Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 He that has a fraudulent heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at 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 a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
