Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.

Better [is] a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

2 A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.

A wise servant rules over a son causing shame, And he apportions an inheritance in the midst of brothers.

3 As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.

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

4 The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.

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

5 Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.

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

6 Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.

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

7 Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.

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

8 A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.

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

9 Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.

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

10 A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.

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

11 A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

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

12 It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.

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

13 He that rewardeth euil for good, euil 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 as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.

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

15 He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.

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

16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?

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

17 A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.

The friend is loving at all times, And a brother is born for adversity.

18 A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.

A man lacking heart is striking hands, He becomes a guarantor before his friend.

19 He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.

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

20 The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.

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

21 He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.

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

22 A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.

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

23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.

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

24 Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.

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

25 A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.

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

26 Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.

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

27 Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.

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

28 Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.

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