Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of flesh-banquets with strife.

2 A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.

A prudent servant shall rule over a son who causeth shame; Yea, with brothers he shall share the inheritance.

3 As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the hearts.

The refining-pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But the LORD trieth hearts.

4 The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

An evil-doer listeneth to mischievous lips; And a liar giveth ear to a destructive tongue.

5 He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that rejoiceth at another man’s ruin, shall not be unpunished.

Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; He that is glad at calamities shall not go unpunished.

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

Children's children are the crown of the aged, And their fathers the glory of sons.

7 Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

Excellent speech becometh not the base; How much less lying lips the noble!

8 The expectation of him that expecteth, is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

A gift is a precious stone in the eyes of him who taketh it; Whithersoever it turneth it hath success.

9 He that concealeth a transgression. seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth friends.

He who covereth an offence seeketh love; But he who recurreth to a matter removeth a friend.

10 A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

A reproof will penetrate deeper into a wise man Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

11 An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall be sent against him.

An evil man seeketh only rebellion; Therefore shall a cruel messenger be sent against him.

12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

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

13 He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

Whoso returneth evil for good, Evil shall not depart from his house.

14 The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: before he suffereth reproach he forsaketh judgment.

The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; Therefore leave off contention before it rolleth onward.

15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

He that justifieth the wicked, And he that condemneth the just, Both alike are an abomination to the LORD.

16 What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

Why should a price be in the hand of a fool To get wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?

17 He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

A friend loveth at all times; But in adversity he is born a brother.

18 A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.

A man who lacketh understanding striketh hands, And becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

19 He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.

He who loveth strife loveth transgression; He who raiseth high his gate seeketh ruin.

20 He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

He that is of a deceitful heart shall find no good; And he that turneth about with his tongue shall fall into mischief.

21 A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

Whoso begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; Yea, the father of the fool hath no joy.

22 A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

A merry heart doeth good to the body; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

23 The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

The wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of judgment.

24 Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in the ends of the earth.

Wisdom is before the face of him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.

A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bore him.

26 It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.

Moreover, to punish the righteous is not good, Nor to smite the noble for their equity.

27 He that setteth bounds to his words. is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

He that spareth his words is imbued with knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

28 Even a fool, if he will hold his peace shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.

Even a fool, when he is silent, is accounted wise; He that shutteth his lips is a man of understanding.