Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.
A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives 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.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
6 Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will 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.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave 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 conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on 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 the woman who bore him.
26 Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
