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 dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets 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 prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.
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].
The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.
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.
An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.
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].
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.
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 the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.
7 Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!
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.
A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.
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 who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.
10 Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 [Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.
An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.
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.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her whelps, Rather than a fool in his folly.
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 returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart 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.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.
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 justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.
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 should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.
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 man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
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.
He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.
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.
He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.
21 Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.
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 merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.
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].
Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in 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 grief to his father, And bitterness 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.
Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.
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 spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
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.
Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.
