Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 He that has a fraudulent heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
A foolish son is the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
