< 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 flesh-banquets 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 prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
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 the LORD trieth hearts.
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
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 the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
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 the base; How much less lying lips the 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 him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
9 He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man 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; Therefore shall a cruel messenger 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 whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
13 He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
Whoso returneth 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 as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
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 just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
Why should a price be 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.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
18 A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
20 The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
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 that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
A merry heart doeth good to the body; 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.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways 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 the face of 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.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
27 Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
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, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.