Proverbs 17
1 Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
11 Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to the ends of the earth.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
25 A foolish son [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 [It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
