Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.
14 As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.
15 He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
