Proverbs 17

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

Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of 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 rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.

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

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

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

An evildoer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

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

Whoever is mocking at the poor Has reproached his Maker, Whoever is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

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

Sons’ sons [are] the crown of old men, And the glory of sons [are] their fathers.

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

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

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

A stone of grace [is] the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Wherever it turns, it prospers.

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

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

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

Rebuke comes down on the intelligent More than one hundred stripes on a fool.

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

An evil man seeks only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

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

The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And—not a fool in his folly.

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

Whoever is returning evil for good, Evil does not move from his house.

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

The beginning of contention [is] a letting out of waters, And leave the strife before it is meddled with.

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

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

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

Why [is] this—a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart—there is none?

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

The friend is loving 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 lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The wicked takes a bribe from the bosom, To turn aside the paths 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.

The face of the intelligent [is] to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool—at the end of the earth.

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

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

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

Also, [it] is not good to fine the righteous, To strike nobles for uprightness.

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

One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper [is] a man of understanding.

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 keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips [seems] intelligent!