Proverbs 17
1 It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.
4 The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.
5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
Children’s children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.
9 Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.
11 An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.
13 When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.
15 The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.
16 Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.
17 A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.
18 A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.
19 Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.
20 A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.
21 Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.
24 The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth.
Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.
26 Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.
27 One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.
28 Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.
