< Proverbs 17 >

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.
2 A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.
A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but YHWH tests the hearts.
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; the glory of children are their parents.
Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Arrogant speech isn't fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to YHWH.
He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he has no understanding?
Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander everywhere.
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 brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.
He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.

< Proverbs 17 >