Proverbs 17
1 A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
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 the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger 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.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14 Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
15 Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination 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.
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
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 that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in 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 bitterness to her that bore him.
26 It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
