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 with quietness, 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 will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance amongst 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 the LORD tests the hearts.
4 An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.
An evildoer heeds 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.
Whoever mocks the poor 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.
Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.
7 Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.
Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit 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 gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.
9 Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.
He who covers an offence promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.
10 Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.
A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes 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 bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.
Whoever 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 breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarrelling breaks out.
15 Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to Jehovah.
He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns 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?
Why is there money 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 collateral in the presence of his neighbour.
19 Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.
He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.
20 The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.
One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.
21 Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.
He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. 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 makes good medicine, but a crushed 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 in secret, 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 one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander 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 brings 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 the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.
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. He who is even tempered 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 keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.
