Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Better is a dry morsel, and quietness with it, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
A servant who deals wisely shall have rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brothers.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but Jehovah tries the hearts.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evildoer gives heed to wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
He who mocks a poor man reproaches his maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Son's sons are the crown of old men, and the glory of sons are their fathers.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Excellent speech is not appropriate to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who has it; wherever it turns, it prospers.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He who covers a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates chief friends.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
A rebuke enters deeper into him who has understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
An evil man seeks only rebellion. Therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
Let a man meet a bear robbed of her cubs, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
He who rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water. Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
He who justifies a wicked man, and he who condemns a righteous man, both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?
17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his neighbor.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
He loves transgression who loves strife. He who raises high his gate seeks destruction.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
He who has a wayward heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
He who begets a fool it is to his sorrow, and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
A cheerful heart is a good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
A wicked man receives a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
Wisdom is before the face of him who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A provocation to his father [is] a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
Also to punish a righteous man is not good, nor to smite nobles for uprightness.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
He who spares his words has knowledge, and he who is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is considered wise. When he shuts his lips, he is prudent.
