Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting [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 rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
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 the glory of children are their fathers.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 The beginning of contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 The friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
18 A senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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 grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool when he holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
