Proverbs 17
1 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.
Better is a piece of dry bread, and quiet therewith, than a house full of the sacrifices of contention.
2 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.
An intelligent servant will have rule over a son that bringeth shame, and among the brothers will he have part of the inheritance.
3 [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].
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the Lord probeth the hearts.
4 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.
An evil-doer listeneth to unjust lips: falsehood giveth ear to a tongue that bringeth destruction.
5 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].
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker: he that is glad at calamities will not remain unpunished.
6 Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.
The crown of old men are children's children; and the ornament of children are their fathers.
7 Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].
High-toned language is not seemly to a worthless fool: and yet much less the language of falsehood to a noble.
8 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.
As a precious stone appeareth a bribe in the eyes of him that obtaineth it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 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.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth confident friends.
10 Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].
A reproof penetrateth more deeply into a wise man, than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 [Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.
Only rebellion doth a bad man seek: therefore a cruel messenger will be sent out against him.
12 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.
A man may meet a she-bear robbed of her whelps, but not a fool in his folly.
13 If someone does something evil in return for something good being done to him, evil/trouble will never leave that person’s family.
Whoso bestoweth evil in return for good—evil shall not depart from his house.
14 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.
As one letteth loose [a stream] of water, so is the beginning of strife: therefore before it be enkindled, leave off the contest.
15 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.
He that declareth the wicked innocent, and he that condemneth the righteous, yea, both of them are equally an abomination to the Lord.
16 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.
Wherefore is the purchase-money in the hand of a fool to acquire wisdom, seeing he hath no sense?
17 Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.
A friend loveth at all times, and as a brother is he born for [the time of] distress.
18 [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.
A man void of sense pledgeth his hand, and becometh surety for his friend.
19 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.
He loveth transgression that loveth quarrel; and he that maketh high his door seeketh destruction.
20 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.
He that hath a froward heart will not find happiness; and he that hath a perverse tongue will fall into evil.
21 Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.
He that begetteth a fool [doth it] to his sorrow; and the father of a worthless fool cannot have any joy.
22 Being cheerful is [like swallowing] good medicine; being discouraged/gloomy [all the time will] (drain away your energy/cause you to become weak) [MTY].
A merry heart causeth a healthy appearance of the countenance, but a depressed spirit drieth up the bones.
23 Wicked people/judges accept bribes that are given to them secretly, and as a result they do not decide matters justly/fairly.
A wicked man taketh a bribe out of the bosom, to pervert the paths of justice.
24 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].
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are at the ends of the earth.
25 Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.
A foolish son is a vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that hath born him.
26 It is not right to force someone who has done nothing wrong to pay a fine; it is wrong to punish good/respected people.
To punish the just with a fine even is not good, nor to strike the noble [-hearted] for [their] equity.
27 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.
He that holdeth back his speeches hath knowledge; and he that is sparing of his spirit is a man of understanding.
28 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.
Even a fool, when he keepeth silence, is counted wise: he that shutteth his lips [is esteemed] a man of understanding.
