Proverbs 17

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

Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.

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

A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.

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

A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.

4 An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.

A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker. He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.

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

Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.

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

Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!

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

A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.

9 He who covers an offense promotes love; but he who repeats a matter separates best friends.

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

10 A rebuke enters deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred lashes into a fool.

A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.

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

An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

12 Let a bear robbed of her cubs meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.

It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.

13 Whoever rewards evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.

14 The beginning of strife is like breaching a dam, therefore stop contention before quarreling breaks out.

To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.

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

Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.

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

Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?

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

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

18 A man void of understanding strikes hands, and becomes collateral in the presence of his neighbor.

A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.

19 He who loves disobedience loves strife. One who builds a high gate seeks destruction.

He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.

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

The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.

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

A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.

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

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

23 A wicked man receives a bribe in secret, to pervert the ways of justice.

A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.

24 Wisdom is before the face of one who has understanding, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him.

A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.

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

It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.

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

A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.

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

Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.