Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [with] strife.
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 a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21 A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to 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.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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 a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
