Proverbs 17
1 It is better [to eat] a dry piece [of bread] and not have strife/quarrels than to have a big feast in a house where [everyone] is quarreling.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 A slave who acts wisely will [some day] be the boss of his master’s disgraceful son and when his master dies, the slave will receive part of his master’s possessions.
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions amongst brethren.
3 [Workers put] silver and gold in a very hot furnace [to burn out what is impure], and Yahweh [similarly] examines people’s inner beings [to see if they are pure].
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 Those who do what is evil pay attention to people who say [MTY] what is evil, and liars pay attention to [other people’s] lies.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Those who make fun of poor [people] insult God, the one who made the poor [people], [and] those who are happy when [someone else has] troubles will certainly be punished [LIT] [by God].
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
6 Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 People think that a bribe is like a magic stone [to persuade someone to do what they want him to do]; they think that because of the bribe, that person will do whatever they want him to do.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and wherever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 If you want people to like/love you, forgive them for the wrong things that they do to you. If you continue to remind them about those wrong things, they will no longer be your friends.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 [Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 A mother bear whose cubs have been taken away from her is dangerous, but it is more dangerous to confront a foolish person who is doing something foolish.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 If someone does something evil in return for something good being done to him, evil/trouble will never leave that person’s family.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 Starting a quarrel is like allowing water to start to leak out of a dam; they both need to be stopped before they get worse.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 There are two things that Yahweh hates: (Condemning innocent [people]/Saying that people who have done nothing wrong must be punished), and declaring that people who have done wicked things should not be punished.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 It is useless to allow foolish people [RHQ] to try to become wise by paying for it, because they do not have enough good sense to become wise.
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
Have you a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 [If someone borrows money from another person], it is foolish for you to promise [IDM] that you will pay the money back if that other person is unable to pay back the money that he borrowed.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 Those who like to sin [also] like to cause strife/trouble; [and] those who build fancy doors in their houses [to show that they are very wealthy] (OR, speak proudly) are inviting disaster.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 Those who (have perverse minds/are always thinking about doing evil things) will not prosper, and disasters will happen to those who always tell lies.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 Being cheerful is [like swallowing] good medicine; being discouraged/gloomy [all the time will] (drain away your energy/cause you to become weak) [MTY].
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 Those who have good sense determine to do what is wise, but foolish people are always thinking about many different things [and never decide what they should do].
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to the ends of the earth.
25 Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
A foolish son [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 It is not right to force someone who has done nothing wrong to pay a fine; it is wrong to punish good/respected people.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 Those who have good sense do not talk a lot, and those who (control their tempers/keep themselves from becoming very angry) are [truly] wise.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 People [may] think that foolish people who do not say anything are wise; if foolish people (do not say anything/keep their mouths shut), others will think that they are [very] intelligent.
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
