Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better a dry morsel in quietness 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 wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
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 charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut 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; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
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 lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 He that bring forths a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; 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 joyful heart is 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 takes a covert bribe to subvert the course 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 the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 brings 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.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm 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.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
