Proverbs 17
1 Better to eat a dry scrap in peace than to feast in a house full of people arguing.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices 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 shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 A crucible tests silver, and a furnace tests gold, but the Lord tests the attitude of mind.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
4 Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Anyone who oppresses the poor insults their Maker, and anyone who enjoys the suffering of others will be punished.
Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Old people are proud of their grandchildren, and children are proud of their parents.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 Whoever gives a bribe thinks it's a magical stone—that wherever they turn they'll have success!
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: anywhere it turns, it prospers.
9 If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
10 A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes 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: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Better to meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs than a stupid person and their foolishness.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 If you repay evil for good, evil will never leave your house.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from 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.
The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16 Is there any point in stupid people trying to buy wisdom when they don't want to learn?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
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 void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes guarantor in the presence of his friend.
19 People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
20 People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 A stupid son brings grief to his father; the father of a child who does stupid things has no joy.
He that bring forths a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
23 The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Sensible people focus on wisdom, but the eyes of stupid people are always wandering.
Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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 is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 It's not right to impose a fine on someone who's innocent or to flog good leaders for their honesty.
Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 If you're wise, you'll be careful what you say; and if you're sensible, you'll keep your temper.
He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even stupid people who keep quiet are considered wise; if they don't say anything they appear intelligent.
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
