Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, 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 have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 A wicked doer gives heed to false lips; and a liar gives ear to a naughty tongue.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Whoso mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
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 their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 Excellent speech becomes not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: anywhere it turns, it prospers.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 A reproof enters more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one lets out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes guarantor in the presence of his friend.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 He that has a perverse heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 He that bring forths a fool does it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool has no joy.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 A wicked man takes a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] 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 [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
