Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of sacrifices [with] strife.
Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 The fining-pot [is] for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips: [and] a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He that mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; [and] he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6 Children's children [are] the crown of old men; and the glory of children [is] their fathers.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8 A gift [is as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth [very] friends.
Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than a hundred stripes into a fool.
A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11 An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoever rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 The beginning of strife [is as] when one letteth out water: therefore withdraw from contention, before it be meddled with.
To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.
Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16 Why [is there] a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing [he hath] no heart [to it]?
Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, [and] becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: [and] he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21 He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good [like] a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A wicked [man] taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24 Wisdom [is] before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool [are] in the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son [is] a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also to punish the just [is] not good, [nor] to strike princes for equity.
It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: [and] a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: [and] he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
