Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
Better is a dry morsell, if peace be with it, then an house full of sacrifices with strife.
2 A prudent servant, shall rule over a son who causeth shame, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
A discrete seruant shall haue rule ouer a lewde sonne, and hee shall deuide the heritage among the brethren.
3 Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
As is the fining pot for siluer, and the fornace for golde, so the Lord trieth the heartes.
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
The wicked giueth heed to false lippes, and a lyer hearkeneth to the naughtie tongue.
5 He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
Hee that mocketh the poore, reprocheth him, that made him: and he that reioyceth at destruction, shall not be vnpunished.
6 The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
Childres children are the crowne of the elders: and the glory of ye children are their fathers.
7 Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
Hie talke becommeth not a foole, much lesse a lying talke a prince.
8 A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
A rewarde is as a stone pleasant in the eyes of them that haue it: it prospereth, whithersoeuer it turneth.
9 He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
Hee that couereth a transgression, seeketh loue: but hee that repeateth a matter, separateth the prince.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
A reproofe entereth more into him that hath vnderstanding, then an hundreth stripes into a foole.
11 Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall be sent out against him.
A sedicious person seeketh onely euill, and a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
It is better for a man to meete a beare robbed of her whelpes, then a foole in his follie.
13 He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
He that rewardeth euil for good, euil shall not depart from his house.
14 A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
The beginning of strife is as one that openeth the waters: therefore or the contention be medled with, leaue off.
15 He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
He that iustifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the iust, euen they both are abomination to the Lord.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of the foole to get wisdome, and he hath none heart?
17 At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
A friende loueth at all times: and a brother is borne for aduersitie.
18 A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
A man destitute of vnderstanding, toucheth the hande, and becommeth suretie for his neighbour.
19 A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
He loueth transgression, that loueth strife: and he that exalteth his gate, seeketh destruction.
20 The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
The froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a naughtie tongue, shall fall into euill.
21 He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
He that begetteth a foole, getteth himselfe sorow, and the father of a foole can haue no ioy.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
A ioyfull heart causeth good health: but a sorowfull minde dryeth the bones.
23 A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosome to wrest the wayes of iudgement.
24 Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, are in the ends of the earth.
Wisdome is in the face of him that hath vnderstanding: but the eyes of a foole are in the corners of the world.
25 A vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.
A foolish sonne is a griefe vnto his father, and a heauines to her that bare him.
26 Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
Surely it is not good to condemne the iust, nor that ye princes should smite such for equitie.
27 Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
Hee that hath knowledge, spareth his wordes, and a man of vnderstanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
Euen a foole (when he holdeth his peace) is counted wise, and hee that stoppeth his lips, prudent.
