Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
A dry morsel with gladness is better than a house full of sacrifices along with conflict.
2 A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and he will divide the inheritance among brothers.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
Just as silver is tested by fire, and gold is tested in the furnace, so also does the Lord test hearts.
4 An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
The evil obey an unjust tongue. And the false are submissive to lying lips.
5 Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Whoever despises the poor rebukes his Maker. And whoever rejoices in the ruin of another will not go unpunished.
6 Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Sons of sons are the crown of old age. And the glory of sons is their fathers.
7 A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
Well-chosen words are not fitting for the foolish, nor are lying lips fitting for a leader.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
The expectation of those who stand ready is a most pleasing jewel. Whichever way he turns himself, he understands prudently.
9 Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
Whoever conceals an offense seeks friendships. Whoever repeats the words of another separates allies.
10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
A correction benefits more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
The evil one continually seeks conflicts. But a cruel Angel shall be sent against him.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
It is more expedient to meet a bear robbed of her young, than the foolish trusting in his own folly.
13 Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
Whoever repays evil for good, evil shall not withdraw from his house.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
Whoever releases the water is the head of the conflict. And just before he suffers contempt, he abandons judgment.
15 Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
Those who justify the impious, and those who condemn the just, both are abominable with God.
16 Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
What does it profit the foolish to have riches, when he is not able to buy wisdom? Whoever makes his house high seeks ruin. And whoever shuns learning shall fall into evils.
17 The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
Whoever is a friend loves at all times. And a brother is proved by distress.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
A foolish man will clap his hands, when he makes a pledge for his friend.
19 Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
Whoever dwells on discord loves disputes. And whoever exalts his door seeks ruin.
20 The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
Whoever is of a perverse heart shall not find good. And whoever turns his tongue shall fall into evil.
21 Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
A foolish one is born into his own disgrace. But his father will not rejoice in one who is senseless.
22 A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
A joyful soul makes a lifetime flourish. A gloomy spirit dries out the bones.
23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
The impious receives gifts from the bosom, so that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
Prudence shines from the face of the wise. The eyes of the foolish are on 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 the anger of the father and the grief of the mother who conceived him.
26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
It is not good to inflict damage on the just, nor to strike the leader who judges uprightly.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
Whoever moderates his words is learned and prudent. And a man of learning has a precious spirit.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
If he would remain silent, even the foolish would be considered wise, and if he closes his lips, intelligent.
