Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
The fining pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
Children’s children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [are] their fathers.
7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination 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.
Wherefore [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
A friend loveth 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 void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom [is] before 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 sorrow of the mother that bore him.
A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
27 He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent 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, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
