Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread 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 son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked 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.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune 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 parents bring honor to their children.
7 Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so 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 to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
When someone 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.
The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and 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 cheerful 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 accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways 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.
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on 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 is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
