Proverbs 17
1 It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread than a house full of feasting with strife.
Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
2 A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold, but Yahweh refines hearts.
The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.
Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
6 Grandchildren are the crown of the aged and parents bring honor to their children.
Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool; much less are lying lips suitable for royalty.
Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
9 Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love, but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.
He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
10 A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding than a hundred blows go into a fool.
A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil person only seeks rebellion, so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than to meet a fool in his foolishness.
Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 When someone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere, so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.
The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
15 The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person— both are an abomination to Yahweh.
He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
16 Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom, when he has no ability to learn it?
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
17 A friend is loving at all times and a brother is born for times of trouble.
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man having no sense makes binding promises and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.
A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
19 Whoever loves conflict loves sin; the one who makes the threshold of his door too high causes bones to be broken.
He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good; the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.
He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
21 Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself; and the father of a fool has no joy.
He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man accepts a secret bribe to pervert the ways of justice.
A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
24 The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth.
Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father and bitterness to the woman who bore him.
A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
26 Also, it is never good to punish the righteous person; neither is it good to flog noble men who have integrity.
To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
27 One who has knowledge uses few words and one with understanding is even-tempered.
He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
28 Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent; when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
