Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A prudent servant, shall rule over a son who causeth shame, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall be sent out against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
20 The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
27 Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
