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 with it, than a 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 causeth 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 trieth the hearts.
4 Evil people listen to spiteful talk, and liars pay attention to malicious words.
A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth 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.
He that mocketh the poor reproacheth 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 [is] their fathers.
7 Fine words don't suit stupid people, how much less are lies suited to a ruler.
Excellent speech becometh 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 hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 If you forgive a wrong you encourage friendship, but if you keep talking about it you'll lose your friend.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
10 A reprimand hits a thinking person more than one hundred blows hit someone stupid.
A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a 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] seeketh 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.
Whoever rewardeth 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 letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
15 The Lord hates it when the wicked are acquitted and the innocent condemned.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth 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?
Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
17 A true friend is always there to love you, and family provides help when troubles come.
A friend loveth 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 striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 People who love sin like to argue; those who build high gates invite destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 People with warped minds don't succeed; those who tell lies get into trouble.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth 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 begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A cheerful attitude is like good medicine, but discouragement makes you sick.
A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 The wicked take hidden bribes to pervert the course of justice.
A wicked [man] taketh 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 hath 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 bore 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 hath knowledge spareth 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 holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
