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 therewith, than an 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 that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.
3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] Jehovah.
The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; [and] a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.
Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: [and] he that 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.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children 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 becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
A gift is [as] a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love: but he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.
An evil man seeketh 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 bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Whoso rewardeth 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 [as] when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before there be quarrelling.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Why [is] this — a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17 At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.
A friend loveth 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 striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife: he that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
He that begetteth a fool [doeth it] to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.
A merry heart is a good medicine: but a broken spirit drieth up the bones.
23 A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of judgment.
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 that hath 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 that bare him.
26 Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.
Also to punish the righteous is not good, [nor] to smite the noble for [their] uprightness.
27 One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge: and he that 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 holdeth his peace, is counted wise: when he shutteth his lips, he is [esteemed as] prudent.
