Proverbs 17
1 A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.
3 Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.
4 The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.
5 Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
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.
6 Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
7 Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.
8 The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
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.
9 Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.
10 A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.
11 The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.
12 It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
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.
13 Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.
14 Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.
15 Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.
16 What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?
17 Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.
18 A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.
19 Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.
20 Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.
21 A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.
22 A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.
23 The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.
24 Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.
26 It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.
27 Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.
28 If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.
