Proverbs 17
1 Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
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, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
3 The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
4 A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying 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.
He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
7 Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
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, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
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 hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
10 A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
11 An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall 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.
Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
13 If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
He that 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.
A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
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 lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
16 How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
17 A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
18 A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
19 The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
20 Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
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 dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
22 A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
23 A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways 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.
Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, 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 vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.
26 To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
27 He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
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, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
