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 rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
3 Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
4 The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
8 The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
11 The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
15 Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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 [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17 Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
18 A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
19 Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
20 Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
22 A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on 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 the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
26 It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
27 Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
