Proverbs 17

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

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

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

A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brothers.

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

The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD tries the hearts.

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

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

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

6 Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.

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

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

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

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

A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that has it: wherever it turns, it prospers.

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

He that covers a transgression seeks love; but he that repeats a matter separates very friends.

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

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

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

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

12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

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

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

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

He that justifies the wicked, and he that condemns the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

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

Why is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?

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

A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes surety in the presence of his friend.

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

He loves transgression that loves strife: and he that exalts his gate seeks destruction.

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

He that has a fraudulent heart finds no good: and he that has a perverse tongue falls into mischief.

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

He that begets a fool does it to his sorrow: 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 merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

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

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

24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

Wisdom is before him that has understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in 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 her that bore him.

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

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

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

He that has knowledge spares his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

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, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.