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 dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of 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 the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
A 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 blasphemeth 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.
Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; 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 gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he 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 estrangeth a familiar friend.
10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
A rebellious man seeketh only evil; 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 the quarrel break out.
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, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
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 is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
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 exalteth 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 froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
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 churl hath no joy.
22 A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
A wicked man taketh a gift 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 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 vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike 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 husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
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; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
