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 servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a 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 the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
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!
Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
9 Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore 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 strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
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 an abomination to the LORD.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A 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 man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth 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 froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse 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 churl hath no joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth 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 ways of justice.
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 vexation 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 also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
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 counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
