Proverbs 17
JPS Tanakh (Jewish Publication Society, 1917)
Berean Standard Bible
1Better is a dry morsel and quietness therewith, than a house full of feasting with strife.
1Better a dry morsel in quietness than a house full of feasting with strife.
2A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that dealeth shamefully, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
2A wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son and share his inheritance as one of the brothers.
3The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; but the LORD trieth the hearts.
3A crucible for silver and a furnace for gold, but the LORD is the tester of hearts.
4A evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; and a liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.
4A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.
5Whoso mocketh the poor blasphemeth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.
5He who mocks the poor insults their Maker; whoever gloats over calamity will not go unpunished.
6Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
6Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of a son is his father.
7Overbearing speech becometh not a churl; much less do lying lips a prince.
7Eloquent words are unfit for a fool; how much worse are lying lips to a ruler!
8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; whithersoever he turneth, he prospereth.
8A bribe is a charm to its giver; wherever he turns, he succeeds.
9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that harpeth on a matter estrangeth a familiar friend.
9Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.
10A rebuke entereth deeper into a man of understanding than a hundred stripes into a fool.
10A rebuke cuts into a man of discernment deeper than a hundred lashes cut into a fool.
11A rebellious man seeketh only evil; therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
11An evil man seeks only rebellion; a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
12Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
12It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than a fool in his folly.
13Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
13If anyone returns evil for good, evil will never leave his house.
14The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water; therefore leave off contention, before the quarrel break out.
14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
15He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, even they both are an abomination to the LORD.
15Acquitting the guilty and condemning the righteous— both are detestable to the LORD.
16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, seeing he hath no understanding?
16Why should the fool have money in his hand with no intention of buying wisdom?
17A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18A man void of understanding is he that striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his neighbour.
18A man lacking judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor.
19He loveth transgression that loveth strife; he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
19He who loves transgression loves strife; he who builds his gate high invites destruction.
20He that hath a froward heart findeth no good; and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into evil.
20The one with a perverse heart finds no good, and he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow; and the father of a churl hath no joy.
21A man fathers a fool to his own grief; the father of a fool has no joy.
22A merry heart is a good medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
22A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
23A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom, to pervert the ways of justice.
23A wicked man takes a covert bribe to subvert the course of justice.
24Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
24Wisdom is the focus of the discerning, but the eyes of a fool wander to the ends of the earth.
25A foolish son is vexation to his father, and bitterness to her that bore him.
25A foolish son brings grief to his father and bitterness to her who bore him.
26To punish also the righteous is not good, nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
26It is surely not good to punish the innocent or to flog a noble for his honesty.
27He that spareth his words hath knowledge; and he that husbandeth his spirit is a man of discernment.
27A man of knowledge restrains his words, and a man of understanding maintains a calm spirit.
28Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed as a man of understanding.
28Even a fool is considered wise if he keeps silent, and discerning when he holds his tongue.
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