Proverbs 17
1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than an house full of feasting with strife.
Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of 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 rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.
4 An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.
8 A gift is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: but he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is [as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling.
The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
The friend is loving 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 heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: he that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.
22 A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment.
The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding: but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.
26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, [nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.
27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!
