Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.

Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.

2 A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.

3 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.

As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.

4 A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.

6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.

7 Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.

Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.

8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.

A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.

Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.

10 A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.

A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.

11 A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall 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 for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.

13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.

The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.

He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?

Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?

17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.

18 A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.

A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.

19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.

20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.

The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.

21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.

He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

22 A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.

A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.

24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.

25 A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.

A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.

26 To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.

Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.

27 He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.

Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.

28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.

Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.