20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;

one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;

there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

20 A man of crooked heart does not discover good,

and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.

21 He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,

and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

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.

20 The crooked heart will not prosper;

the lying tongue tumbles into trouble.

21 It is painful to be the parent of a fool;

there is no joy for the father of a rebel.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.

20 He who has a deceitful heart finds no good,

And he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil.

21 He who begets a scoffer does so to his sorrow,

And the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones.

20 A person with an evil heart will find no success,

and the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child;

there is no joy in being the parent of a fool.

22 A happy heart is like good medicine,

but a broken spirit drains your strength.

20 He that hath a wayward 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 cheerful heart is a good medicine;

But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow, and the father of a vile man hath no joy.

22 A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

20 A twisted mind never finds happiness, 

and one with a devious tongue ⸤repeatedly⸥ gets into trouble. 

21 The parent of a fool has grief, 

and the father of a godless fool has no joy. 

22 A joyful heart is good medicine, 

but depression drains one’s strength. 

20 One with a twisted mind will not succeed,

and one with deceitful speech will fall into ruin.

21 A man fathers a fool to his own sorrow;

the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

20 The crooked of mind do not prosper,

and the perverse of tongue fall into calamity.

21 The one who begets a fool gets trouble;

the parent of a fool has no joy.

22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine,

but a downcast spirit dries up the bones.

20 He who is crooked of heart will not find goodness,

and he who is perverse, by his tongue he will fall into calamity.

21 He who begets a fool, there is trouble for him;

the father of a fool will not rejoice.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,

but a downcast spirit will dry out bones.

20 If your heart is twisted, you won’t succeed.

If your tongue tells lies, you will get into trouble.

21 It is sad to have a foolish child.

The parents of a foolish person have no joy.

22 A cheerful heart makes you healthy.

But a broken spirit dries you up.