Proverbs 17
1 Better is a morsel with pleasure in peace, than a house [full] of many good things and unjust 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 foolish masters, and shall divide portions among brethren.
A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3 As silver and gold are tried in a furnace, so are choice hearts with the Lord.
The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
4 A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips.
The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5 He that laughs at the poor provokes him that made him; and he that rejoices at the destruction of another shall not be held guiltless: but he that has compassion shall find mercy.
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 their fathers are the glory of children. The faithful has the whole world full of wealth; but the faithless not even a farthing.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
7 Faithful lips will not suit a fool; nor lying lips a just man.
Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
8 Instruction is to them that use it a gracious reward; and whithersoever it may turn, it shall prosper.
A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9 He that conceals injuries seeks love; but he that hates to hide [them] separates friends and kindred.
Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
10 A threat breaks down the heart of a wise man; but a fool, though scourged, understands not.
A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
11 Every bad man stirs up strifes: but the Lord will send out against him an unmerciful messenger.
An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12 Care may befall a man of understanding; but fools will meditate evils.
It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
13 Whoso rewards evil for good, evil shall not be removed from his house.
When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14 Rightful rule gives power to words; but sedition and strife precede poverty.
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 pronounces the unjust just, and the just unjust, is unclean and abominable with God.
The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
16 Why has the fool wealth? for a senseless man will not be able to purchase wisdom. He that exalts his own house seeks ruin; and he that turns aside from instruction shall fall into mischief.
Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
17 Have thou a friend for every time, and let brethren be useful in distress; for on this account are they born.
A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
18 A foolish man applauds and rejoices over himself, [as he] also that becomes surety would make himself responsible for his own friends.
A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
19 A lover of sin rejoices in strifes;
Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
20 and the hard-hearted man comes not in for good. A man of a changeful tongue will fall into mischiefs;
A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
21 and the heart of a fool is grief to its possessor. A father rejoices not over an uninstructed son; but a wise son gladdens his mother.
Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
22 A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up.
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23 The ways of a man who unjustly receives gifts in [his] bosom do not prosper; and an ungodly man perverts the ways of righteousness.
A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The countenance of a wise man is sensible; but the eyes of a fool [go] 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 [is a cause of] anger to his father, and grief to her that bore him.
A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
26 [It is] not right to punish a righteous man, nor [is it] holy to plot against righteous princes.
Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
27 He that forbears to utter a hard word is discreet, and a patient man is wise.
One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
28 Wisdom shall be imputed to a fool who asks after wisdom: and he who holds his peace shall seem to be sensible.
Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
