Proverbs 17

1 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.

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 servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who causes shame, and shall have a part in the inheritance amongst the brothers.

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 The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the hearts.

[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 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous 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 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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 Children’s children are the crown of old men; the glory of children is their parents.

Old [people] are [usually] proud of [MET] their grandchildren, [just like] children are [usually] proud of their parents.

7 Excellent speech isn’t fitting for a fool, much less do lying lips fit a prince.

Fine/Eloquent speech is not suitable for foolish people to say, just like lies are not suitable for rulers [to say].

8 A bribe is a precious stone in the eyes of him who gives it; wherever he turns, he prospers.

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 who covers an offence promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best 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 rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

Rebuking people who have good sense will accomplish more for them than hitting them 100 times [with a stick].

11 An evil man seeks only rebellion; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.

[Because] wicked people are always trying to cause trouble, someone will be sent to severely punish them.

12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in 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 Whoever rewards 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 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarrelling breaks out.

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 who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the righteous, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD.

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 Why is there money in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, since he has no understanding?

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 A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.

Friends love [others] all the time, and relatives are able to help us when we have troubles.

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of 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 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

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 One who has a perverse heart doesn’t find prosperity, and one who has a deceitful tongue falls into trouble.

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 who becomes the father of a fool grieves. The father of a fool has no joy.

Children who are foolish [soon] cause their parents to be very sad; their parents will not be joyful at all.

22 A cheerful heart makes good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

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 wicked man receives a bribe in secret, 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 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to 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 foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

Children who are foolish cause their father to be sad and [also] cause their mother to be very sorrowful.

26 Also to punish the righteous is not good, nor to flog officials for their integrity.

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 He who spares his words has knowledge. He who is even tempered is a man of understanding.

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, when he keeps silent, is counted wise. When he shuts his lips, he is thought to be discerning.

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.