Proverbs 17

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

It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.

2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but YHWH trieth the hearts.

The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.

4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.

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

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.

7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.

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

A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.

10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.

11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will 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 to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.

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

When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to YHWH.

The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?

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

A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.

18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.

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

Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.

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

A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.

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

Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.

22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

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

A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.

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

The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.

26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.

27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.

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

Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.