Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 A gift is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: but he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than an hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: he that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, [nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
