Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: anywhere it turns, it prospers.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He who rewards evil 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.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes guarantor in the presence of his friend.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 He that bring forths a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways 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 the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool 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 holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
