Proverbs 17
1 Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant who acts wisely will be put in charge of a disgraced son, and will share the family inheritance with the brothers.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 Evil people are only looking to rebel, so a cruel messenger will be sent to attack them.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of a quarrel is like the first leak in a water dam, so drop it before a major argument bursts out.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 It's not a wise idea to make a pledge and guarantee a neighbor's debt.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A stupid son brings grief to his father and sadness to his mother who gave birth to him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
