Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
A prudent servant, shall rule over a son who causeth shame, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
4 A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
7 Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
11 A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall be sent out against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
18 A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
22 A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
A vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.
26 To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
