“The one who begets a fool gets trouble.
The parent of a fool has no joy.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine.
But a downcast spirit dries up the bones.
The wicked accept a concealed bribe.
They pervert the ways of justice.
The discerning person looks to wisdom.
But the eyes of a fool look to the ends of the earth.
Foolish children are
A grief to their father.
Foolish children are
Bitterness to her who bore them.
To impose a fine on the innocent
Is not right.
To flog the noble for their integrity
Is not right.
Whoever spares words is knowledgeable.
Whoever is cool in spirit has understanding.
Even fools who keep silent
Are considered wise.
When they closes their lips,
They are deemed intelligent.”
Foolish children are trouble. There is no joy in dealing with them. A cheerful heart is good medicine for you, while a downcast spirit will dry up your bones. The wicked judges, when they accept a concealed bribe, are perverting justice. A discerning person looks for wisdom, but fools try to go to the ends of the earth in search of something or other. Foolish children are a grief to their father and bitterness to their mother. You should not impose a fine on the innocent ones. You should not flog the noblemen for their integrity. If you do not speak too much you give the impression of being knowledgeable. If you appear cool, people assume you understand things. Thus even fools who keep silent are sometimes considered wise. Some people appear to be more intelligent when they never open their mouth or move their lips.