Proverbs 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

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

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity 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; the glory of children is their parents.

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

7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

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

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

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

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

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

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes 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 seeks 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 cubs 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 Whoever rewards 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 like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarrelling breaks out.

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

15 He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

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

16 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

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

17 A friend loves 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 strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbour.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

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

24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

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

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

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

27 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

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

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

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