Proverbs 17
1 Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting 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 wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
6 The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will 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 to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave 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 conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
15 He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
