Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
