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 an 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 that dealeth wisely shall have 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 the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [and] a 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 the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that 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.
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 fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
A gift is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: 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 a transgression seeketh love: but he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than an 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 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 strife is [as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling.
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, both of them 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.
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17 At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
A 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 man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of 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 strife: he that raiseth 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 froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
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 fool hath no joy.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
A merry heart is a good medicine: 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 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 bare him.
26 Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, [nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
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 hath 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 holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
