Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, 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 wise servant shall rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
The fining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but Jehovah trieth the hearts.
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
The evil-doer giveth heed to iniquitous lips; the liar giveth 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.
Whoso mocketh a poor [man] reproacheth his Maker; he that is glad at calamity shall not be held innocent.
6 The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children 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 becometh not a vile [man]; how much less do lying lips a noble!
8 A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of the possessor: whithersoever it turneth it prospereth.
9 He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
He that covereth transgression seeketh love; but he that bringeth a matter up again separateth very friends.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
A reproof entereth more deeply into him that hath 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] seeketh only rebellion; but a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso rewardeth 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 contention is [as] when one letteth out water; therefore leave off strife before it become vehement.
15 He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are abomination to Jehovah.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
To what purpose is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he] hath no sense?
17 At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
The friend loveth 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 senseless man striketh hands, becoming surety for his neighbour.
19 A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
He loveth transgression that loveth a quarrel; he that maketh high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
He that hath a perverse heart findeth no good; and he that shifteth about with his tongue falleth into evil.
21 He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow, and the father of a vile [man] hath no joy.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
A joyful heart promoteth healing; but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of judgment.
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 him that hath 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 that bore him.
26 Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
To punish a righteous [man] is not good, nor to strike nobles because of [their] uprightness.
27 Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
He that hath knowledge spareth his words; and a man of understanding is of a cool spirit.
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 holdeth his peace is reckoned wise, [and] he that shutteth his lips, intelligent.
