Proverbs 17
1 Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust 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 foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 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.
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 their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
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 be removed from his house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 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.
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 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.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to 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 cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 [It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
