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.

1Better is a dry morsel with joy, than a house full of victims with strife.

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.

2A wise servant shall rule over foolish sons, and shall divide the inheritance among the brethren.

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.

3As silver is tried by fire, and gold in the furnace: so the Lord trieth the 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.

4The evil man obeyeth an unjust tongue: and the deceitful hearkeneth to lying lips.

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.

5He that despiseth the poor, reproacheth his maker: and he that rejoiceth at another man's ruin, shall not be unpunished.

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.

6Children's children are the crown of old men: and the glory of children are 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.

7Eloquent words do not become a fool, nor lying lips a prince.

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.

8The expectation of him that expecteth is a most acceptable jewel: whithersoever he turneth himself, he understandeth wisely.

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.

9He that concealeth a transgression, seeketh friendships: he that repeateth it again, separateth 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.

10A reproof availeth more with a wise man, than a hundred stripes with a fool.

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.

11An evil man always seeketh quarrels: but a cruel angel shall 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.

12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her whelps, than a fool trusting in his own folly.

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.

13He that rendereth evil for good, evil shall not depart 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.

14The beginning of quarrels is as when one letteth out water: and before he suffereth reproach, he forsaketh judgment.

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.

15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, both are abominable before God.

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?

16What doth it avail a fool to have riches, seeing he cannot buy wisdom? He that maketh his house high, seeketh a downfall: and he that refuseth to learn, shall fall into evils.

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.

17He that is a friend loveth at all times: and a brother is proved in distress.

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.

18A foolish man will clap hands, when he is surety for his friend.

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.

19He that studieth discords, loveth quarrels: and he that exalteth his door, seeketh ruin.

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.

20He that is of a perverse heart, shall not find good: and he that perverteth his tongue, shall fall into evil.

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.

21A fool is born to his own disgrace: and even his father shall not rejoice in a fool.

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.

22A joyful mind maketh age flourishing: a sorrowful spirit drieth up the bones.

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.

23The wicked man taketh gifts out of the bosom, that he may pervert the paths of judgment.

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.

24Wisdom shineth in the face of the wise: the eyes of fools are in 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.

25A foolish son is the anger of the father: and the sorrow of the mother that bore him.

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.

26It is no good thing to do hurt to the just: nor to strike the prince, who judgeth right.

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.

27He that setteth bounds to his words, is knowing and wise: and the man of understanding is of a precious spirit.

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.

28Even a fool, if he will hold his peace, shall be counted wise: and if he close his lips, a man of understanding.