Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
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 their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.
Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to 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 cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
