Proverbs 17
1 Better a dry morsel, and peace therewith, than a house full of contentious sacrifices.
It is better [to eat] a dry piece [of bread] and not have strife/quarrels than to have a big feast in a house where [everyone] is quarreling.
2 A prudent servant, shall rule over a son who causeth shame, and, in the midst of brothers, shall he share the inheritance.
A slave who acts wisely will [some day] be the boss of his master’s disgraceful son and when his master dies, the slave will receive part of his master’s possessions.
3 Fining-pot for silver, crucible for gold, but, he that trieth hearts, is Yahweh.
[Workers put] silver and gold in a very hot furnace [to burn out what is impure], and Yahweh [similarly] examines people’s inner beings [to see if they are pure].
4 Discord, giveth heed to the aggrieving lip, —Falsehood, giveth ear to the destroying tongue.
Those who do what is evil pay attention to people who say [MTY] what is evil, and liars pay attention to [other people’s] lies.
5 He that mocketh the poor, hath reproached his Maker, He that maketh merry at distress, shall not be held innocent.
Those who make fun of poor [people] insult God, the one who made the poor [people], [and] those who are happy when [someone else has] troubles will certainly be punished [LIT] [by God].
6 The crown of old men, consists of children’s children, and the adornment of children, is their fathers.
Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.
7 Unseemly in an unworthy man, is the lip of excellence, much more, in one of noble mind, the lip of falsehood.
Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
8 A gift, in the eyes of its owner, is, a stone of beauty, whithersoever it turneth, it bringeth prosperity.
People think that a bribe is like a magic stone [to persuade someone to do what they want him to do]; they think that because of the bribe, that person will do whatever they want him to do.
9 He that hideth a transgression, seeketh love, but, he that repeateth a matter, separateth intimate friends.
If you want people to like/love you, forgive them for the wrong things that they do to you. If you continue to remind them about those wrong things, they will no longer be your friends.
10 A reproof sinketh more deeply into an intelligent man than a hundred stripes, into a dullard!
Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
11 Nothing less than rebellion, doth a wicked man seek, and, a relentless messenger, shall be sent out against him.
[Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.
12 Let a bereaved bear encounter man, rather than a dullard, with his folly!
A mother bear whose cubs have been taken away from her is dangerous, but it is more dangerous to confront a foolish person who is doing something foolish.
13 He that returneth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
If someone does something evil in return for something good being done to him, evil/trouble will never leave that person’s family.
14 A letting forth of water, is the beginning of strife, therefore, before it breaketh out, abandon, contention.
Starting a quarrel is like allowing water to start to leak out of a dam; they both need to be stopped before they get worse.
15 He that justifieth the lawless, and he that condemneth the righteous, an abomination to Yahweh, are they, both.
There are two things that Yahweh hates: (Condemning innocent [people]/Saying that people who have done nothing wrong must be punished), and declaring that people who have done wicked things should not be punished.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a dullard? that he who is without sense, may acquire wisdom.
It is useless to allow foolish people [RHQ] to try to become wise by paying for it, because they do not have enough good sense to become wise.
17 At all times, doth a friend love, and, a brother for distress, must be born.
Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
18 A man lacking sense, is one who striketh hands, giving security, before his neighbour.
[If someone borrows money from another person], it is foolish for you to promise [IDM] that you will pay the money back if that other person is unable to pay back the money that he borrowed.
19 A lover of transgression, is one who loveth strife, he that heighteneth his door, seeketh grievous harm.
Those who like to sin [also] like to cause strife/trouble; [and] those who build fancy doors in their houses [to show that they are very wealthy] (OR, speak proudly) are inviting disaster.
20 The crooked in heart, shall not find good, and, he that is perverse with his tongue, shall fall into wickedness.
Those who (have perverse minds/are always thinking about doing evil things) will not prosper, and disasters will happen to those who always tell lies.
21 He that begetteth a dullard, it is to his own grief, neither can the father of the base, rejoice.
Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
22 A joyful heart, worketh an excellent cure, —but, a stricken spirit, drieth up the bone.
Being cheerful is [like swallowing] good medicine; being discouraged/gloomy [all the time will] (drain away your energy/cause you to become weak) [MTY].
23 A bribe out of his bosom, doth a lawless man take, to pervert the ways of justice.
Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
24 Before the face of the discerning, is wisdom, but, the eyes of a dullard, are in the ends of the earth.
Those who have good sense determine to do what is wise, but foolish people are always thinking about many different things [and never decide what they should do].
25 A vexation to his father, is the son that is a dullard, and a bitterness, to her that bare him.
Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
26 Surely, to chastise the righteous, is not good, to smite the noble-minded for equity.
It is not right to force someone who has done nothing wrong to pay a fine; it is wrong to punish good/respected people.
27 Sparing of his words, is one who valueth knowledge, and, of a thoughtful spirit, is a man of intelligence.
Those who have good sense do not talk a lot, and those who (control their tempers/keep themselves from becoming very angry) are [truly] wise.
28 Even a fool, holding his peace, is accounted, wise, —He that closeth his lips, [is thought] to have understanding.
People [may] think that foolish people who do not say anything are wise; if foolish people (do not say anything/keep their mouths shut), others will think that they are [very] intelligent.
