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 rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of 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 ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an 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].
A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
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 is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous 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 is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
6 Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.
Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
7 Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
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 stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
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.
Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
10 Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on 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, And a fierce messenger is 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.
The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not 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 is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not 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 contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
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.
Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
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 [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
17 Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is 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 man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before 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.
Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
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.
The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
21 Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
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 rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
23 Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths 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].
The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
25 Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare 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.
Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
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.
One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
