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 rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.

A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance among the brothers.

3 A refining pot [is] for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts [is] YHWH.

The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.

4 An evildoer 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 Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever 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 are their parents.

7 A lip of excellence is not fitting for a fool, much less a lip of falsehood for a noble.

Arrogant 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, Wherever it turns, it prospers.

A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

9 Whoever is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoever is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

10 Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one 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 seeks 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 Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move 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 leave the strife before it is meddled with.

The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

15 Whoever is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these [are] an abomination to YHWH.

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, seeing he has no understanding?

17 The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.

A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

19 Whoever is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoever is making his entrance high is seeking destruction.

He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

20 The perverse of heart does not find good, And the [one] turned in his tongue falls into evil.

One who has a perverse heart doesn't find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

21 Whoever is begetting a fool has affliction for it, Indeed, the father of a fool does not rejoice.

He who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

22 A rejoicing heart does good to the body, And a struck spirit dries the bone.

A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, 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 everywhere.

25 A foolish son [is] a provocation to his father, And bitterness to her bearing him.

A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

26 Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike 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 [seems] intelligent!

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.