A reading from the book of Proverbs.

Better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife.

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully

and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,

and the Lord tests hearts.

An evildoer listens to wicked lips and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Whoever mocks the poor insults his maker.

He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished. Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,

and the glory of children is their fathers. Fine speech is not becoming to a fool, still less

is false speech to a prince. A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it.

Wherever he turns, he prospers. Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter

separates close friends. A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding, that a hundred blows into a fool.

An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.

If anyone returns evil for good, evil will not depart from his house. The beginning of

strife is like letting out water, so quit before the quarrel breaks out. He who justifies the wicked

and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord. Why should a fool

have money in his hand to buy wisdom when he has no sense. A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity. One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security

in the presence of his neighbor. Whoever loves transgression loves strife. He who makes his door

high seeks destruction. A man of crooked heart does not discover good, and one with a dishonest tongue

falls into calamity. He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.

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