Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
