Proverbs 17
1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among 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 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire 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 wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant 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 come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting 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 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son 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 glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on 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 is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
