִמְצָא־טוֹב וְנֶהְפָּךְ בִּלְשׁוֹנוֹ יִפּוֹל בְּרָעָה

The crooked of heart, one whose intellect is warped, will not find goodness, and the duplicitous of tongue, who speaks deceptively and inconsistently, will fall into harm. Sometimes it seems that it is easier to get ahead using falsehood and flattery, but an unreliable person will ultimately stumble.

יֹלֵד כְּסִיל לְתוּגָה לוֹ וְלֹא־יִשְׂמַח אֲבִי נָבָל

The aphorist adds a disheartening comment: The begetter of a fool, it is sorrow for him, as his son will provide him with nothing but anguish, and the father of a scoundrel will not rejoice. The father of a miserly and wicked person can only sigh in despair.

לֵב שָׂמֵחַ יֵיטִיב גֵּהָה ורוּחַ נְכֵאָה תְּיַבֶּשׁ־גָּרֶם

A joyous heart will improve healing, accelerating one’s recovery from illness, as joy itself improves one’s health. And by contrast, a depressed spirit of sadness and gloom dries bones. Joy and sadness are not only abstract emotions; they physically affect the body’s health and appearance.

שֹׁחַד מֵחֵק רָשָׁע יִקָּח לְהַטּוֹת אָרְחוֹת מִשְׁפָּט

A bribe from the bosom of the wicked is taken by a judge or another official to pervert the paths of justice. A bribe is always donated by the wicked or by one whose claim does not deserve a favorable judgment. Even in places where it is common to give a bribe and it is not thought of as a bribe but rather as an expression of friendship or a mark of gratitude, it is designed for the same purpose, to diverge from the path of honesty and justice.

אֶת־פְּנֵי מֵבִין חָכְמָה וְעֵינֵי כְסִיל בִּקְצֵה־אָרֶץ

Wisdom is found in front of the understanding. A person of insight will discover wisdom in his own vicinity. And the eyes of a fool are always focused at the ends of the earth. He goes off to search for wisdom in the far-flung corners of the world.

כַּעַס לְאָבִיו בֵּן כְּסִיל וּמֶמֶר לְיוֹלַדְתּוֹ

This verse also deals with the damage caused by foolishness: A foolish son is a cause of vexation to his father, and bitterness, or rebellion, to the one who bore him, his mother.

גַּם עֲנוֹשׁ לַצַּדִּיק לֹא־טוֹב לְהַכּוֹת נְדִיבִים עֲלֵי־יֹשֶׁר

Surely punishment is not good for the righteous, it is not good when the righteous are punished, striking the noble despite their uprightness. It is inadvisable for a king to punish the righteous, even if on occasion they do not heed his royal instructions. Alternatively, it is unfortunate that social arrangements sometimes require the noble and righteous to endure suffering without any protection. Another interpretation of the first part of the verse is that it is not good for the righteous to mete out punishment to others.

חוֹשֵׂךְ אֲמָרָיו יוֹדֵעַ דָּעַת יְקַר־רוּחַ אִישׁ תְּבוּנָה

He who spares his sayings thereby indicates that he knows knowledge. Those who know much do not speak a lot. In contrast, one who talks about every subject is not necessarily well informed, and it is likely that his knowledge is minimal. And a man of sagacity is gentle and noble of spirit. He treats his words as precious and does not speak at length.

גַּם אֱוִיל מַחֲרִישׁ חָכָם יֵחָשֵׁב אֹטֵם שְׂפָתָיו נָבוֹן

Even a fool, being silent, is considered wise. When a fool refrains from prattling away to others, they will think that he is wise. And he who seals his lips is esteemed as discerning.