Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims 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 shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: anywhere it turns, it prospers.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A reproof availeth 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.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: 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 better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He that rendereth 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 quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes guarantor in the presence of his friend.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 He that bring forths a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, 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.
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools 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 the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of 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.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
