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 therewith, 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 that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
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 trieth the hearts.
4 An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [And] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [And] he that 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.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; And the glory of children 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 becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
A bribe is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath 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 seeketh 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 bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
Whoso rewardeth 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 [as] when one letteth 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 that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, 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?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
17 The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loveth 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 striketh hands, And becometh 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 loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow; And the father of a fool hath 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 drieth up the bones.
23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
A wicked man receiveth 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 that hath 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 that bare him.
26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, [Nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that 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 holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
