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 with quietness, than a house full of feasting 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 servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
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 Adonai tests the hearts.
4 A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
An evildoer heeds vain striving of iniquity lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous 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.
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be 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 old men; the glory of children are their parents.
7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
Arrogant speech is not fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
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 bribe is a chen ·gracious· stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
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 covers a rebellious breach of relationship promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than one hundred lashes into a fool.
11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall 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 bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
Whoever rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
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 who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns as guilty the upright, both of them alike are an abomination to Adonai.
16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
A friend 'ahav ·affectionately loves· at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
He who 'ahav ·affectionately loves· rebellious breach of relationship 'ahav ·affectionately loves· strife. One who builds a high gate seeks 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.
One who has a perverse heart does not find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries 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 receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of mishpat ·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 the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
Also to punish the upright is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered 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 keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
