Proverbs 17

1Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.

1Better a bit of dry bread in peace, than a house full of feasting and violent behaviour.

1Better <FI>is<Fi> a dry morsel, and rest with it, Than a house full of the sacrifices of strife.

2A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.

2A servant who does wisely will have rule over a son causing shame, and will have his part in the heritage among brothers.

2A wise servant ruleth over a son causing shame, And in the midst of brethren He apportioneth an inheritance.

3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the Lord trieth the hearts.

3The heating-pot is for silver and the oven-fire for gold, but the Lord is the tester of hearts.

3A refining pot <FI>is<Fi> for silver, and a furnace for gold, And the trier of hearts <FI>is<Fi> Jehovah.

4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

4A wrongdoer gives attention to evil lips, and a man of deceit gives ear to a damaging tongue.

4An evil doer is attentive to lips of vanity, Falsehood is giving ear to a mischievous tongue.

5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.

5Whoever makes sport of the poor puts shame on his Maker; and he who is glad because of trouble will not go free from punishment.

5Whoso is mocking at the poor Hath reproached his Maker, Whoso is rejoicing at calamity is not acquitted.

6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

6Children's children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.

6Sons' sons <FI>are<Fi> the crown of old men, And the glory of sons <FI>are<Fi> their fathers.

7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.

7Fair words are not to be looked for from a foolish man, much less are false lips in a ruler.

7Not comely for a fool is a lip of excellency, Much less for a noble a lip of falsehood.

8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

8An offering of money is like a stone of great price in the eyes of him who has it: wherever he goes, he does well.

8A stone of grace <FI>is<Fi> the bribe in the eyes of its possessors, Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.

9He who keeps a sin covered is looking for love; but he who keeps on talking of a thing makes division between friends.

9Whoso is covering transgression is seeking love, And whoso is repeating a matter Is separating a familiar friend.

10A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.

10A word of protest goes deeper into one who has sense than a hundred blows into a foolish man.

10Rebuke cometh down on the intelligent More than a hundred stripes on a fool.

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

11An uncontrolled man is only looking for trouble, so a cruel servant will be sent against him.

11An evil man seeketh only rebellion, And a fierce messenger is sent against him.

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

12It is better to come face to face with a bear whose young ones have been taken away than with a foolish man acting foolishly.

12The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And--not a fool in his folly.

13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.

13If anyone gives back evil for good, evil will never go away from his house.

13Whoso is returning evil for good, Evil moveth not from his house.

14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

14The start of fighting is like the letting out of water: so give up before it comes to blows.

14The beginning of contention <FI>is<Fi> a letting out of waters, And before it is meddled with leave the strife.

15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.

15He who gives a decision for the evil-doer and he who gives a decision against the upright, are equally disgusting to the Lord.

15Whoso is justifying the wicked, And condemning the righteous, Even both of these <FI>are<Fi> an abomination to Jehovah.

16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

16How will money in the hand of the foolish get him wisdom, seeing that he has no sense?

16Why <FI>is<Fi> this--a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

17A friend is loving at all times, and becomes a brother in times of trouble.

17At all times is the friend loving, And a brother for adversity is born.

18A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.

18A man without sense gives his hand in an agreement, and makes himself responsible before his neighbour.

18A man lacking heart is striking hands, A surety he becometh before his friend.

19He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.

19The lover of fighting is a lover of sin: he who makes high his doorway is looking for destruction.

19Whoso is loving transgression is loving debate, Whoso is making high his entrance is seeking destruction.

20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

20Nothing good comes to him whose heart is fixed on evil purposes: and he who has an evil tongue will come to trouble.

20The perverse of heart findeth not good, And the turned in his tongue falleth into evil.

21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.

21He who has an unwise son gets sorrow for himself, and the father of a foolish son has no joy.

21Whoso is begetting a fool hath affliction for it, Yea, the father of a fool rejoiceth not.

22A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

22A glad heart makes a healthy body, but a crushed spirit makes the bones dry.

22A rejoicing heart doth good to the body, And a smitten spirit drieth the bone.

23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.

23A sinner takes an offering out of his robe, to get a decision for himself in a cause.

23A bribe from the bosom the wicked taketh, To turn aside the paths of judgment.

24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.

24Wisdom is before the face of him who has sense; but the eyes of the foolish are on the ends of the earth.

24The face of the intelligent <FI>is<Fi> to wisdom, And the eyes of a fool--at the end of the earth.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.

25A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitter pain to her who gave him birth.

25A provocation to his father <FI>is<Fi> a foolish son, And bitterness to her that bare him.

26Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.

26To give punishment to the upright is not good, or to give blows to the noble for their righteousness.

26Also, to fine the righteous is not good, To smite nobles for uprightness.

27He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

27He who has knowledge says little: and he who has a calm spirit is a man of good sense.

27One acquainted with knowledge is sparing his words, And the cool of temper <FI>is<Fi> a man of understanding.

28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

28Even the foolish man, when he keeps quiet, is taken to be wise: when his lips are shut he is credited with good sense.

28Even a fool keeping silence is reckoned wise, He who is shutting his lips intelligent!