Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
