Proverbs 17
1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire 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 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 mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
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 reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the 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.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
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 who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
A reproof will penetrate deeper 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.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent 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.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
Whoso returneth evil 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.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
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 justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get 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; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
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 is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
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 the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in 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 grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble 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 spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool 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 is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
