Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
4 An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
20 The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
