Proverbs 17

¹Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, Than a house full of feasting with strife.

²A servant that dealeth wisely shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, And shall have part in the inheritance among the brethren.

³The refining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold; But Jehovah trieth the hearts.

⁴An evil-doer giveth heed to wicked lips; Anda liar giveth ear to a mischievous tongue.

⁵Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker; Andhe that is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished.

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

⁷Excellent speech becometh not a fool; Much less do lying lips a prince.

⁸A bribe isasa precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it; Whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.

⁹He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; But he that harpeth on a matter separateth chief friends.

¹⁰A rebuke entereth deeper into one that hath understanding Than a hundred stripes into a fool.

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

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

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

¹⁴The beginning of strife isas when one letteth out water: Therefore leave off contention, before there is quarrelling.

¹⁵He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the righteous, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah.

¹⁶Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?

¹⁷A friend loveth at all times; And a brother is born for adversity.

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

¹⁹He loveth transgression that loveth strife: He that raiseth high his gate seeketh destruction.

²⁰He that hath a wayward heart findeth no good; And he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

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

²²A cheerful heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit drieth up the bones.

²³A wicked man receiveth a bribe out of the bosom, To pervert the ways of justice.

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

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

²⁶Also to punish the righteous is not good, Norto smite the noble fortheiruprightness.

²⁷He that spareth his words hath knowledge; And he that is of a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

²⁸Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise; When he shutteth his lips, he is esteemed as prudent.

Proverbs 17

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹²The meeting of a bereaved bear by a man, Andnot a fool in his folly.

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

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

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

¹⁶Why is thisa price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, And a heart there is none?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

²⁴The face of the intelligent is to wisdom, And the eyes of a foolat the end of the earth.

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

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

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

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