Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it 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 repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return 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.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door 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 will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall 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 [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths 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 at 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 vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
