Proverbs 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

12The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, And--not 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

25A provocation to his father <FI>is<Fi> a foolish son, 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.

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

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

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

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

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

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