Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
15 He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
