Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
A prudent servant, shall rule over a son who causeth shame, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
8 The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
9 He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall be sent out against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He that returneth 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.
A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
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 dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, 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 vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a 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.
Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
27 He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
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, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
