Proverbs 17
1 Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.
Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust sacrifices, with strife.
2 A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.
A wise servant shall have rule over foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
6 Sons' sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
12 The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And — not a fool in his folly.
Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
14 The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.
Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
He that pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.
A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
24 The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool — at the end of the earth.
The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] to 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 cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
[It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
28 Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!
Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
